Our hands are part of everything we do. We cook, clean, care, create, and comfort using them. As a result, they get dirty, cut, dry, and tired. The funny thing about hands is that we can see them all the time. When they haven’t been given enough love, it shows in chipped uneven nails, dry cuticles, and pesky hangnails. In short, they don’t bring a smile to your face.
The focus of this act of self-care is to reinforce the message that you love yourself enough to take a few minutes to breathe, relax, and take care of a very important part of yourself.
It’s time to change that. Taking care of your hands and nails doesn’t need to be complicated. If you like wearing polish, let those colors shine. If you love a clean neutral, that’s a great choice too! The focus of this act of self-care is to reinforce the message that you love yourself enough to take a few minutes to breathe, relax, and take care of a very important part of yourself.
What’s important is making a tiny pocket of time here and there where you can do just that. These reset times are vital in managing overall stress levels and helping you find your center. Plus, when you look at your hands and they look fabulous, you can’t help but feel good.
A simple meditation using hand care
Let’s start with a short five-minute hand care routine.
- Start by taking a deep breath and tell yourself that this is something you’re doing just for yourself because you’re worth it.
- Spend a moment trimming and filing any nails that have grown past your ideal length or have been damaged while reminding yourself that you too are in a constant state of growth and change for the better. You too can overcome things that have hurt you.
- If you have cuticle oil (you can also use olive or coconut oil) take a moment to apply and massage it in. Just as small actions can bring big results, your mental and physical health are a result of small actions that add up.
- Massage in some yummy hand cream. If you’ve been saving nicer cream for a special treat, this is a great time to use it. Take a moment to breathe in the fragrance while thanking your hands for all they do for you.
- Return to your day! Each time you notice your newly loved hands, it’s a reminder that you’re worth it.
Tales of a nailbiter
I was a nailbiter until my 30s and I never liked how my hands and nails looked because of it. Every time I looked at them, I couldn’t help but feel bad that they were jagged and painfully short. It was ultimately having kids that broke me of the habit, I was literally too busy to think about chewing on my nails. That, and having kids means having your hands in lots of yuck. Even with the best handwashing, the idea of getting that in my mouth really grossed me out.
Ever since I broke myself of the habit, I’ve wanted to keep them nice because it feels good. I keep a few yummy hand and nail products in my desk to use between working sessions or if I need to unwind. I finally love my hands!
Discussion Question: Is taking care of your hands part of your regular routine?
