Self-Care Daily with Rachel Brathen

What kind of feeling does your inner perfectionist elicit within your body? Today’s episode will give you a few minutes to spend with yourself and feel where you may be gripping a little too hard right now physically. Where do you feel tension in your body? And can you do something to offer yourself some space there? Rachel will guide you through a practice to get to know the lingering feelings present. Tune in to begin.

Today, as you discover more about your inner perfectionist, you are going to focus on one specific area of your life. Where are you clinging too tightly to control? Where is your inner critic being too loud? Where are you trying too hard to have things be a certain way? We all have something - maybe it’s your body, or a relationship, or at work - where we are holding on too tight. This episode will help you explore where that area may be for you, and the underlying reason why. Tune in to begin.

Since we are deep into Virgo season now, we are going to spend some time considering our inner perfectionist and inner critic this week. The virgo archetype is one that helps you get things right and get things done - but it can also take you too deep into a life that is too demanding. Are you feeling overwhelmed juggling everything right now? Are you clinging to perfectionism? Are you being too harsh on yourself? This week’s practices will help you soften those edges, make some mistakes, and be more kind toward yourself. Tune in to begin.

Today is the day! We are going to find our intention and affirmation for the fall. Rachel shares her own intentions, as well as exactly how to come to that one clear sentence that will embody what you want to feel this season. After you have found it, spend some time in nature speaking that longing into being. Tune in to begin.

Today’s practice will help you feel more purposeful this fall. What is a goal or a milestone you want to reach for this season? What do you want to make happen? Why do you want to achieve it? How are you going to achieve it? What do you need to shift in your life so this can happen? Tune in to get into the small details of goal setting so you can meet your dreams this autumn.

What is a beautiful daily rhythm for yourself this fall season? If you were to think about a normal, realistic, mundane fall day, what sounds like a perfect one? What is your morning routine? How are you spending your evenings after work? In today’s practice, you will visualize that day and pinpoint the feeling that it brings you. It will move you closer toward your fall intentions. Tune in to begin. 

As we set our intentions for fall, a good place to start is to recognize the things you want to avoid in your life. It will help you find clarity and bring you toward the direction of things you do want. So, what have you been struggling with lately? What isn’t fitting in your life right now? What is something you just don’t want to do anymore? Rachel shares her own experience, and then you can anchor into those things that are best to avoid this fall. Tune in to begin.

This week we are fully settling into that fall energy. And with that, we will be setting our intentions for this time of year. Do you have some clarity on what you want out of this season of life? How do you want to feel? What do you want to create? What milestones do you want to reach? Today’s episode will help you get started. Tune in to begin.

Do you have a summertime bucket list? If you do, did you cross off the most important things this summer? If not, can you make one now and see what you accomplished? Today’s episode is all about reflecting on your bucket list and seeing everything we can still squeeze out before fall arrives. Rachel shares her own bucket list and some ideas that will help you enjoy this season to the fullest, while it’s still here. Tune in to begin.

Soon the days are going to start getting darker and colder. While we still have nice weather, let’s take advantage of it! For today’s practice, you are going to move your body outside. Rachel shares some ideas, from taking your dog for an extra long walk, to rolling your yoga mat out in your backyard. Soon, you’re going to miss these activities, and the ease of them, so much. Tune in to begin.

Do you have a favorite summertime meal? Today’s episode will fuse together two practices. You will enjoy a meal that reminds you of the abundance of summer while reflecting on the gratitude you have for everything summer brought your way this year. Think of the big moments and the small moments. Let yourself bask in gratitude and remember why this season is so precious. Tune in to begin.

Summer, above everything else, is a feeling. Usually, the things we like to do the most during the summer evoke that special feeling within us. For today’s practice, you are going to reflect on your favorite part of summer that you didn’t get to do enough this year. We may romanticize this season a lot, but we have to make sure we are actually embracing it. Tune in to begin.

When we settle back into that school routine, it feels like summer is done. But we could still have many nice warm days that we should take advantage of. This week on Self-Care Daily, we are going to take the time to enjoy the parts of summer that we adore most - maybe the ones we didn’t get to do enough. What are you going to miss most in the dead of winter? Tune in to fuel yourself with sunshine and appreciate the beauty all around.

As a fun way to organize our lives, in today’s episode we are going to consider our intentions for the fall season. When you picture this coming season, what do you want to have for yourself? How do you want to feel throughout it? What do you want to create? Tune in to realize it.

Accomplishing the biggest mess in your house will make you feel the best when it’s done. And that is exactly what we are doing in today’s episode. Rachel will share an example from her own life and offer suggestions on how to tackle yours. You are worthy of having a clean, organized home. Let’s get to it! Tune in to begin.

What feeling does your phone spark within your body? What is your relationship with screens? In today’s episode, Rachel will walk you through how to organize the devices in your life. It’s time to remove apps we don’t use, set screen time limits, and save our precious time. These tools are meant to help us, not drain us of energy. Tune in to begin.

The first step to feeling organized in life is to take control of your calendar. In today’s episode, you are going to go through it. Do you have your family’s schedule organized? Do you know when you are busy and when you are free? Do you have all upcoming events logged? Knowing the lay of the land will help you sort out your day - and your life. Tune in to begin. 

Happy Virgo season! This week many of our kids are back to school. It’s a time of the year to return to routine and organization. On the show, we are going to reflect on where we feel disorganized, both in our inner world and in the space around us. And then we are going to take the time to clean up! You’ll start today by taking an inventory of your life. Tune in to begin.

The senior population is so easy to shower with love. And as we know, the older we get, the more support we need. In today’s episode, Rachel will inspire you to keep your eyes peeled for a random act of kindness that you can do for an elder. If you look for opportunities to be kind, you will find them everywhere you go. Tune in to begin. 

Is there an elder in your life that you need to honor and show some appreciation to? In today’s episode, Rachel will share some ideas on how you can connect deeper with that special senior in your life. It can make a big difference just to let someone know that you are thinking about them. Tune in to begin. 

Your life has been made possible by the many people who have come before. In today’s episode, Rachel will guide you through a visualization practice. You will imagine all your ancestors behind you - your parents, your grandparents, your great grandparents. It is a never-ending triangle, and a very powerful lineage. Tune in to hold the magnitude of that.

The elders in our lives usually have more time - and less time for things that don’t matter. They bring a wisdom and patience and certain quality to relationships that others cannot. In today’s episode, you are going reflect on an elder in your life that made a big impact. Were they a safe space? Did you learn life lessons from them? What beautiful memories do you have? This is a connection we must keep close. Tune in to begin.

Our society has an obsession with anti aging - and it’s a good reflection of how we treat and honor the elders in our lives. Growing old is a blessing, so why do we fight against so much? This week on Self-Care Daily, we are going to contemplate some deep questions. How close are you to the elders in your life? How does your community treat them? How do you look at aging? And how do you want to be treated as you grow older? Tune in to begin.

For today’s self-care practice, we are going to go outside and forage a little bit. It is such a blessing to be able to pick something that nature grew all on it’s own - something that got to ripen in it’s own time without any human interference. Rachel will share some tips and tricks. You just have to grab a basket and head out. Tune in to begin.

If you think this is frivolous or a waste of time, here is your reminder: you can do things just because you find them beautiful. For today’s practice, you are going to collect some beauty from nature and bring it into your home. Rachel will share some things to look for and how to do it. It’s a great reminder of what exists outside your doorstep. Tune in to begin.

We are so inundated with information all the time now that we’ve lost our capacity for boredom. Whenever there is a lull in the day, the instinct has become to fill that space. In today’s episode, you are going to go outside and rest in nature. Bask in a moment of nothingness, with no practice connected to it. Allow your mind to be still and quiet. It is incredibly biologically important to be able to tune everything out. Rachel will share some ideas on how to do it.

Nothing compares to a sun-ripened tomato picked from your own backyard. Wherever you live, it is likely that there is an abundance of seasonal and local produce available to you. In today’s episode, Rachel is going to share the benefits of eating locally and seasonally, and exactly how you can do it. There is so much deliciousness out there, especially at this time of year. Let’s go find it. Tune in to begin.

Before we know it, summer will be gone. This week on Self-Care Daily, we are going to immerse ourselves in nature and soak up all the beauty and warmth it has to offer us right now. Rachel will share a practice every day tapping into the different elements: earth, air, fire, and water. You will learn how the elements relate to nature and how they connect energetically within yourself. By the end of the week, hopefully you can tap into that full body gratitude and not take this time of year for granted. Tune in to begin.

Keeping our inner fire and creativity stoked is a form of self-care that we should never neglect. Today’s episode offers you a practice that will help you forget your to-do list and the problems in your life, be present in your body, and just create. It will ignite that inner spark of creativity and the fun of making something just for the sake of making it. You will get out there and create some art. Tune in as Rachel shares exactly how to do it. 

If you are feeling stuck creatively, there are so many things you can do to source inspiration and solve this problem. In today’s episode, Rachel shares various things she does to help her, from reading a book on the topic to taking a break or doing something that brings her joy. This is a journaling exercise that will help you get creative about your creativity and solve any problem you face. Tune in to begin. 

Do you have a dream or desire when it comes to a creative endeavor, but for some reason, you are lacking inspiration and motivation? In today’s episode, you will reflect on where you would like to be more creative. Do you have writer’s block? Are you doing the same thing again and again? Did something used to come easy to you that just isn’t lately? This episode will help you get clear so you find the spark again. Tune in to begin. 

We are constantly in creation as human beings. We fix things, we make things, and we think outside of the box. But oftentimes, we don’t recognize that we are actually being creative. We tend to think that creativity is only certain types of art. In today’s episode, Rachel will share some surprising ways you can be creative in your life right now that wouldn’t even occur to you. What form of creativity is just flowing in a way that you aren’t even noticing? Tune in to begin.

We are deep into Leo season at the moment, and it is calling us to tap into our creative side. What art form are you feeling most inspired to dive into right now? This week on Self-Care Daily, Rachel will share a practice each and every day that will guide you on the pathway to your most creative, authentic self. Let’s share that side of us with the world more. Tune in to begin.

Today’s episode begins with a short check-in, a space for you to arrive to yourself and then feel. What are you feeling on the inside today? And more importantly, what can you do to fill a need that you have? What will make you feel more grounded and stable today? Rachel will share some realistic examples that you can do right in this moment. Tune in to begin.

Your heart is the container for the entire spectrum of emotions that we feel as humans. What is your heart feeling right now? In today’s episode, you are going to take some time and some deep breaths to settle into your heart space. Notice what is moving inside of you today, whether it’s easy or hard. Can you learn to sit with these emotions without trying to fix them or change them? Tune in to begin.

Why is it that when we think or speak about our bodies, it is usually something negative? Our bodies have done so much for us - and every experience that we have ever had has been because of our bodies. In today’s episode, you are going to feel your body from the inside out. Release the thinking and judgement and turn your experience into acceptance and being. Rachel will guide you through it. Tune in to begin.

When time starts to move really fast, that usually means we are not fully present. We are living on autopilot. Today’s check in offers you a chance to slow down time. You will take a moment to close your eyes and connect to the here and now. Then, ask yourself how you are really doing. Allow yourself to feel the way you are feeling. Don’t avoid what’s there - or you may avoid your entire life. Tune in to begin.

July is definitely a month where we blink and it’s over. If you feel like time is moving at the speed of light, this week on Self-Care Daily offers you an entire week to check in with yourself. Rachel will share a practice every day for you to slow down, move inward, and see how you are really doing from within. How is your heart? Your body? Your mind? Let’s find out. Tune in to begin.

Leo season is the perfect time of year to show up and let yourself be seen. For today’s self-care practice, you are going to share a bit of yourself by sharing a piece of your art. Are you a writer? A singer? A painter? A poet? Rachel will share some ideas on how you can bring your creations to the world. Tune in to begin.

We are all born with precious gifts that we are meant to offer the world. But maybe, for whatever reason, you have hidden your gifts along the way. What is a gift that you haven’t fully pursued yet? What is the art that you haven’t made? What is your intuition telling you inside? In today’s episode, you will explore these questions in your journal. Tune in to begin.

Insecurities are challenging to deal with. But here is an interesting thing about them: they are always changing. Can you think of an insecurity that you’ve had in the past that is no longer an issue for you? Today’s practice will help you answer this very interesting question. And it will teach you a very valuable lesson. Whatever you are dealing with now, you can overcome it. Growth is possible. Tune in to begin.

We all have so many gifts, traits and abilities that are unique to who we are. There is something that only you can contribute to the world. But maybe you’ve been playing small lately; feeling insecure or speaking down to yourself. In today’s episode, Rachel will guide you through a journaling practice that will bring whatever this may be to the surface. It’s time to release it. Tune in to begin.

This week we are saying goodbye to the watery sign of Cancer and stepping into fiery Leo. This is an important transition! It’s time to take up space. Have you been keeping something from the world but you are ready to share it? Are you playing small? Is there some dynamic that you want to grow into its fullest potential? It’s time to do all of the above. Tune in to begin.

What is one of your favorite summer activities? For today’s self-care practice, you are going to enjoy that experience with so much more time, space, and presence than you normally would. Don’t rush off to the next thing. Just relax, be yourself, and show up for the moment. Let your mind wander in a good way, and bask in summer and the difference that real presence can bring. Rachel will share an example from her own life. Tune in to begin.

Do you have a morning and evening ritual that you return to each day? This is a great way to bring more mindfulness and presence into your life. In today’s episode, Rachel will help you put these practices into place in a way that works for your life, so you don’t fall out of them over the summer. Use these moments to stay grounded and anchored in the here and now. Tune in to begin.

There is one thing that, above all, absorbs your attention and stops you from being present for life’s special moments. Can you guess what it is? In today’s episode, you are going to remove that distraction for an entire day. Can you put your phone away completely? Remove the screen, and the playfulness of summer will be something that you remember forever. Rachel shares some tips on how to do it. Tune in to begin. 

There are certain special moments in your life that only summer can bring. What are those moments for you? Do you have family traditions each year? Is there a moment in your day to day that stands out? Today’s episode is a practice, one that you can take with your journal to a beautiful spot and reflect on summer’s precious moments. Rachel will guide you throughout the entire journey. By the end, you will have a list that will help you stay focused and alert. And when the special moments come, you won’t miss them. Tune in to begin.

We are already halfway through the summer season. Time moves at the speed of light! Or - is it just us moving too fast? This week on Self-Care Daily, Rachel is going to share mindfulness practices that will help you slow down time. It’s a week dedicated to getting present for the moments of life that matter the most. Can you stay grounded in the now? Can you immerse yourself in the magic and beauty of this time of year? If you can, time will move a lot slower. Tune in to begin.

There is a feeling of ease that comes from acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers, that you can’t be in control all the time, and that you exist in a world that is full of so many unknowns. A true level of rest comes from being spiritually anchored and trusting in something bigger than yourself. In today’s episode, Rachel is going to invite you to write a prayer for rest. Send this prayer out into the universe, to any force that you believe in, and you may feel a little bit more at peace. Tune in to begin.

In a fast-paced world, true rest can be really hard to find. Sometimes, we may think we’re resting when we actually aren’t. A great example is scrolling on your phone while watching Netflix. This keeps your brain wired and alert - the opposite of winding down. In today’s episode, you are going to assess why rest may be evading you and any behaviors you have that feel restful, but really aren’t nourishing you at all. Tune in to begin.