A guide to self-care practices!
In recent months, I’ve been paying more attention to how small daily choices impact my mental health and well-being. For a long time, meditation seemed like something distant, always remaining in the background with that vague promise of “I’ll do it at some point during the day.” Everything changed after I participated in an experience in nature. There, I had the opportunity to slow down, experience different rhythms, and understand that meditation only becomes real in my life when I make it a priority.
Upon returning home, I brought a simple strategy with me: I left a post-it note with the word “MEDITATION” prominently displayed in my room. It’s the first thing I see when I wake up. This detail changed how I start my day. Now, before getting lost in demands or distractions, I breathe, meditate, and only then move on to other activities. This practice, done first thing in the morning, stopped being a postponed idea and became the foundation that sustains my morning. I’ve felt the effects on my concentration, mental clarity, and even how I relate to daily challenges.
Another significant change was in my cell phone usage. I decided to deactivate all notifications and trusted that if something truly important happened, it would find a way to reach me. This simple adjustment visibly decreased my anxiety.
Reflecting on these transformations, I realize how they connect to the practices suggested by Tara Brach for cultivating mindful and heart presence that we studied in the LALA Emotional Education Program:
- Clearly establish your intention
- Use the body as an anchor throughout the day
- Do some things very slowly
- Take pauses
- Protect your attention
- Bring the heart into your interactions with people
Thus, I clearly establish my intention at the beginning of the day by prioritizing meditation, I use the body as an anchor by starting the day in silence and mindfulness, I learned to take pauses by reserving that moment right upon waking, and I protect my attention by reducing digital distractions.
These steps were not radical changes, but conscious adjustments that have been helping me to better.
An article by Jhudy Souza, a Brazilian LALíder, for LALA’s 2025 Yellow September Campaign
