Weekly Self-Care Scoop (August 2025)

Tara "CaribGem" Lewis
Aug 4
5 min read

Updated: Sep 4

A curated calm for busy souls

This month's theme is... "Reset, Reclaim, Realign"

AUGUST 26, 2025

📝 Journaling for an Emotional Reset

Ever feel like your thoughts are running a mile a minute and you can’t quite catch up? Journaling can be your safe space to slow down and release what’s heavy.

Even just five minutes of a “brain dump” — writing down whatever’s on your mind without worrying about spelling, structure, or neatness — can work wonders. Studies show journaling helps lower anxiety, improve memory, and process emotions in a way that feels grounding instead of overwhelming.

And here’s the beautiful part: there’s no “right way” to journal. ✨ A list, messy scribbles, affirmations, prayers, or raw feelings — it all counts.

Your journal isn’t here to judge you. It’s here to hold space for you.

What emotion are you ready to release this week?

💭 Stress
💭 Fear
💭 Guilt
💭 Overthinking

✨ Activity: 5-Minute Reset

Set a timer for five minutes.

Grab a pen and paper (or open your notes app).
Write down everything that’s on your mind — no filters, no edits.
When the timer ends, take a deep breath and close the page.

Optional: If there’s something on the list you don’t want to carry anymore, rip the page up, shred it, or safely burn it as a symbolic release.

💡 Pro Tip:

Create a “go-to journal corner” in your home — it could be as simple as a cozy chair with a blanket and a candle. Associating journaling with a comforting space trains your mind to see it as a ritual of peace, not a task on your to-do list.

Journaling isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being present.

Give yourself the gift of those five minutes today. 🖊️💖

AUGUST 19, 2025

✨ The Power of Saying No

This week’s Self-Care Scoop is inspired by the Black Girl Burnout podcast — and it’s a message many of us need to hear:

Freedom requires boundaries.

Saying “no” isn’t rejection. It’s redirection — toward your peace, your capacity, and your joy. When your “yes” is rooted in guilt, fear, or obligation, it doesn’t serve you. It drains you. And eventually, that road leads straight to burnout.

Saying “no” with luv is one of the most powerful self-care tools you can practice. Every boundary you set creates more room for rest, clarity, and energy. This summer, reclaim your time. Reclaim your energy. Reclaim you.

What’s one thing you’re saying “no” to this week so you can say “yes” to yourself?

💭 Overcommitting your time
💭 People-pleasing
💭 Extra work outside of hours
💭 Social obligations you don’t enjoy

✨ Activity: The Gentle No Journal Prompt

Take 10 minutes and write down:

One thing you’ve been saying “yes” to that no longer feels good.
Why it drains you.
How you can lovingly say “no” — to honor yourself and still feel aligned with your values.

(Example: Instead of saying “I can’t help you,” try “I’d love to support you, but I don’t have the capacity right now.”)

💡 Pro Tip:

Start small. Practice saying “no” to low-stakes requests first — like declining an extra task at work or passing on an event you don’t enjoy. Over time, you’ll build confidence and learn that every “no” you speak is actually a bigger “yes” to your well-being.

✨ Remember: boundaries aren’t walls, they’re doors —

and you get to choose what comes through.

AUGUST 12, 2025

💆🏽‍♀️ Ditching Hustle Culture: Why Rest Is Productive

In a world that glorifies grinding, it’s easy to feel like we have to earn our rest. But here’s your gentle reminder: you don’t need to hustle for your worth.

New studies show that people who take intentional rest breaks are not only more emotionally grounded — they’re also more focused, more creative, and more productive in the long run.

That means rest isn’t laziness — it’s a power move.

Whether it’s 10 minutes of deep breathing or a full day off the grid, you are allowed to unplug without guilt.

🧠 Let’s Shift the Narrative

Rest is not what you do after the work is done. Rest is what helps you do the work with clarity and sustainability.

You’re not a machine — you’re a human being who deserves care, pause, and replenishment.

What does rest look like for you this week?

🛌 Taking naps
📚 Reading for pleasure
🧘🏽‍♀️ Gentle movement or stillness
🧖🏽‍♀️ Doing absolutely nothing — and loving it

✨ Activity: Rest Reflection Prompt

Take 10 minutes to answer this in your journal or notes app:

"What kind of rest does my body, mind, or soul need right now?"

Then — choose one thing you can do this week to give yourself that kind of rest.

Need help figuring it out? Use the 7 Types of Rest model:

Physical
Mental
Emotional
Sensory
Creative
Social
Spiritual

💡 Pro Tip

Schedule your rest like it’s an appointment. Put it on your calendar. Set a reminder.

Honor it. Whether it’s 20 minutes or an entire day, protecting your rest time helps train your brain (and the people around you) that your well-being matters too.

You deserve a life that doesn’t require you to burn out in order to be seen.

Rest is your right — and your superpower. 💖

AUGUST 4, 2025

🌅 The Benefits of Slow Mornings: Reclaiming Your Peace Before the Day Begins

Do your mornings feel like a race before you’ve even had a chance to breathe?

Between alarms, obligations, and to-do lists, it’s easy to fall into the habit of rushing — but research shows that even 10 extra minutes of intentional quiet time in the morning can lower stress and improve focus throughout the day.

Slow mornings aren't lazy. They're healing. They're a chance to reconnect with yourself before the world asks you to be everything to everyone.

💭 Imagine This...

You wake up without immediately reaching for your phone.

The house is quiet.

You sip warm tea, breathe deeply, feel the sunlight on your skin.

No noise. No urgency. Just you and the moment.

That peaceful scene? It’s not just a dream — it’s something you can begin to create, one small step at a time.

📝 Try This: Morning Mindset Reset Activity

Start building your own slow morning routine.

👉🏽 Click here to download the "Peaceful Morning Builder" guide and jot down 3–5 simple things you can add to your mornings to help you feel more grounded and less rushed.

Examples:

Sit in silence for 5 minutes
Listen to calming music while you get ready
Journal or set an intention for the day
Enjoy a mindful cup of tea or coffee

Small shifts create sacred spaces.

What’s your idea of a perfect morning?

💛 Warm tea & soft music
🌞 Sunlight and deep breaths
🧘🏽‍♀️ Gentle stretching or yoga
📖 Journaling and quiet reflection

💡 Pro Tip:

Start with just one calming element and build from there. You don’t need a full 2-hour routine. Even adding just one peaceful moment — like 5 minutes of stillness or a slow cup of tea — can shift your entire day.

Remember: how you start your day is how you support yourself. You deserve mornings that pour into you first.

How did start your day today?

Share your morning ritual in the comments! ✨