Lately on Alive in the Fire, we’ve been talking about how to thrive in life as a highly sensitive person. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned what I need as a HSP. Certain routines make a huge difference in feeling centered and at peace instead of frazzled and overstimulated. Here are a few things that work for me!

Slow mornings.

I find soooo much peace in not having to rush out the door first thing. Of course, this isn’t always possible (and there’s a trade off between sleeping more and waking up early enough not to be in a hurry). My favorite mornings are slow mornings when I can wake up without an alarm, take my time drinking my coffee, and spend as much time as I want journaling, drinking my coffee, writing, and lounging around the house before doing anything else.

Space in my schedule to do nothing, recharge, and not rush.

I’ve realized especially this year how much I thrive on have blocks of time in my day where there is nothing scheduled. No meetings, no appointments, no deliverables or deadlines jam packed next to each other. If I’m scheduled back to back all day (or have more than 3 meetings) on my schedule, I feel a bit scatterbrained and all over the place. To the best of my ability, I try to build some time into the day where I can do whatever I want, whether that is sitting silently on the couch or on the porch, reading a few pages of a book, lying down for a few minutes, or any other slow, relaxed activity that sounds good in the moment.

Daily walks in nature.

This year more than any other, I’ve been reaaaaallly consistent with my morning walks. I usually go for 3 to 4 miles around the neighborhood and try to make it over to a small nature preserve near where I live. Time at the creek is a precious, sacred routine for me. Hearing the sound of the creek grounds me and truly helps me feel like myself again. I also love seeing all the cute houses, pretty gardens, flowers, and trees in the neighborhood. When I lived in California, trail running was another daily practice that got me outside, into my body, and out of my head. So therapeutic!

Massage, chiropractic and acupuncture.

These are three wellness practices that have been high on my list for years. Not everyone loves massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture, but they really work for me. Working consistently with the same therapists helps me feel safe and taken care of. Massage relaxes me completely and helps me relieve tension, and chiropractic and acupuncture feel like a total reset to my energy. Even if these aren’t your favorites, I suggest finding similar activities that support your body in ways that feel rejuvenating. We HSPs need that!

Sleeping eight or more hours a night.

Sleep is key for me. I mean, it’s key for everyone, but I’m definitely someone who needs a lot of sleep. Five, six, seven hours just doesn’t cut it for me. I need eight hours and preferably more. I love sleeping and take it seriously— I have a consistent bedtime routine that helps me wind down, plus a super comfy bed that I value so much. If I’m feeling like I can’t sleep, I turn to a guided meditation track (usually Julie Rader’s yoga nidra) to help me relax. I also sleep with ear plugs and background noise from an air purifier.

Trusting my intuition and following through on my boundaries, even when it's uncomfortable.

Oooh, this is a good one! I haven’t always been great at saying no, but it’s something I’ve worked on a lot over the last few years. Communicating my needs is something that’s important to me and that takes practice. I’m also not afraid to cancel plans if I’m not up for them, to leave a party or social gathering early, and to ask for help. Boundaries are essential for HSPs, especially if we grew up with a streak for people pleasing!

Reiki energy work.

Reiki is one of the best tools in my self-care arsenal. It’s a Japanese energy work practice that I learned almost ten years ago now and that supports me on a daily basis. I reiki myself before bed every night and that helps me relax. Reiki is also a wonderful tool if I’m out and about in the world and need to protect my energy. Reiki also helps me understand the physical/emotional connection to pain— when my body has pain or discomfort somewhere, I can investigate beyond the surface layer and understand what lesson is there for me. A few years back, I worked at a wellness studio in California where I did a ton of session work with people individually and learned a lot about how people’s energy centers get out of whack in different ways. It was a great learning experience for me! Reiki is an incredible tool that I was first skeptical about but that helps me on a daily basis and that I’m so grateful for. Highly recommend checking it out, even if you’re not sure you’ll like it!

Quiet, calm, and cozy spaces where I can be in my own energy and get grounded.

Especially after being around crowds :) Having safe spaces where I feel at peace is so important. Having a cozy home, too.

People who can hold space for my emotions and are comfortable with silence.

As an HSP, you gotta surround yourself with people who get it and who can be there for you. Naturally I hold space for others whenever I’m out in the world, so I need that support as well, the balance between giving and receiving. And I absolutely cherish the friends who can sit in the silence with me and don’t feel the need to fill every waking moment with chatter. It brings me great peace to just be together and to be ourselves.

Crying when I need to cry.

No doubt, I’m a crier! Crying is a great way to calm my nervous system and express and release any emotions I feel. I’ve learned not to apologize for crying and to embrace the times when I need a good cry. Tears are medicine!

How does this list land for you? Have you tried any of these or do you have other self care practices you enjoy? I’d love to hear in the comments below, or if you need support, feel free to drop me a line!

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