20 things to do on Sunday that will make your life better

There is nothing quite like the feeling of staying in bed a little bit longer on a dark, wintery Sunday morning to just soothe your soul and make you feel like a million dollars. It might even be the most luxurious thing you get to do all week.

As I sit here in my bed, with a full cup of Nespresso Melozio on my nightstand, Diptyque candle going, laptop on a pillow writing this blog post…I can’t help but just feel like I am right out of a coastal grandmother holiday movie scene. The only thing I am missing is a fireplace right in my bedroom with a gorgeous ocean view. Wouldn’t that just be divine?

For me, Sunday always just feels like that magical day. The day that makes you feel like the main character of a movie. The day typically dedicated to treating yourself, doing some self care and soul care.

According to Astrology, Sunday is the day ruled by the Sun. Your Sun sign (where the Sun was positioned in the sky when you were born) is the representation of your identity, how you see yourself. So it is a day energetically set up for you to cultivate a strong sense of your identity. ( I break down each day astrologically in this post ) Sunday is always a perfect opportunity to shift yourself back to identifying yourself as the main character of your own movie in order for you to have a healthy self concept, something key to your confidence and ability to manifest the life you want.

You see it all over TikTok, all the habits you can do to become ‘that girl’. While I love all of those green smoothie, 10 mile run, vacuum your all white living room inspired ideas, they just feel a little impractical to me. So, today, I wanted to go a little bit deeper with you and share 20 ‘realistic’ things you can do today to romanticize your life so that you feel a little bit more like a main character of your own movie.

20 self care things you can do to romanticize your weekend:

1. Grab that book you have half read and finish it.

   If you are anything like me, you might have 2-3 books you are currently reading and it takes you a month to get back to it. Why not make a focus to actually spend some time to focus on it and finish it? The feeling of finally finishing that book feels so so good. I also love to pile all of my favorite design books in bed and just indulge in them.

   A few books I suggest:

   • Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza - this book will help you reset your vibe for the week ahead

   • The Game of Life and How to Play it by Florence Scovel Shinn - I am obsessed with this book and this woman. It’s a short and easy afternoon read that will inspire you endlessly.

2. Less screen time and more presence with your environment.

   Look, I know you are on a screen right now as you read this very blog post. But why not decide today to focus less on screens and more on your current space. The people in it, the decor, the smell, the feel. Put down the phone, turn off the tv and just take in the moments.

3. Open a window and let in fresh air.

   There is just something so therapeutic about being outside. The fresh air can just intoxicate your spirit. I know the weather doesn’t always permit but opening a window and just letting fresh air in will change the energy of your home, even if its only for 5 min.

4. Journal on 3 things you are really really grateful for.

   Even if you aren’t big on journaling, you really should make the effort. I literally love the feeling of having old journal entries to look back on 3 or 6 months down the line. It always shows you how your life is unfolding and it makes you feel like you’re in a movie when you look at your life that way.

   Don’t feel like being grateful? Try the self-love journal that I created to have you getting to know your self on a deeper level.

   5 journal prompts to help you make the most of your Sunday:

   💛 What are 3 things I enjoyed this week? Focus on the good! What brings you joy and satisfaction in your life this Sunday? What opportunities have you been blessed with? Starting your Sunday mornings off with a positive mindset through gratitude can be a real mood booster!

   💛 What are you proud of yourself for accomplishing this week? It’s time for you to get in the celebration energy so you can feel good about yourself instead of beating yourself up.

   💛 What is one way I can put myself first this Sunday?

   💛 What can you do to your home today to help you feel prepared for the week ahead? Make a list of things you could do and only actually do 1 or 2.

   💛 What held you back from being your best self in the past week and how can you adjust for the week ahead?

5. Sage your space.

   I have blogged about my love of sage many times, but this one will never not be a part of my Sunday ritual. If you haven’t saged your home yet. Today is that day. Get to whole foods, they have an entire selection to choose from. Start at your front door, light that baby up and go clockwise around your home. Let the smoke fill every corner and speak out your intentions for the week as you do it. Say prayers for what you want.

6. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water.

   And get all extra about it. Use a large cup or bottle you love. Add fresh lemon juice and chlorophyll. I also like to add electrolyte powder to my water for extra nutrients and vitamins, too.

7. Turn on your favorite playlist and turn it up.

   One of my favorite things to do at the moment is put on Bossa Nova Beach Jazz on Youtube and let it play in the background. There’s several you can choose from, I always love the ones with fireplaces going or a view of downtown at night. It just makes your day feel so romantic and fun.

8. Wear your favorite robe all day.

   If you aren’t leaving the house, why not put on your favorite robe and wear it all day. I swear by wearing my robes. They just make you feel so glamorous and chic. I even wear perfume for myself too. It just gives you that extra little touch.

9. Try Wim Hoff breath work exercise.

   The first time I tried breath work, I was changed forever. Your body literally gets invigorated when you do it. This is the first one I ever did and I loved it so much. You can do it in bed, before you even get up and I promise it will just make your day so much better, energetically.

10. Clean & organize your main bathroom drawer.

    As many of you know, Feng Shui is my thing. I am always doing little habits, tips and tricks for elevating the chi in my space. Having said that, sometimes a complete organizing session or overhaul of a closet can be too overwhelming for a Sunday.

    So, one trick I learned was that doing even the smallest organizing can have the same effect as a big one. Why not just do your main bathroom or kitchen drawer. It’s just a small thing to do but feels so big when you’re done. Read this post on turning your bathroom into a sanctuary.

11. Go shopping for organic, whole foods & try a new recipe.

    I’m not going to lie, I don’t always eat perfectly during the week. Sometimes, I even love to order out. Last week, I ordered the most amazing pad thai and it was heavenly. So, on Sunday, it can be fun to balance it out, grab some healthy, fresh foods and try a new recipe. And make sure to make it extra big so you can meal prep it to eat for the rest of the week.

12. Take a nap and rest when you need it.

    I mean, this is one I shouldn’t have to say but I know how we women can feel incredibly guilty for allowing ourselves to be lazy and rest. We’ve been taught to look at ease, calm and flow as a negative thing. (don’t miss my podcast episode 226: 6 lies we tell ourselves as women and how to heal them)

13. Face time a loved one.

    Every time I get off of a face time call with one of my besties who doesn’t live in my city, I honestly feel so nourished. It’s like good soul food.

14. Treat yourself to a houseplant.

    I love my plants so much. They are like my little babies. I always water them a little extra on Sundays and wipe down their leaves with wet towels. It is such a fun, self nurturing ritual and I love teaching my little boy to enjoy it too. Why not get a new one if you don’t have any yet? See my houseplant ritual.

15. Wash your sheets & make your bed.

    So once you are finally out of bed, throw your sheets in the washing machine. Have you ever tried the High Maintenance glamorous wash ? When I was in high school, I was obsessed with Tyler candles and the high maintenance scent. But even all these years later, I just still love this smell. And when you get into your bed Sunday evening after using this on your bedding, your life will never be the same. I also love switching out my sheets with a fresh new set. These green bamboo are my favorite and so luxurious.

16. Put a new inspiring/motivational screensaver on your phone.

    For some reason, whenever I upload a new screensaver on my phone, I feel like my life completely just got a restart. Try it and see how it feels for you.

17. Try a new veggie juice.

    Or some kind of smoothie perhaps? I love having carrot juice or celery juice on Sunday. It just makes me feel like I am getting a healthy start to my week. Suja is my favorite brand to use if I don’t try and make it at home myself.

18. Try some hip opening positions on a yoga mat at home.

    I’m obsessed with yoga and my favorite yoga class in on Sunday morning. My favorite teacher always plays Eryka Badu as we are walking in and it just instantly puts me in a relaxed, leveled up vibe. But you can also google some yoga hip opener positions to help you. Did you know that you will release trauma as you do hip opening stretches? Life changing for us women. Trust me. You can start with something like this.

19. Create an outdoor oasis in your backyard/balcony.

    If the weather permits, I love to go out to my little outdoor space and just be. I light a little sandalwood incense, sweep away any leaves and just sit and sip my coffee. Having a little outdoor oasis can be so fun for your spirit, head to HomeGoods and grab some things to spruce up your little space. Here are some really fun ideas for your backyard space.

20. Start a new course or project.

    I always encourage the women in my community to start my courses on Sunday. Mostly because you have the time to dive into the content. This will encourage you to whip out your journal and prepare yourself for your next up-level. It helps you to shift from worry, stress or anxiety into focusing on your self. Your own growth and personal development.

    💕 Want to go on a spiritual awakening? Take my course Soul Aligned.

    💕 Want to unleash your inner feminine side? Dive into my course The Feminine Frequency: secrets of the divine feminine.

    💕 Want to manifest big money this week? Start with Soul Aligned Wealth.

Hope this post inspires you to make your Sunday incredibly special today because of course, you deserve it.

love you,

Ashlina

Morning Pages: How to actually stick with this daily self-care habit

Are you having a hard time journaling in the morning? This blog post will help you commit to the Morning Pages habit.

So, here we are again. Another round of reading and working through the book, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and honestly, I’m kind of excited to start these pages all over again. I was inspired to reopen this book one day after reorganizing my bookshelf and decluttering some books. I introduced the idea to the women inside of my mastermind so we are all doing it together, which makes it so much more fun.

You may even want to listen to this episode of my podcast for the last time I was experimenting with the Morning Pages during my morning routine.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE MORNING PAGES?

Well, Julia, author of The Artist's Way, created this technique to use journaling as a way for people to get themselves out of a creative rut. Morning pages are a ‘stream-of-consciousness’ writing on 3 full pages, a habit done first thing in the morning, everyday. The idea is write out longhand all of the thoughts that come out of your head and get it out onto paper instead of lingering in your head all day.

Are Morning Pages Worth It?

BENEFITS OF WRITING MORNING PAGES

1. Enhanced Creativity: Morning Pages help unleash your creativity by providing a space for free-flowing, uninhibited expression. By writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts each morning, you tap into your subconscious mind and allow creative ideas to emerge. This practice can lead to increased inspiration, fresh perspectives, and innovative thinking.

2. Increased Self-Awareness: Engaging in Morning Pages encourages self-reflection and self-discovery. By writing without judgment or censorship, you gain insight into your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. This heightened self-awareness allows you to identify patterns, gain clarity on inner conflicts, and explore your desires and aspirations.

3. Emotional Release and Stress Reduction: Morning Pages act as a therapeutic tool for releasing emotional burdens and reducing stress. As you write, you can express and process your feelings, worries, and frustrations. This cathartic practice helps clear your mind, release emotional tension, and create space for more positive and productive energy.

4. Improved Mental Clarity and Focus: The act of writing Morning Pages acts as a mental warm-up, clearing away mental clutter and enhancing mental clarity. By emptying your thoughts onto the page, you create mental space and improve your ability to concentrate and focus throughout the day. It can also help you prioritize tasks and set intentions for the day ahead.

5. Strengthened Self-Discipline and Routine: Engaging in Morning Pages cultivates self-discipline and establishes a morning routine. Making this practice a daily habit fosters a sense of commitment and dedication to your creative pursuits. It encourages you to show up consistently for yourself and your creative process, ultimately strengthening your overall discipline and work ethic.

Something to keep in mind, the benefits of Morning Pages can vary from person to person. It's essential to approach this practice with an open mind and allow it to evolve based on your individual needs and experiences. Regularly engaging in Morning Pages can contribute to your personal growth, creative fulfillment, and a deeper connection with your inner self.

HOW TO ACTUALLY STICK WITH MORNING PAGES:

Here’s the thing, I love the Morning Pages but sometimes it can feel like the most daunting thing to sit in front of a journal and feel like you have nothing to write. So, I kind of wanted to share a few things that have helped me really stick to this habit this time around…

♥️ Having an accountability partner or joining a bookclub. Inside of Manifestation Queen, my membership community, there is a specific group of women who are all working together through the book, the Artist’s Way. So that everyday when we do our journal pages, we post photos and share our experiences. It’s kind of like working out, when you have partners it just feels easier to stick to the consistency.

♥️ Make sure you have supplies that you are OBSESSED with. Okay, so for me, a girl with 38230572 journals, I have to say that these specific spiral notebooks are my absolute favorite to write morning pages in. I don’t want anything too big to where writing three pages feels like a heavy load. They seem to be just the right size for my personal morning pages. I also am in love with this gold pen. It’s pretty, it feels nice to write with and it also comes in a blush pink which I adore too.

♥️ Do not edit what you think. One of the things I noticed was that once I started to write a thought I didn’t really like, I would hesitate to continue writing. i seriously had to let go of the idea that anyone else would actually read the journal and even care. You have to truly let out the most authentic thoughts in order to purge them from your mind. **This is the only truly effective way to have morning pages work for you.

♥️ Do it first thing in the morning. Honestly, if you wait until after you do all of your morning things, it just feels harder. I think it’s because your racing mind just gets going and once it starts up, it is just harder to slow down. I even noticed that if I begin it before I make my coffee, the writing gives me a little more energy so I don’t feel the need to drink so much coffee.

♥️ Put down your phone. I really shouldn’t have to even say this but my phone is my biggest distraction. If I don’t put it away or at least face down so that I don’t see or receive any alerts, I am done for. Instead of putting my phone near me, I actually enjoy putting on this Buddha zen meditation music and that really helps me to get into the zone.

Have you ever done morning pages before? I would love to know your experience, too. And again, if you would like to join my community of high vibe women, come check out The House of Bliss.

You May Also Like:

🩷 How to use journaling to awaken your inner goddess

🩷 The journal ritual you didn’t know you needed

🩷 How to Manifest with your journal, my favorite ritual