Building Your Personal Self-Care Toolbox with Karina Muller
What does Self-care really mean? For many of us, it remains an elusive goal, one we shove aside because of the whirlwind in our daily lives. We may promise ourselves to explore our personal forms of self-care, but never find the time or tools we need to perform self-care how we want to. Thankfully, in a recent Cafecito Power Break episode with Karina Muller, we are able to dive into the concept of self-care and how to smoothly integrate it into our lives.
Journey into Self-Care
Karina Muller, Founder of Maripossa Wellness, an expert in wellness and self-care, embarked on her journey out of necessity. As a former executive who jumped from one plane to another, juggling her responsibilities worldwide, Karina felt herself burning out, craving tools to navigate the chaos around her. Her experience led her to dedicate years of studying alternative therapies and medicine, all of which led her to create educational programs aimed at helping others avoid the pitfalls of burnout.
The Notion of a Self-Care Toolbox
As Karina’s knowledge grew, she introduced the idea of a “toolbox” for self-care—a collection of easily accessible and simple practices that don’t demand a lot of time or resources. She recognized the cultural expectations that often weigh heavily on Latinas, so this toolbox doesn’t require an overhaul of your life; it’s about integrating small, manageable practices into your routine, such as taking moments to ground yourself before a busy day or incorporating brief stretches while multitasking.
Taking the Guilt Out of Self-Care
Sometimes, we may feel guilty for taking time for ourselves. Previously, we’ve discussed the dangerous narrative that self-care is selfish, and how that concept has been deeply ingrained into Latina culture, where caregiving is synonymous with love. But Karina emphasized the importance of changing this narrative, reminding us that taking care of ourselves is also an expression of love, and it’s essential to be the best versions of ourselves.
“Your body whispers, then it speaks, then it screams.”
– Karina Muller
Signs of Burnout and Listening to Your Body
Our bodies tell us when we’re beginning to burn out, and Karina stressed the importance of recognizing those signals. Signs of burnout could come in the form of physical fatigue, breathlessness, tired or red eyes—which can also signal too much screen time—and a high heart rate despite a lack of movement. If we can acknowledge these signs in time, we can prevent ourselves from having a total shutdown.
But once we recognize these signs, what do we do? Karina suggested that along with building awareness of signals, we must implement small changes to our routine to help our bodies. Practicing eye exercises, taking short breaks to breathe deeply, or drinking more water can all greatly impact your well-being.
Take Action for Yourself
Creating your self-care toolbox is not about grand gestures but implementing small and helpful practices to support your mental and physical health throughout the day. Self-care isn’t a faraway dream; it’s a necessity that deserves priority. A great start to taking care of yourself may be through building a personalized toolbox to unlock new health benefits.
With Karina Muller’s expertise, we hope you have discovered a new path to a more balanced, healthier lifestyle. Remember: it’s not about finding time; it’s about making time for yourself.
