"I make sure not to interact with people in person or via text or phone until I've done my morning meditation to get in the right mindset for the day.” ~ Your Fellow Meditator, Jerome   This week, I invite you to give yourself some gentle self-care.  You'll explore a different meditation technique in each episode to give yourself the self-care you may so badly crave and need these days. When you nurture your own needs, you're able to be more present for others.   This is part 5 of a 7-part Self-Care meditation series, episodes 2159-2165.   THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: You're invited to take part in a Self-Care Quest. Every day this week, do one thing to improve a part of your life that needs attention. As an added bonus, you're encouraged to take a break from news media while you do your Self-Care Quest.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Self-Care Visualization Day 2: Affirmation "I give to myself so I have more to give to others." Day 3:  Inhale+ visualize a gift, Exhale and release tension  Day 4: Mukula Mudra technique Day 5:  Third Chakra Focus Day 6:  Layer the week's techniques together Day 7:  Weekly Reflection Meditation   LET'S SUPPORT EACH OTHER - WANT TO SHARE YOUR MEDITATION  RITUAL WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS?    Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP Connect with other meditators on the Daily Meditation Podcast private Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedailymeditationpodcast/ SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Join Mary for deeper, longer daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 2-weeks free! Receive access to 2,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.  2 weeks for access to the iOS version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone 2 weeks free access to the Android version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com. Resources: Music by Christopher Lloyd Clarke and Greg Keller.