Being Your Greatest Lover
With February in the air, I’m thinking about love.
And love, I’ve realized—through heartbreak—has to start with ourselves. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so how do we care for our bodies, minds, and emotions in a way that lets us show up fully?
Self-care, to me, is radical self-acceptance (and a little awe) for exactly where you are on your path, right now. Everything else—the massages, candles, a new cashmere sweater or lipstick—comes second, as a way to honor and adore the temple that is YOU.
Here’s a glimpse into the rhythms I follow—daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally—to attune inward, nurture myself, and stay aligned with my own energy. Life is always a journey of moving in and out of the light, of falling off course and steering back to center. So, how do we strengthen our center so that it’s always locatable when we need it most?
I hope this inspires a rhythm or two you can weave into your own life—especially as momentum begins to pick up with the Year of the Horse starting February 17th.
DAILY
Movement is non-negotiable. I start Mondays with a 3 mile run, followed by mid-week quick 5-20 minute yoga and pilates sessions on the Melissa Wood Health app. Sometimes, after work I’ll take a walk around the neighborhood. Weekends are for getting out into nature with a long solo hike or bike ride out to the ocean.
Always sipping on something! I drink about 88oz of filtered water a day (committed to my Berkey for fluoride removal) and use an LMNT electrolyte packet every other day or so, especially after a workout. I end just about every day with a glass of magnesium. I cut caffeine four years ago, but herbal teas, decaf cold brew (Wandering Bear if you haven’t tried!), decaf iced oat milk lattes, and reishi hot chocolate are daily little luxuries.
Heat and grounding. Microwaveable beanbags might not win style awards, but they are miraculous for sore muscles, cramps, or just relaxing. My sister gifted me a weighted vest for Christmas, which I discovered also works brilliantly as a grounding tool between calls or after yoga. I even napped in it once too! And my weighted blanket is nice a touch substitute—especially because I live alone. You can always curl up in one and feel so held.
Pacing my energy. As a Manifesting Generator, my energy surges fast. Staying aligned means listening to my body and intuition, taking micro-breaks—a 15-minute nap, 10-minute walk, or 5-minute meditation—before starting a new project. It’s a small practice that was hard to begin but pacing myself has had a huge impact on my capacity, otherwise I can totally get misaligned and wonder what happened.
Food with intention. I’ve been gluten and dairy free for 15 years now so eat paleo-ish most of the time; high protein, a carb here and there, and lots of veggies. Lunch is always a giant salad plus protein—tuna, chicken, steak, bacon, or hard-boiled eggs. Followed by a few squares of dark chocolate because balance, right?
Supplements. Working with a naturopath over the years has me dialed into a supplement routine that supports my autoimmune thyroid disorder (Hashimoto’s) and overall energy sensitivity. I take ten different things a day—at least on the days I can stomach them all—I won’t bore you with the specifics since they aren’t universal but happy to share more if you want the specifics.
Rebooting the face. Before I apply my morning face creams, I will use my jade roller to perk myself up. And on days I need an extra zing, I will apply my potions and lotions and then grab my ice roller out of the freezer to really zap myself awake.
Gratitude journaling & daily readers. I don’t always pull out my gratitude journal but I find it super helpful to do whenever I need an energy shift. I also turn to The Artist’s Way Every Day or Journey to the Heart daily readers for short grounding messages or inspiration, especially when feeling low.
Digesting, reflecting, and contemplating. As a highly sensitive person, and someone who holds space for others in the work that I do, this is a daily must. I journal intuitively throughout the day: tracking energy patterns, jotting stream-of-consciousness notes, exploring challenges, or clarifying desires.
My journal is a mashup of the limiting beliefs I’m challenging, the relationship dynamics I’m navigating, the energy patterns that are unfolding, and the desires I’m learning to be honest about and trust.
I use my personal Human Design, astrology, and Gene Keys charts as guides. They speak the same language and give me a framework to let curiosity wander, map my experiences, and deepen my self-awareness.
WEEKLY
Face masks & body scrub. I love indulging in a face mask and body scrub when I take a bath.
Painting my nails. Every Monday after my run and shower, painting my nails is a grounding act. It settles me into my own energy and fuels me for a creative day before client work starts on Tuesdays.
Red light therapy. Post-hike, I hop into my sauna blanket for nervous-system-level relaxation. Adding the face mask really forces me to fully drop in. You can use code: JILLIANBREMER for 15% off.
Somatic check-ins. A couple nights a week, I tune into where I’m holding tension and gently massage pressure points with body oil—around my ears, hips, or thighs—to reset my vagus nerve and release stress.
Guided meditation. Not daily, but I use meditations on Insight Timer (Sarah Blondin is a fave) or To Be Magnetic Daily Imaginings when I need a reset. I’ve noticed I thrive with mini daily resets in silence rather than long meditation sessions. I also love popping on a Spotify playlist to match my energy when I need to let things flow.
Learning & expanding. I read about a book a month these days and listen to 2-3 podcasts. I used to consume way more but decided to shift more energy towards creating rather than consuming last year. After a while it just feels like everyone is saying the same thing in different ways, which is great when you need the inspiration but not as a replacement for actually doing the thing.
Oracle cards for guidance. I pull Oracle cards for guidance when feeling unsure or needing perspective. I will ask a question, and see what card flies out while I shuffle the deck. I trust that whatever it is is the message I most need to hear. It’s usually pretty validating and boosts my trust that I’m exactly where I need to be in my process.
MONTHLY
Floral remedies. I recently have been experimenting with the Alexis Smart remedies based on whatever emotion I’m working through at the moment and have found them beyond profound. When I took the unburden for a month, it helped release so much— both tears and insights. Right now I’m using Ganesh to help bolster confidence.
Artist dates. Doing the things that light you up! I love antiquing, shopping, museum exhibits, enjoying a salad out with a side of fries, and aim for a couple of fun things each month—no output required. And sometimes it’s simpler, like coloring or painting at home.
New Moon & Full Moon Practices. I set intentions with the new moon and release on the full moon, aligned with the signs and houses in my personal chart. Revisiting journals from past months helps me track patterns and notice subconscious dynamics I might otherwise miss. There’s also something deeply awe-inspiring about this practice—realizing that you are always supported by something bigger than yourself.
SEASONALLY
Key astrological transits. I don’t usually track collective astrology—it’s too confusing to keep up with both the collective and my own personal weather.
Instead, I focus on my personal transits using The Pattern app. It’s invaluable for understanding the seasonal energy waves in my chart, which often last 6 to 9 months and can feel like intense weather patterns you’re not used to. The You → Impacting You Now section shows if you’re moving through an impactful transit, and how it’s influencing your natal chart.
Being aware of these patterns helps me navigate them with more clarity and humility. Right now, Jupiter is conjunct my Sun in Cancer in the 8th house, igniting my drive for transformational connection like never before and man do I feel it!
Lion’s Gate Portal (8/8). Every year on this date is like a little cosmic glimpse into your future. I always love to write down the feelings and visions I perceive around this time as it’s a powerful energy for manifesting.
Tarot pull for the year. My friend did this for her birthday one year to note a theme for each month of the next year and I loved the idea so I pulled a card for every month of 2026 and snapped a photo of it on my phone to reference as the months play out. January, as the Queen of Cups was spot on, with deep emotional clarity quietly arriving in waves.
Numerical Signature for your year. On my birthday, I like to note which numerological year I’m entering—from 1 to 9. Right now, I’m in a 1 year, all about new beginnings and fresh energy. In July, I’ll move into a 2 year, focused on relationships, receptivity, and connection.
Vision boarding. I update the vision board in my office once or twice a year. I love mixing images with words—focusing less on grand dreaming and more on how I want to feel, how I want to live, and what that actually looks like in my day-to-day life.
There is no teacher, no voice, greater than your own. Other people can support us but they can’t be our source. We have to be our greatest lovers. Because self-love tells the universe: I am worthy of love, I deserve success, I am ready to receive fully, even through my doubts and fears.
Much love to you all! I’d love to hear—what self-love practices are supporting you right now? Share in the comments so we can inspire one another.
