Do you find enough time to mind yourself and to look after your own health every week? It is worth stopping briefly and taking a few minutes out for yourself to come up with some essential self care hacks you can practice every day.
The practice of “self care” is really simply a set of tools you can use to maintain and improve your own physical and mental health in your daily life. Let’s take a look at some of the self care tools you can add to your kit today.
Self Care is:
Getting enough exercise:
Just 30 minutes of walking or gym class can really boost your mood and wellbeing. Better yet, try to raise your heartrate and breathing to a level where you can’t easily walk and talk for 20-30 minutes every day. This improves aerobic fitness and also helps relax the body. Join your gym today!
Setting Goals and Priorities:
Take a few minutes out to sit down and write down the top three things you enjoy doing, but also the top priorities in life at the moment. Writing them down and seeing these priorities and desires on paper in front of you will help you focus and decide on what’s achievable. You can easily spend too much time on the wrong things, leaving you wanting time for the more important things in life.
Eating regular healthy meals:
Your meals are your body’s fuel for the day ahead. Make eating breakfast, lunch and dinner a priority in your day. Plan for a weekly supermarket shop and a couple of small top-up shops. Make sure not to rush your meals too much. Try to enjoy your food. Have something fresh with every meal. Don’t rely on fast food or treats to keep you going. Remember to fuel your body well and it will serve you well.
Staying Positive:
This is a big one to focus on. The enemy is in the head, as they say. Work on building positive self-talk, take out the negative words when referring to yourself. Praise your achievements and replay them often in your head. Instead of focusing on what still needs to be done, focus on what you have already achieved and how well you are doing. When you are going through a rough patch, speak to your friends and family or seek professional help. Work on being content with yourself and with where you are at in life.
Getting enough Sleep and Relaxing:
We are good at leading busy lives and not finding enough time for the more relaxing and slow aspects of our lives. Sleep and relaxation are absolutely vital for a healthy mind and body. We need about 7-9 hours of sleep every night, and most of us don’t get that. If you find it hard to relax, try making yourself sit down for 15 minutes at some stage in the day and just let your mind wander. Also make sure to be ready for bed at 10pm, lights out by 10.30pm. You will be able to keep up with your daily demands so much better on a decent night’s sleep and some daily time out for yourself.
