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Finding Time for Self-Care
Feeling overwhelmed by daily stress? Dive into practical self-care tips in our latest blog post. From quick morning affirmations to indulgent face masks, discover personalized strategies for a healthier, balanced life. Read on to make self-care a seamless part of your routine!
I think it is safe to say that for the majority of people, we have things we stress over continuously—whether it's politics, financial concerns, education, employment, children, or relationships. Stress is like taxes; you can never get rid of it. Although I’m sure you may have heard this time and time again, I don’t mind sounding like a broken record when I say that self-care, especially during stressful times, is very important. The website Verywell Mind describes self-care as “a conscious act people take to promote their own physical, mental, and emotional health. Self-care is vital for building resilience toward those stressors in life that you can't eliminate. When you've taken steps to care for your mind and body, you'll be better equipped to live your best life.” (1) With the holidays fast approaching, it's important to make sure we find the time, even within our busiest schedules for self-care. Below are some various ways to promote self-care in your daily life, depending on the time you have.
“I have no time at all"
So, you have no time at all, do you? Let me ask you this: do you go to the bathroom, sleep, or eat? Do you drive to work, or take an Uber, or bus to get to places? I think it’s safe to say that even at your busiest, you still make time for basic needs. Consistently incorporating even the smallest self-care practices in your daily life can go a long way in managing your stress levels. Try these:
When you go into the bathroom in the morning, start your day with a positive self-affirmation such as “Every day I get better at this.”
- Light a candle while you get ready; just don’t forget to turn it off!
- When you step outside, stop for a moment, close your eyes, and as they say, “smell the roses,” feel the weather on your face, smell the environment around you, and touch the plants as you walk by. Open your senses and take a few moments to appreciate the beauty of the nature around you.
- Take a piece of your favorite candy, chocolate, or snack with you and indulge in the flavors of it at some point during the day.
- If you want to be fancy, then wear some 24k gold under-eye masks while you’re on your way to work.
“I have some time”
So, you have some time on your hands and can make a little more effort into self-care practices. The World Wide Web, as I’m sure you know, has thousands of ideas that can be provided to you with a simple internet search. It's easy to become overwhelmed by the many tips, tricks, and suggestions. The best and easiest thing to do is look for ideas that already fit into your lifestyle. Of course, you may also want to branch out and try new things; go for it! Ultimately, the idea is for you to consistently incorporate these self-care practices into your daily life, so make sure you pick things that you can stick to. Try these:
- My favorite thing to do when I have about 30 minutes to myself is to put on a face mask. My favorite one is the I’m From Honey mask (2) that I keep in the refrigerator for a cooling effect.
- Journaling, coloring, and taking a nature walk in your neighborhood or at the local park are some great options.
- Watching YouTube videos on guided meditation or guided imagery.
- Meet a friend for coffee or after-work drinks.
- Go to the beach (preferably at night when it’s cool and windy unless you want a tan).
“I have all of the time”
So, you have a lot of time on your hands, do you? Do you work remotely, stay at home, or how can I do what you are doing? Either way, it is just as important for you to take time to practice self-care. Oftentimes, I have found that when people have more time on their hands, it leaves even more room to stress and bring down their mood. So once again, sounding like a broken record, it is vital to find ways to incorporate consistent self-care to manage your stress levels. Try these:
- Book time with a therapist.
- Join a support or hobby group.
- Volunteer in your area.
- Have a movie marathon.
- Take a midday nap (my favorite!).
- Look for local community events and attend them.
It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are doing something, no matter how big or small, to take care of yourself. None of this means anything if you are not consistent with it and find some enjoyment out of it. Whether it's free, cheap, or expensive, whether it takes minutes, hours, or days; overall you need to have a solid foundation to stand on to deal with everyday life. So, take time to indulge in life and indulge in yourself.
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