We all know that we should be taking better care of ourselves. Move more, eat well, drink lots of water… the list goes on. But oftentimes it’s easier said than done. We get busy and our good intentions fall by the wayside.
We all have received advice at some point in our lives to “take care of yourself.” But what does that really mean? And how can we actually do it? We often put taking care of ourselves on the back burner because we are busy taking care of others.
If you’re struggling to make self-care a priority, here are a few tips to get you started.
Why You Need to Prioritize Your Wellbeing
It’s important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. When you’re feeling good, it shows in your appearance and attitude. You have more energy, you’re happier, and people tend to be drawn to you. Taking care of yourself also helps reduce stress and anxiety, and can even improve your memory and concentration. Even staying on top of your appointments and getting the best eye check up can help reassure you and keep your wellbeing in good check. It can make a huge difference to how you feel.
5 Tips to Follow
Self-care is so important but sometimes it feels like one more thing on our never-ending to-do lists. Let’s take a look at the things you can apply to your life.
1. Take Time for Yourself
Set aside some “me” time every day – even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes. During that time, do something that makes you happy with no distractions. This could be reading a book, taking a bubble bath, watching your favorite show, or going for a walk outside. Just do something that relaxes you and allows you to forget about your worries for a little while. Self-care like this can help to boost your mood and give you more energy going forward.
2. Make Exercise a Priority
Exercise releases endorphins – aka “happy hormones” – which help improve your mood and decrease stress levels. It also helps improve sleep quality, boost energy levels, and just makes you feel good overall. Even if you don’t have time for a long workout, going for a walk or doing some yoga at home can make a big difference in how you’re feeling physically and mentally. Taking care of yourself means making time for physical activity even when you’re feeling too busy or too tired.
3. Eat Healthy
We all know that we should be eating more vegetables and less processed food, but it’s not always easy to do. Eating healthy not only benefits your physical health but also your mental health – it can help improve mood swings, increase energy levels, stabilize emotions, sharpen memory and concentration, etc. Meal prepping ahead of time or packing your lunch with healthier options can help make it easier to eat healthy during the week. You don’t have to completely deprive yourself either; allow yourself to indulge in your favorite unhealthy foods occasionally. Balance is key!
4. Get Enough Sleep
This might seem like an impossible task if you have young children or a demanding job, but getting enough sleep is crucial for both your physical and mental health. When you don’t get enough sleep, your entire body suffers. You are more likely to get sick, your skin looks worse, and you just don’t feel good overall. Not to mention, when you’re tired you’re more likely to have mood swings and be irritable. A good night’s sleep is important for taking care of yourself physically and mentally. So, if you can, try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
5. Take Breaks More Often
It’s important to know when you need a break in order to avoid burning out completely. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work or home, step away from whatever is causing that feeling and take some time for yourself. Do something that relaxes you or makes you happy; read a book, listen to music, take a bath, or watch your favorite movie. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it helps you recharge so that you can come back feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever was stressing you out before. Oftentimes we just need a short break in order to refocus and put things into perspective.
Improving Your Health and Wellbeing
Taking care of yourself is so important but sometimes it feels like one more thing on our never-ending to-do lists. But it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Just start with these simple tips and see how you feel after implementing them into your daily routine for a week or two. You might be surprised at how much better you look & feel!