Self care can be thought of as “the art of paying attention to you and your needs”. We could all use a bit more of that! So, today let’s talk about a few good self care ideas.
Self care is not about taking a step away from the hustle and bustle of life and slowing everything down. Far from it. It’s about taking time out of every day to care for yourself so that you can thrive. When you look good on the inside, it permeates to all areas of your life!
Work, hobbies, relationships, physical health and mental wellness will all improve. When you have good self esteem, you are more able to enjoy all the little blessings in life without second guessing them because you know you can always depend on yourself.
See my self care ideas info-graphic
and then scroll down further where you can read more about each topic.
Improving your self care does not have to be something that you do at a great expense. One of the best ways you can improve your mental health is simply making time for yourself.
Eat Well and Linger Longer!
Why should you eat well? We have all heard it before: but it is true: eating correctly is good for you. When you eat a balanced diet: your overall energy levels will be much optimized. You will feel stronger and healthier. Your immune system will also be stronger.
In addition to eating well, you will experience many other benefits as well. These include: reduced stress, better sleep, reduction of cardiovascular disease, weight loss, and better skin complexion. Not only will eating well improve your health and lifestyle, but it will also make you look and feel great.
It is important to remember though that eating well doesn’t cure or prevent disease. The key to healthy living is to take care of your body on the inside and outside by exercising regularly and avoiding any dangerous behaviors such as smoking and drinking.
Refresh Yourself Regularly
Refreshing yourself, your mind and your body fits our topic of self care ideas.
To refresh is to renew or revive — to make someone feel newly clean or invigorated. After a long, hot run, a glass of lemonade might refresh you. You might refresh yourself by taking a shower or a nap, and you can easily refresh your breath by brushing your teeth.
We are all different so it makes sense that we all have different ways to refresh ourselves. Some might think a quick dip in the pool would be very refreshing, while others might think there is nothing worse!
Make Quality Time for self care ideas
Quality time is a common expression referring to the way that an individual actively interacts with another, no matter the time spent. The concept of quality time first became popular with the ideas of active listening and the ability to multitask.
The ability to listen and learn at the same time, while communicating with someone else is multi tasking. Although that might be a good skill for some, you wont have quality time while doing it all at once. Quality time includes slowing down!
Make sure that you are engaging in activities that focus on the person next to you, no matter what they may be doing. Be sure and make good eye contact and ask questions that will help you learn more about the other person.
Wind Down and I dont mean the window!
Wind down by consciously finding ways to lower your stress level. Research has shown that exercise is one effective way to naturally lower stress levels. Simply taking a brisk walk or jog in a quiet place can be extremely beneficial.
Breathing properly from the diaphragm takes a little more effort but can lead to less anxiety, asthma and other respiratory problems. Of course when you can breathe easier, you will wind down and stress less.
Another great relaxation technique is to get into a warm bath. Taking a warm bath before bed relaxes your entire body and can help you sleep more soundly. Increase your soaking enjoyment by adding some music, relaxation tapes, or even your favorite CD.
self care ideas 101 – rest
Getting a good nights sleep every night will help you boost your creativity and stay focused on your goals. Our brains are wired for innovation. If we do not rest, we will eventually succumb to the clutter in our minds and our creativity will be drained.
How much of your life do you spend thinking about the next thing you have to do? I like to think that a good portion of our creative energy is driven by rest. That is why I encourage my clients to get a good nights rest, and to rest as often as they can, including naps.
Talking about naps… have you ever heard of the ‘power nap’? Closing your eyes for a quick 15 minutes and allowing yourself to float away for that small amount of time, can give you a great boost of energy to continue on with your day.
Feed Your Spiritual Self
Spirituality means something different to each of us. Spiritual self care does not have to be religious, although for some it is. Whatever moves or expresses your spirit or inner energy is part of your spirituality.
In some senses your spirituality is expressed in every aspect of your personal and public life. It is just part of who you are – woven into and expressed through every thought, feeling, and action.
Your Spiritual Self is you in your most beautiful and powerful form. It is the authentic self, the unconditioned part, the you without patterns. Take some time to look inside and get to know yourself better.
What Do You Know about Yourself
The more you know about yourself the better you will be able to show yourself love and self care. Have you made time to look inside lately? If not, you should!
Introspection means “to look inside,” and describes the act of thinking about your own actions or inner thoughts. When you examine what you do, say, think or feel and how it affects your life and the lives of others, that’s introspection.
If you are constantly feeling run down and overwhelmed, chances are you will also suffer from minor aches and pains, including headaches. I can help you, just make a booking here.
By simply taking some time out of each day to sit down, relax, and let your body know that it is okay, you can significantly reduce your overall level of stress throughout the day.
In addition to making time for yourself, you should also make time for things that you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, or just hanging out with friends.
