Finding the time for self-care can be challenging, especially when you’re constantly on a busy schedule. You might be swamped taking care of things at work and at home, all while trying to manage healthy relationships, which of course makes it super easy to lose track of your own self-care routine. Nonetheless, neglecting to take care of yourself will in the long run only do more damage than good – As it might even lead to stress and burn out at work and negatively impact other areas of your life.
So where do you start?
Well, the truth is, there are so many tips and tricks on the best self-care routines. However, self-care is essentially a personal thing and as long as you are engaging in activities that will re-energise you not only ‘mentally’ but also ‘physically’ you should be good to go. Because let’s be honest… sometimes you are mentally in a perfect state. However, your body will tell you to slow down or even the other way around – So here are just a few tips that might help you get into a self-care routine that’s perfect for you.
Get enough sleep
This is often underestimated but a good night’s sleep or two can really do wonders. When you’re on a busy schedule you are often worried about time – We always need more ‘time’ to read through our e-mails, to do our work or to finish a project. So we often assume that the more time we spend working and the less time we spend sleeping the more we can get done.
Unfortunately, this mostly works the other way around. The less sleep you have, the more you lose your productivity, creativity and focus. Not having enough sleep additionally makes you easily irritated and annoyed which probably does not benefit you are the people around you. So taking enough time to by going to bed early can make the difference.
Turn of the tech
Have you noticed how many times a day you pick up your phone? It’s crazy, right? You literally just put your phone away but then there’s this URGE to just quickly check your retweets or likes. If we spend that same amount of time and energy into our self-care routine we would all be much better off.
So yes, make turning off your smartphone AND laptop, tablet or any other technical devices part of your self-care routine. Because the truth is you spend the whole day at work staring at a screen and when you get home you end up staring at another one – Try to set rules when it comes to your tech use, for example, not looking at your phone or turning it on silence a few hours before going to bed.
Spend time praying (or meditating)
This might not be your cup of tea, which is fine, but spending time to pray or meditate can really help give a sense of peace. And feeling calm and peaceful is an essential part of self-care. If you are someone who easily gets worried it will eventually affect the way you think, the way you respond and even your decision-making throughout the day. Research shows that prayer has the ability to improve your emotional (and mental) health, it helps you cope through stressful and difficult times.
Take a hot shower or bath
If you’re on a busy schedule you are probably rushing your way out of the shower (or bath) on a daily basis. However, how many times a week do you allow yourself to just enjoy this process? Taking a warm bath is not only beneficial for relaxation it’s good for your health too! So light up some candles, buy your favourite scented bubble bath products, put on some relaxing music and allow yourself to chill.
Commit to eating healthy
Not many people realise this but eating healthy is also a form of self-care. Food affects your performance and energy levels. So when you commit to eating healthy meals you do feel much more energised. For example, if you often experience fatigue, low energy or even headaches, you might want to look into not only what you eat but also what you drink. And of course, this does not mean that you need to say ‘goodbye’ to French fries. However, having a great balance and keeping track of what you eat on a daily or weekly-basis can play a significant part.
