Do you forget to look after yourself?
Self-care is so important, but it is often on the bottom of our list of prioritises. It gets moved further and further down our list the busier we get, the more in demand we get.
We must make time for ourselves; to eat right, reduce stress and keep fit and healthy. Practising self-care is not easy. Most of us are so busy, we work long hours, have children and people relying on us. It can seem the most selfish thing in the world, to just take some time out and use it purely for ourselves.
The myth: Selfish Self-Care
Why do we feel guilty about recognising the necessity of taking care of ourselves? It is often the guilt of not giving that time to our loved ones that stops us in our tracks. The fear that our time could be more productively used at work, or on our other projects.
In order to succeed in all areas of your life and to give the people you love your best- you have to first, look after yourself.
Find what works for you. What relaxes, refuels and re- centres your spirit. Make time for it. No excuses.
‘As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others’
Audrey Hepburn
What drives you should be your love for those around you. Don’t you want to be the best version of yourself? Have energy- be healthy. Those you love, deserve that, and so do you. Be inspired to get to know yourself and understand what you need, so that you start to not just function, but flourish.
Self-care isn’t a one-time thing!
You can’t practice self-care once and tick it off the list and get back to your crazy life. It is the inclusion of self-care in your daily life- its very repetition which will relax you and make sure you’re at your finest—emotionally, physically, and mentally.
The best way I have found to do this is to isolate what makes you happy. What puts you in a good mood, time and time again. Find those things and make room for them. Implement these tiny self-care habits into the every day.
A little bit of daily love and attention for your own body, mind, and soul.
One of my essential forms of self-care is having what I like to call a ‘home day’ every now and then. I love spending time by myself. I have a big family, a busy social life, I work in customer service- people are around me 24/7 and I am not ashamed of my need for quiet time with my own company.
‘I have to be alone very often. I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel’
Audrey Hepburn
So… ask yourself, how do I refuel?
I am a fan of simplifying things where possible- I think if we bite off more than we can chew it leads to failure… and it is hard to come back from failure. So, I have created a top five ways to help you get started with your own self-care!
TOP FIVE IDEAS TO GET YOU LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF!
1. EXCERCISE
Famously, I do not exercise. And, it is forever on my ‘to do’ list. The most frustrating thing about exercise is when you are doing it and after you have done it, you feel amazing! But it is the most difficult thing to stick with. So, schedule it and make it part of your routine. Don’t set yourself impossible targets but start off with smaller goals and build up. The most important thing is to create a routine that works for you.
2. SLEEP
Sleep can have a huge effect on how you feel both emotionally and physically. Why do you think sleep is the best medicine when you are ill!? We all have different schedules and the much publicised ‘golden 8 hours of sleep’ maybe totally impossible for many of us. But, there are ways you can ‘pimp’ the sleep you do get. Start by thinking about your nightly routine. Are you eating or drinking immediately before bed? It’s especially important to stay away from sugary foods or caffeine, which tend to keep you awake. Do you bring your phone to bed? Do you watch TV in bed? Or worse, work in bed!!!! Make sure your bedroom is the best possible place for you to get a good night’s sleep. It should be free of distractions.
3. GETTING ORGANISED
Getting organised! We all want to be these super organised machines, storming through our days, ticking things off our growing lists, but it is tough. Organising yourself is vital- it encourages productivity and helps you carve out the important time where you can take better care of yourself. Start small, keep a planner or a calendar on the fridge, write down all your responsibilities and appointments. The Bullet Journal has been a huge success in my own life, and actually has also turned into one of my ‘go to’ self-care methods. I find it so relaxing setting up my Bullet Journal and using it. (If you want to learn more about The Bullet Journal, check out my earlier blog- ‘The Bullet Journal Method’- it is a game changer!!!!!
The Bullet Journal Method
4. SAYING NO!
Learning to say no is really hard and can often spark our inner guilt. That gap in the dairy you have been protecting, threatened by an invitation or appointment; many of us feel obligated to say yes when someone asks for our time or energy. However, be careful… if you feel yourself in need of self-care, already stressed or overworked, saying yes to our loved ones can lead to anxiety, exhaustion and irritability. Saying no, may take a little practice, but it is empowering. Remember- it is absolutely ok, to say no to someone in favour of ‘you time’!
5. FOOD
It is no secret – I love food. It is powerful. Our meals can make us feel invincible, full of energy or heavy and lethargic. Those indulging foods can do way more harm than good in the long run, so it is important to keep the balance. Food keeps our minds working and alert and our bodies strong and healthy. Find your super foods and enjoy their natural boost (foods like, blueberries, nuts, green leafy veggies). Planning meals is essential, especially if you have a busy work/life juggling act going on! Take the time at the start of the week to think about your meals and how to make them as healthy and energy boosting as possible!
Whether you decide you want to go for a long walk, take a hot bath, have a ‘home day’ or have a long lay in- taking self-care time is a non – negotiable! Look for the small ways you can incorporate it into your everyday life and improve your current routines. One thing I know for sure, is the more you can work self-care time into your life, the better you’ll feel and the more fun you and those around you will have!
