Man, we’re only 7 days into March and I already feel like it’s been a good 10 days. I’m so exhausted when the middle of the afternoon strolls around, I feel my anxiety poking at me during random hours of the day but mainly at night which causes me to not be able to sleep, and to top it all off when my anxiety does hit me I lose motivation to do anything!
Now I know I can’t be alone in this feeling, right? Maybe with the anxiety aspect but does anyone else feel like the days are becoming longer and longer?
But even if I am, that’s ok, we all process the world around us differently. But all this exhaustion, the strong will to not lose motivation, and the ever-pressing battle with my anxiety, got me to thinking about self-care.
Self-care is so, so, so important. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do for a living, the various roles you take on throughout the day, or even how you get through the day, everybody needs to practice self-care. It helps keep us at our center, keep us focused, motivated, and of course balanced.
In the past I was really bad at taking care of myself. This was mainly due to the fact that I always made sure everyone around me was taken care of. Over the past couple of years I have gotten better at making myself a priority, but I’m not yet where I really want to be in that department.
But I’m getting better and better at putting myself first every day.
And since I’m in need of a reminder of this, I thought I’d share with you all some ways you can engage in self-care.
You’re probably thinking of the pampering type of self-care, and while that is always relaxing and something to look forward to, there are other ways to make yourself a priority without necessarily breaking the bank.
So here are my top 20 ways to make yourself a priority without breaking the bank :).
#1 Take a nice long bath – I know for some this may seem a bit silly. You’re probably thinking I’m an adult, I don’t take baths anymore! Well I’m here to tell you it’s the one part of adulting that you are doing wrong! There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a bath, especially if the intention is to relax. Add some bubbles, light some candles, put on some happy music, and just relax. I promise you won’t regret a minute of it.
#2 Get out and be a part of nature – Get out and be active! Or at the very least just appreciate nature. You can go for a walk, a run, or even a bike ride. In fact take the whole family, or have a friend tag along. You don’t have to do this by yourself. Just get out of the house, or office, or wherever you may be and appreciate mother nature for all that she is, and all that she has to offer.
#3 Search for a change of scenery – Instead of going to your usual places, try something new. Go to the target that’s on the other side of town instead of the one down the street from where you live. Go to a different movie theatre, try a new restaurant. Change your scenery, there’s so much beauty to see when we’re willing to look just a little bit further. And doing so may bring you some peace of mind and relax you in ways you never thought possible.
#4 Read a book – I love reading so of course I would recommend this! It’s so fun, it’s a great way to let your mind escape, and it’s literally one of the least time consuming things to do. All you need is a good book, a nice comfortable place to read (I personally prefer my bed), a little bit of light, and let your mind be free. All you’ll be able to focus on is the words on the page and how your imagination processes that. It’s the perfect distraction from all your responsibilities but will also keep you feeling super productive.
#5 Meditation – Another personal favorite. This can be anything from yoga to stretching, or just sitting still and focusing on your breathing, which is known as mindful meditation. Whatever your poison, take advantage of it whenever you can. You’ll be so glad you did.
#6 Journal – Write down all your thoughts, sort of like a brain dump. This is a great way to not only clear your mind, but to also check in with yourself. Often times we are over powered by our thoughts and emotions, journaling allows you to be able to apply some kind of structure and focus to those runaway thoughts.
#7 Sleep – Plain and simple. Get your sleep on! It’s so important that we allow our bodies to rest up whenever we can. If you’re anything like me and struggle with getting 8 hours of sleep at night, take advantage of power naps. They’re a good way to recharge our minds and our bodies in 30 minutes or less.
#8 Mani/Pedi – Ladies you know what I’m talking about! Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. It’s the best way to check out mentally without checking out physically. Gentlemen, you can benefit from this too. There is no shame in a man who likes to take care of himself. If anything it’s a turn on.
#9 Work out – Workout. It’s not everyone’s favorite thing to do but if it is, hey you know what to do! If you don’t enjoy working out as much, just treat yourself to 10-15 minutes a day of some type of workout. It doesn’t have to super hardcore or intense. Just get that body moving and those muscles contracting. Your body and mind will appreciate you for it.
#10 Burn a candle – There’s something so relaxing about letting a candle burn, especially if it smells really good! I like to burn one, and just lay in bed, in the dark with the candle as my only light, eyes closed, doing absolutely nothing but focusing on my breathing and noticing the little things around me.
#11 Declutter/Organize – Do a little bit of cleaning. This doesn’t have to be anything major, just something like washing dishes, cleaning off the table, or even vacuuming a room. Commit to at least 15-30 minutes of this, and I promise it’s almost the perfect distraction from a lot daily stressors and a good way to feel accomplished.
#12 Be free of social media – We all are aware of this we just refuse to admit it most of the time. Social media has such a big influence on how we manage our free time, and how we entertain our emotions. I’m guilty of this as well. But I have also found that when I am not on social media (which is like all the time) I feel so much more free and focused to be able to ensure that I am taking care of myself. I’m present in the real world, which is what we all should strive to be.
#13 Be still – This sounds silly I know but sometimes when we are completely still we can become the most in touched with ourselves. We do a lot of movement throughout the day. We are conditioned to always be active, to pass the time not let the time pass us, and this can make it hard for us to find our center.
#14 Engage with animals – Animals are not only a great friend to have, but they are also a great form of therapy and comfort. They can have such a huge impact on our emotional state of mind, often times brining happiness when we need it the most. It’s an area I encourage everyone to explore at some point and time in their life.
#15 Shop but not until you drop – This doesn’t mean go on crazy shopping spree! Instead just treat yourself to something nice every once in a while. It’s a great way to remind yourself that you are a priority too.
#16 Spa day – Nails done, hair done, everything done, done! Go get a massage, a facial, whatever it is that makes you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
#17 Plan a mini get away – This can be with friends, with a spouse, or by yourself. Just get in the car and drive somewhere where you can have some valuable time to really focus on yourself and the activities you enjoy participating in. It’s a great way to take a mini break from our busy schedules, especially if you are involved committed parents!
#18 Brainstorm – Got big plans for the future? Well plan away. Even if you don’t just brainstorm activities you can participate in. This can be finding new hobbies or creating a business plan. Keep yourself active but in a really relaxed and comforting way.
#19 Plan – This goes along with brainstorming. Plan out things that need to get done or you want to get done. By doing so we are allowing our minds to remain active but our bodies to be at ease.
#20 Make a to-do list – There are a million things we could do in a day, and then there are a million other things we find impossible to do in a day. Either way make a to-do list of the things you want or need to get done. That way while you’re taking a day to yourself, you’re also being proactive.
The moral of the story here is that it’s so important that we take the time to take care of ourselves. I know most days for most people this can be hard, but we absolutely have to be sure to engage in self-care at least once a week.
Not only will it ensure you are really doing your best to take care of your health, but you will always be centered. This means you’ll be more in touch with and aware of your thoughts and emotions, you’ll be able to detect early on when you are pushing your body to its limit, and you will be able to more easily recognize the moments you need to take a break.
I know this is no easy feat for a lot of people, but I encourage you all to just give it a try. You’ll love it, I know you will.
Do you have any self-care tips? If so let me know below :).
-Xo
Kimora