It is essential to take care of yourself. Too often, we knock ourselves out caring for others and fail to recharge our own batteries. Just like a flashlight, when our batteries are drained, our bodies don’t work well, our light isn’t as bright, and we can’t do our best work or provide the best care to others. Carve out the time to care for yourself; it will make a difference in your life. It isn’t selfish to practice self-care!
More Tips For A Happier You
I provided 11 Self-Care Tips For a Happier You in the last article. Today, I will offer ten additional tips for a happier and healthier you.
1. Laugh and Smile More
Laughter is the best medicine, and it is known to trigger an increase of endorphins in the brain. Did you know that physically smiling causes people to feel the emotion of happiness? Watch a funny video once a day or surround yourself with humorous people. Simply having a good laugh once a day can prevent depression.
2. Clean Something
Cleaning may seem like a chore when you have a million things to do, but if you get some free time, try turning on your favorite music and de-cluttering your closet or tidying up the room you spend the most time in (your office, living room, bedroom, etc.) You might be surprised at how refreshing this can be. Cleaning something has a way of lifting a weight off of your shoulders.
3. Use Your Vacation Time
If you have a job that allows you vacation time, do not waste it! Even if you don’t have the resources to take an extravagant trip, vacation time can be used to sit and read or catch up on other things that may be slipping into the background while work dominates your time. Spend extra time with your loved ones, and don’t forget about “you” time! Just don’t let your vacation time lapse. It is time away from work that you can’t get back.
4. Consider a Pet
Pets can improve your quality of life, especially if you live alone or lack children. They are great motivators, supporters, companions, etc. When you want to lie in bed all day, a pet can be that encouraging factor to get you on your feet (to walk the dog, feed the cats, etc.) They depend on you, leaving you feeling less lonely and more loved. They’re always there to listen when you’ve had a bad day.
5. Do Something Creative
Unleash your inner artist and create something just for fun! Creativity has been linked with improved mental health, such as reduced anxiety levels, so don’t be afraid to express yourself through art forms such as painting, writing music/poetry, etc! It doesn’t matter how “good” something looks. Just focus on having fun expressing yourself through creativity.
6. Engage In Hobbies
Hone existing skills or try something totally new like painting, knitting, or cooking. Playing a new sport or collecting something of interest are all considered hobbies. I have a friend who scrapbooks. She has dozens of books she has completed. It gives her joy. I have another friend whose hobby is painting rocks and hiding them for others to find. It doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby, just something you enjoy and do regularly.
7. Spend Time Outdoors
Spending time outdoors has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. Being outside in nature can help reduce stress, boost moods, increase energy, and even improve concentration levels! Try walking in a nearby park, taking a hike in the forest, or sitting on a park bench and enjoying nature. It’ll do wonders for your well-being!
8. Pamper yourself
There is nothing quite like treating yourself to a massage, mani-pedi, or spa day. We all deserve some pampering once in a while. It is worth the time and money to pamper yourself.
9. Get Organized
Getting organized is an important part of self-care because it helps reduce stress levels while also making it easier for us to find things quickly when needed so we don’t waste precious time searching everywhere for stuff.
Clutter can lead to feeling overwhelmed if there isn’t a system for dealing with it effectively.
Getting organized doesn’t have to involve huge projects, either. It could mean setting aside 15 minutes daily/weekly/monthly (whatever works best) dedicated solely to organizing one area, such as your wardrobe/desk/drawers, etc. This way, it won’t seem daunting and will become more manageable over time.
10. Give Yourself Five Positives For Every Negative
A well-known concept in communication scholarship holds that people tend to over-exaggerate the negative and underestimate the positive. In relationships, it takes five positive acts to make up for one negative act.
We are simply too hard on ourselves. We dwell on what we don’t like about ourselves and assume that if we do like anything about ourselves, we are just conceited. Forget that notion and start loving yourself. Any time you think of something you wish to change about yourself, counteract that with five things you like about yourself.
I Am Here To Help
I would love to speak with you to determine if I can help you accomplish your goals. If you need guidance on your career, I am here to help. If you find yourself in a situation where you need career advice or support and want to talk about planning for your future, reach out to me, Rachel Schneider, at Career Find for a free Intro Call.