Is self-care a priority for you? It should be. If you run your car without giving it gas, without changing the oil, and without checking up on it here and there, it’s eventually going to quit on you. Believe it or not, your body is the same way! So, why do so many of us treat our cars better than our bodies? In an age where everything has become so immediate – your email goes straight to your iPhone, you’re taking conference calls at home, and your business and personal life are merged into one another – it’s so easy to forget to take care of ourselves.
Don’t let your body become that beat-up, “junker” car! It’s time for a better, happier you. Whether you work for yourself, are an employee, or are searching for that dream job, it is important to practice self-care.
Self-Care Tips
Here are some self-care tips to help you get closer to a happier, healthier mind, body, and soul.
1. Designate “You” Time
Self-care involves taking time each day to do something that brings you joy or relaxation. This could include reading a book or magazine, taking a long bath, listening to music or podcasts, playing an instrument or board game with friends or family members, going on a nature walk or bike ride outdoors, crafting or painting something creative like pottery or jewelry making—the possibilities are endless!
“You” time is essential for rejuvenation. Taking time out for yourself can help reduce stress levels while allowing you to recharge your batteries so you can be more productive in other areas of your life when needed.
2. Unplug
People text at all hours of the day and night. Whatever conversation that needs to happen can wait until tomorrow. Remember, there once was a time when long-distance communication was through the mail, and it took days to get a response. Your texts can wait 8 hours!
Unplug in the evenings and weekends. Make sure you have some “unplugged” vacation time. Don’t let work and technology take over your life. Tech is supposed to simplify things, not increase your stress.
3. Put Your Health First
There are no excuses that take priority over your health. Schedule regular checkups, dentist appointments, etc. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to care for anyone else.
4. Eat Well
Eating a balanced diet is key for proper self-care. Aim to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats each day. Avoid processed foods as much as possible, as they can be high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
5. Drink Plenty Of Water
Staying hydrated is essential for good health, so drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drinking at least eight glasses of water daily will help keep your body functioning optimally and flush toxins from your system. If plain water isn’t appealing to you, try adding slices of lemon or cucumber for flavor!
6. Slowly Integrate Healthy Habits
Most diets fail, and exercise becomes strenuous because we take on too much at once. Instead of giving up ALL sweets, try choosing specific weaknesses to target. Try eliminating soda instead of all caffeine. Set reasonable goals. Aim to exercise 3 days a week instead of aiming to lose 30 pounds.
You’ll find that healthy habits become much easier when they aren’t so daunting.
7. Don’t Forget to Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for proper self-care. Sleeping is the body’s way of repairing itself. Lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, irritability, and impaired cognitive functioning. Aim for 7-9 hours each night to ensure you get enough restful sleep.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine and keep your bedroom dark and quiet. Additionally, avoid screens before bed, as the blue light from devices can interfere with your body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Next time it’s midnight, and you’re considering continuing your work, go to bed. You’ll wake up the next day with a fresh brain, allowing you to think more clearly and produce better-quality work.
P.S. This means don’t push things off until the last minute!
8. Go For A Walk
You need exercise and fresh air. Going for a walk not only gives you both but often clears your mind and helps you to deal better with stress. Walking a mile or more three to five days a week can also help prevent weight gain.
9. Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is another essential aspect of self-care that involves being present in the moment without judgment or expectations of how things should be different than they are right now.
Mindfulness activities could include meditating on your breath for 10 minutes each morning before starting your day, journaling about what you are grateful for at night, using apps like Calm or Headspace, doing yoga poses, taking mindful walks outside, listening to guided meditations, etc.
Practicing mindfulness can help bring clarity into your life by helping you become aware of any negative thoughts that may be holding you back from living life fully in the present moment instead of worrying about the future or dwelling on the past too much!
10. Connect With Others
Social connection is an integral part of self-care that helps us feel supported by others who care about us deeply—whether it’s family members, friends, colleagues at work, or even strangers we meet along the way!
Spending quality time with these people helps us build relationships that provide emotional support when needed. Especially during difficult times when we may feel overwhelmed by our feelings but don’t know how to express them to those around us without feeling judged too harshly!
Connecting with others also helps us realize that we aren’t alone in our struggles, which can make things seem less daunting than if we were facing them all alone!
11. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is another important part of self-care because it allows us to protect ourselves from feeling taken advantage of by others who might not have our best interests at heart all the time (even if they mean well!).
Setting boundaries means knowing what behaviors are okay with us and which ones aren’t—and communicating this clearly so there’s no confusion later. It also means learning how to say ‘no’ when needed, so we don’t overcommit ourselves, which leads directly into burnout territory (which nobody wants!)
Practicing the above tips should help you to feel happier and healthier. Watch for our next post, where we will provide even more tips to help you on your journey of successful self-care.
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.