By: Viraj Shah
Spending a little time to yourself and making self care a priority is essential if you want to feel your best. It can help you feel happier, healthier and be more productive putting a renewed pep in your step. Making self care part of your everyday routine means taking the time to refill your cup, so to speak.
But how do you make self care a priority? Let’s take a look at a few simple ways you can ensure you get in your well deserved me-time. Remember, self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential.
1. Crafting Your Personal Self-Care Rituals
Creating a personalized self-care routine is the first step in making this wellbeing practice something you can easily add to your daily schedule. Whether your rituals are big or small, a routine makes your goals easy to remember.
Your self-care rituals should be unique to you and what you enjoy—that way, you’re more likely to stick to them. When you first wake up and when you go to bed are easy times to add new things to your routine, so try things like reading, meditating, stretching or journaling. If every day isn’t doable, you could try a weekly self-care day. Even making sure you drink 2 or 3 full reusable bottles of water a day is a great start to taking more care. Whatever it is you enjoy, take the time to do it regularly.
2. Setting Boundaries
Self-care isn’t always about saying yes to what is good for us, but also saying no to what isn’t. Setting boundaries is a crucial step in self-care, as it allows you the space to breathe. It’s also about recognising when you may be feeling burnt out—setting those boundaries ensures you can refill your cup.
If you often say yes to commitments even with a full schedule, start taking a moment before agreeing to things you don’t have time or capacity to do. For these instances, a firm, but polite ‘no thank you’ should be enough. Setting boundaries can also look like ensuring you leave work on time, taking your lunch breaks, turning off your phone to limit your screen time or spending some time alone. Give yourself what you need to restore your energy.
3. Turning Chores into Moments of Zen
There’s something magical about finding joy in the mundane. Chores are typically something you may dread doing, but in fact, can be the perfect opportunity to find some zen in your schedule. Turning your chores into a chance for self-care is a clever way to reframe that time.
If it’s time to clean the house, pop on your favorite podcast, e-book or playlist. Time will fly as you turn a vacuum into your dance partner or dish wand into a microphone. If you’d like to really get lost in the moment, pop in headphones for a more immersive experience. Or, if you like cooking, use it as a meditative routine, dim the lights, pour yourself a delicious beverage and unwind as you prep.
4. Digital Detox
If you’re finding yourself more chaotic than zen, the problem could be your screen time. While it might feel relaxing to zone out in front of the TV, scroll on your phone or lose yourself in your computer, it may actually be exposing you to more sensory information than your mind can process. A digital detox can be the solution.
Before reaching for your TV remote, laptop or mobile phone, swap it out for some reading time, a casual stroll, a cup of tea outside or another screen-free activity you find relaxing. You can even turn it into a routine, whether that’s filling your reusable cup with water and going for a walk or swapping out your bedtime scrolling with a good book and a hydrating face mask. Switching off your devices will help you switch on your love for yourself and life.
Self-care is all about giving back to yourself. Explore what you find helps you get some pep back in your step, and do more of whatever those things are. You’ll thank yourself.
Published by: Holy Minoza
