Sometimes (ok, more often than sometimes) in the quest for having work, family, and/or just life in general organized we forget to take care of #1. The secret of people who are enviably unruffled is blissfully simple: self-care.
It’s been said many times before but it bears repeating: if you don’t take care of yourself you cannot show up for the other important people and things in your life to the best of your ability. It’s important. Self-care is crucial to prevent burnout, stay focused, and have a healthy body and mind.
Before you get stressed about the idea of adding another thing to your to-do list, keep in mind that you don’t need loads of time or money to practice self-care. You can do it in sprints and still get the benefits. When you do have some extra – time or moola – invest in yourself where you can. Here are 6 ways you can take better care of yourself on the daily.
1. Declutter the noise.
Go ham on your inbox, apps, email alerts, newsfeed – anything that dings, beeps or alerts you about something that’s not 100% important. Clear it out. Delete those time-sucking apps that draw you in and make you feel like you got robbed of 30 minutes of your life in the blink of an eye. If you can’t bring yourself to delete something altogether, turn off the notifications. We are bombarded with this stuff every day and studies show it doesn’t make us happier. You’ll be shocked at how much time you have when you start cutting back on the digital clutter.
2. Stay active.
You don’t have to go to the gym or do some crazy sport, just do what you like a little bit every day. Maybe its taking long walks with your dog, maybe its riding your bike to the grocery store, maybe it’s doing some yoga poses or climbing a rock wall for playing tennis. Whatever it is, keep moving.
3. Feel pretty.
Do something that makes you feel pretty. Not that makes you more attractive to your significant other or that makes you look like someone else, do what makes YOU feel pretty. That’s an important distinction that often gets lost in the shuffle. If your hair is your thing and making it look just the way you like it and smell yummy makes you feel like a million bucks, then splurge on a great hair treatment and pamper yourself. It could be as indulgent as a spa day or as simple as wearing your favorite jeans. Just do it for you and you alone.
4. Laugh.
Get an audiobook by a funny author or watch a couple YouTube videos of your favorite late night host or comedian. Having a good laugh relaxes your entire body and actually strengthens your immune system!
5. Listen to music.
When was the last time you put on your headphones, closed your eyes, and really listened to music? It only takes a few minutes to listen to a song and it can totally shift your mental focus and help you relax. If you’re not in the mood to sit back and listen, crank up the tunes and dance or sing along! There are very few wrongs a good Beyonce tune can’t make right.
6. Remember that this is your life.
Life is not meant to be a series of errands and habits, it’s meant to be lived! We all have responsibilities that we need to manage, but we’ve only got one life. Remember to stop and smell the roses, indulge in the little pleasures, drop the meaningless stress and find something to enjoy each and every day.