“Take time to do what makes your soul happy”
Do you ever wish to slow down just a tad bit? Have you ever heard of the saying “Stop and smell the roses?” and you think to yourself “I wish I had the TIME!” Well…I got news…you gotta make the time! Wouldn’t it be great if we can add more hours into the day, so instead of having 24 hours…maybe if we had 30 hours? Would that be enough to stop and take a moment for yourself? I highly doubt it, we would find more things to fit into our already hectic schedule and burn out faster.
The key is to MAKE the time. It doesn’t matter when and where you choose to schedule time for yourself, it just has to be fitting for you. Everyone has a different lifestyle, routine, jobs, family dynamics and so on, so a certain time of the day for someone wouldn’t be ideal for someone else. So rather than trying to mirror someone else’s life…CHOOSE what is best for you!
You can set some time in the morning as soon as you wake up, after lunch, in between your daily tasks or could be right before you hit the bed. Regardless of when the best time of the day is for you…the important thing is to actually go through with it! And don’t think you MUST spend a particular length of time with each self-care routine, there is no standard rule on that. You may decide to take 10 minutes of your day or longer, and the neat thing is you can modify it accordingly. You can try different ones throughout the day and change it up as the week goes on.
I have listed 12 self-care ideas below for you to peruse and try it for yourself:
- Drink Tea – Take a moment (or two) to sit down alone and slowly sip a cup of your favorite tea (or water if you prefer). Feel each sip as it touches your mouth giving you warmth. Allow yourself to enjoy the moment with the cup of goodness in the hand and simply just be.
- Shower – One of the refreshing and calming things you can do is take a nice warm bath or shower. Once the water hits you and you feel warmth on your body, you instantly feel better. You can do some self-reflection while in there, it helps clear your mind and think more effectively.
- Watch something – Unplugging from the devices isn’t always necessary when taking time to relax. Sometimes, watching a funny, witty, motivational and inspiring shows can be just what you need! TED Talks are a great way to unwind, and they can be very informative and educational.
- Journal – Writing can be very therapeutic and it helps calm the mind. Taking time to write down your thoughts, emotions and experiences can benefit your personal growth. It gives you a safe space to unwind and clear your head. You can also write down your goals and ambitions to help prioritise your tasks. Mental clarity is an important part of self-care!
- Face mask – Pampering feels great and can really boost your confidence. Take time to care for yourself and do it without any guilt, you deserve it! These don’t have to be expensive or time consuming. There are tons of DIY face masks and scrubs you can create with ingredients you find in your kitchen. Apply them and just sit back and relax while you listen to some nice music or do some work, whichever you prefer ????
- Walk – Go outside and get some sunshine, take in nature and be present with it. Walking is a great way to unwind while getting some good exercise. You can also self-reflect, provide gratitude, listen to a podcast or just focus on walking, enjoy nature, the people you pass by and simply be.
- Declutter – Organizing and getting rid of junk you don’t use or hold any value to you anymore can make you mentally free. Clutter in your surroundings can negatively impact your mind, cause stress and affect your daily life. So the act of decluttering not only helps things organized and clean, but will allow you to function better mentally.
- Meditation – The practice of mindfulness has numerous benefits, from calming your mind, increasing self-awareness, to an emotionally stable state. Coming out from meditation allows you to think more clearly to tackle challenges from another angle.
- Podcast – There are many types of podcasts available out there and for FREE. Take advantage of them, depending on your mood, you can listen to something light and mentally soothing, or you can choose something more educational which caters to your life or career. This is a good way to expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives which may lead you to something life changing!
- Stretch/Yoga – Stretching improves the movement of your joints and increases blood flow. It also increases serotonin levels which helps stabilize the mood, reduce stress and free our minds from any negative thoughts. Stretching first thing in the morning will help elevate your mood to start the day positively.
- Sleep – Nothing comes close to a good night’s sleep or a power nap to completely recharge the body and mind. It is essential to prioritize your sleep to ensure you are getting enough rest to start the day off right! And don’t be afraid to take those power naps in between your daily tasks whenever you feel a mid-day slump coming on. Listen to the signs your body gives you…if it’s telling you to slow down…you will be better off listening to it!
- Read – Make yourself something to drink and sit down with a good book and let yourself escape into a different world. That sounds nice right?? Well, try it! Reading can be fun and a light activity. There are tons of books out there with various genres to favour your interest…pick your favourite and just start reading. Take your mind off everyday stressors and let your mind wander away into ease.
CUP OF FINAL THOUGHTS ????
Self-care ultimately means taking care of ourselves. It is essential and necessary to recharge and replenish ourselves in order to function effectively in our daily life. Your body and mind will naturally tell you when to slow down…and the hardest part is actually listening to it. You need to make a conscious effort to make time to unwind and relax. Taking time out of your busy schedule to slow down will help create a healthier and mindful self, increasing your quality of life.
Hope this post was relaxing (no pun intended ????) and helpful! If you tried any of the above self-care ideas, please let me know in the comments! :)
