It's important in today's world to show kindness and compassion for others, but we certainly don't take the time to look out for ourselves and cultivate healthy self-care habits at the same time. For most people, adding any type of self-care into our daily routine can seem difficult and often times inconvenient.
Here are five ways you can cultivate healthy self-care habits into your life:
1. Express gratitude. Keep a journal and write everything down in your day that brings your joy and that you are thankful for even if it's the most simple thing. Expressing gratefulness daily can make you feel like whatever you are going through that day, you are worth the fight. Keep your journal with you all day so when you see or hear something, or even have a few extra moments you can sit and express yourself freely.
2. Simplify. With your everyday hustle and bustle it can be hard to keep up with your kid's doctor's appointment, let alone yours, so now may be the time to look into the idea of an online doctor. It's a perfect way to get routine health check ups taken care of without getting in your car, fighting traffic, and waiting for your appointment with several others in a crowded waiting room.
3. Give yourself a gift. Even when you were young, didn't the smallest gift bring you the biggest joy? So why not as an adult buy yourself something now and then to pick yourself up or even on a day for no reason at all? The gift to yourself doesn't have to be extravagant at all and can be just enough to lift your spirits on a gloomy day. For me personally, it's as simple as buying myself a bouquet of fresh flowers.Gifts even don't have to be physical possessions. You can gift yourself a day at the spa or get a mobile IV in Washington, which can help refresh and revitalize your body.
4. Create a quiet and cozy space. If your bedroom space isn't as peaceful as you would like, take the time to make it that way. Add some low lighting, candles, and additional throw pillows. Create a quiet space to get away and practice some mindfulness and meditation in order to clear your mind and ease into the day first thing in the morning. There is no better way to get started than to shut everything out, put on some meditative music or a guided meditation and dive into quieting your mind. As always, if you are considering using any natural products or alternative therapies, be sure to speak to a doctor first as not everything is suitable for everyone.
5. Take better care of you. The best way to incorporate better self-care habits is plain and simple and that is to take better care of yourself on a daily basis. This includes daily exercise, eating healthy, getting a good amount of sleep each night, and as a woman especially taking vitamins that promote healthy bones and strong, healthy hair. There are many reasons why we can lose hair over the years, one thing you can do is take the vitamin Biotin. It is an excellent source to help regrow hair and it also helps with nail growth. So all the more reason to head to the spa to treat yourself to a manicure! Also, if you think you can benefit by talking to a professional therapist about your mental health, BetterHelp is a great place to start.
So it is very important to take a break and remember that we are worth the time and self-care because ultimately it becomes our time to show self-love. If we continue to put others needs before our own all the time, it will lead to a lack in "me time" and that only causes us more stress and prevents us from being our best selves each and every day.
This is a collaborative post. All views and text are my own.
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Mary Edwards says
It's definitely important to care for ourselves as parents. We can't take care of our kiddos without taking care of ourselves first
Misty Nelson Dawn says
Such a good post and I love to read more about this self-care was so important and our food intake plus a plenty of water to keep hydrated.
Shaney Vijendranath says
I think having a cozy space is so important. I want to redo my office for this and make it more of a creative space for me to work in.
Kiwi says
Great tips for self care. I am currently in Bocas and have the most amazing peace and its because some of the spots here are so serene and blissful I am going to create a space similar to a coffee shop I am visiting here.
Dogvills says
I totally agree. I believe that emotional health needs to be given attention too. If we are unhealthy emotionally, then physical signs of disease would manifest. I love having my own personal space (and time). Good thing my family respects that.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I love the idea of giving myself a gift. I just did, two days ago. I got myself a new book to read and it made me happy. I am just drawn to bookstores and I can spend half a day in there, browsing and purchasing a book or two.
rika says
I love the idea of simplifying. Taking care of myself is so important! Of course, I always get myself a gift.
Wendy Polisi says
You know, it is too often we don't treat ourselves enough. These are som egreat ideas to remind ourselves to enjoy the work we do.
Jaime Nicole says
Taking care of myself is becoming more important. I find that I do better for myself and for my family when I do.
Echo says
I really need to work on my self-care. I try to journal, but I am not very good at keeping up with it.
Jeanine says
I think I need to start focusing more on self-care than other people care. Of course, my children are the exception but I worry too much about others and neglect myself!
Maureen says
These are all great ways to cultivate healthy skin care habits. We all need to make sure that we focus on facial health too, that skin seems to go overlooked often 😉
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I love all your tips here! Taking care of yourself is really important. I always make time for myself or at least buy something I really like.
Tracey says
Self care is so important! I am a new mom and try to schedule in time for self care for myself. You can't pour from an empty cup!
Myrah Duque says
Yes indeed! This list of tips is awesome. They are all so very true too. Gratitude is essential in our lives.
Jennifer G says
I still need to work on this. Every time I seem to achieve balance I get something else thrown at me that kind of dominates my priorities and somehow I always let myself fall by the way side. I have learned that I have no choice but to take care of myself.
Rachel Ferrucci says
It took many years of practice to remember to take care of myself. I used to leave myself notes around the house because I would ignore the first couple I saw.
Kelly Hutchinson says
I am so guilty about not taking care of myself. By the time I take care of everyone else, I am just too tired!
Christy Maurer says
I really need to simplify. Since my husband died, my son tends to keep a lot more than he used to. I know I'd feel a lot better if we would all just not have so much stuff! Great tips!
Kelly Hutchinson says
I try to make a list of what I am grateful for when I wake up and go to bed. I think it is important to acknowledged all the blessings we have in our lives.
Crystal says
We just moved to a new place and making my office and our bedroom a quiet cozy place is pretty big on my list! I want to turn it in to a relaxing sanctuary. And maybe I'll leave a journal out in case I have a spare moment to write in it.
Pam says
It is so important to have good self Care habits. You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself.
Melissa says
I love the idea to be thankful for the little things that life and people give us. I have got to get more Biotin it seems very important.
Jeni says
This is such a great post. Treating yourself from time to time is so important. Whether it's a cup of your favorite coffee, a day at the spa, whatever it might be, it's awesome to have a day where you focus on doing something great for yourself.
Jennifer Van Huss says
This is a great post! I get so busy that I forget to make time for myself! I love these easy to do tips!
Joely Smith says
I TOTALLY agree with this list of tips! They are all so true! If we do not take time to appreciate, get personal space, and take care of ourselves we are no good for those in our life that we love.
Sarah Bailey says
This is such a great post it really is important to take a little time each do to self care and just make sure you are in a good place yourself.
Bill Sweeney says
Self-care on every level is incredibly important. Too many times we throw ourselves under the bus to take care of our family, but how can we take care of them if we're physically, mentally, and emotionally drained?
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I love this! Gratitude is key. KEY. When you have gratitude for what you're blessed with, it keeps you mentally healthy, which is just as important as physical health.
Theresa says
It's so important to take time out of each day for a little self care. I do like to treat myself occasionally to a little gift, even if it's something simple like a Starbucks coffee or a new eye shadow.
Catherine Sargent says
Thank you for the great tips. I can be easy to forget that we need to also take care of ourselves, I know I am guilty of that. I need to plan a me day at the spa.