16 Self-Care Tips You Should Be Practicing Each Day
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- March 16, 2022
Taking care of your own physical self-care, mental, and emotional health is so important. This means eating right, reducing stress levels and exercising regularly. When you take time for yourself it provides the opportunity to stay healthy and happy as well as be resilient in difficult times.
It may seem as though the only way to give yourself self-care is to take a bath worthy of a photo on Instagram. But self-care is so much more than that – and it can be easy to implement in your daily life. While it’s important to take time for yourself, you don’t have to spend a ton of money or a ton of time doing it. Self-care often looks different for everyone – but there are some simple ways you can incorporate emotional self-care into your life without spending hours at the spa (or even leaving your house).
Your self-care daily routine is yours and yours alone. It doesn’t have to be a certain length of time, it’s not required to be a certain type of thing and it certainly doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. In fact, your self-care strategies can look wildly different from day to day, depending on what you need that day.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to take care of yourself. Self-care is especially crucial at this point in time.
So, What Does Self-Care Mean?
Self-care involves taking care of yourself in any way you can. The range can be from relaxing baths, mindfulness practices or simply doing what you love – whatever it is you enjoy doing for yourself.
Taking care of yourself is something we often think about doing but never actually do. We all have a variety of reasons why we don’t take time for self-care, but most of them are based on excuses. Get off your backside and start taking better care of yourself.
You will be gain positive benefits at work and better able to handle the stressors that come with a busy lifestyle if you are taking care of yourself. Taking time out to get enough sleep, eat well, exercise and spend quality time with your family will help you build energy levels that can be sustained throughout the day.
You will feel better about yourself if you practise self-care ideas consistently. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect; it just means that you are making good choices for your health on a consistent basis. You deserve to feel good about the efforts you make in your life, so take some time out today to do something nice for yourself!
Self-care is important for your health and well-being. In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to neglect our health and well-being. We all need to take some time every day to do something good for ourselves. It doesn’t have to be a big thing; just find a few minutes here and there and take care of yourself.
Having trouble getting started? We’ve got self-care tips covering everything from getting enough sleep to managing your friends and family. Put them into your night or morning routine, whether you do them on a daily basis or once a month, for optimum results.
1. Take a break from your phone
We’re all guilty of it: spending hours on our phones. But, giving yourself a break can help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your day.
Taking regular screen breaks will help you get away from the constant flow of information coming at you, and make you more aware of how much time you’re actually spending on your phone.
2. Practice yoga (or any form of meditation) daily
Even if it’s just for five minutes, practising yoga or any form of meditation can help relieve stress and anxiety by focusing on breathing exercises or guided meditation. Meditation is also linked to boosting cognitive function which is helpful for decision-making and problem-solving – especially when it comes to reducing stress in the moment or at work.
And don’t worry about finding time for it: Just like you make time for a quick cup of coffee, you can make time for a few minutes of meditation.
3. Go to bed early
A good night’s rest can help calm your mind, and set you up for the next day.
People who get an adequate amount of sleep are better at managing stress because sleep impacts the brain’s stress response. In fact, one study showed that people who get six to seven hours of sleep a night feel more refreshed than those who get four to five hours or less each night; another found that if you don’t get enough sleep (less than six hours) on the reg, it could lead to an increased risk of depression and anxiety over time. So set the alarm earlier if necessary (yes, even on weekends), and try these tips to fall asleep faster tonight!
4. Spend time with the right people
It’s not always easy to avoid negative people. But it’s important to remember that you can’t change other people.
It’s okay to step away from a toxic person and put your self-care needs first. You can’t manage someone else’s behaviour or how they treat you. And while it may be tempting to spend time with a friend who’s going through a breakup or dealing with an illness, spending time with the right people – those who make you feel good about yourself – will help boost your self-esteem and keep stress under control.
5. Take “me time”
We know, we know: It sounds super cliche but getting some “me time” every day is essential for reducing stress and anxiety.
Whether it means taking a quick break at work to meditate or going on an afternoon walk by yourself, make sure you carve out time to do something you love once a day. It can be as simple as sitting outside and taking in the fresh air. These simple activities will help you take a step back from your busy routine and give you some peace of mind.
6. Don’t sweat the small stuff
When it comes to stress, it’s all about perspective.
If a situation is truly important – like, say, a work presentation or an upcoming exam – then of course it’s going to stress you out! But if something isn’t super important (like being five minutes late for work), don’t sweat it too much; try to keep things in perspective and remember that things could always be worse.
You might think your boss is being mean by asking for an updated report or your significant other is being unreasonable by wanting you home by 7 pm but those are minor events in the big picture.
When you find yourself getting stressed out about a situation, ask yourself, “Will this matter in a month?” If the answer is no, try to let it go – or at least try to look at the situation from another perspective.
7. Take action!
One of the best ways to reduce stress is by taking action. Whether it’s meditation, a yoga class, or a walk around your neighbourhood, try to make time every day for an activity that relaxes you.
Meditation is great because it’s easy and can be done anywhere. If you have five minutes during your lunch break or 10 minutes before bedtime, you can fit in some meditation time.
If exercise isn’t really your thing but you know it helps relieve stress and anxiety for other people, give it another shot! Even just walking around the block (or parking lot) will do wonders for reducing stress levels in your body – plus, there’s something about being in nature that can be really calming and soothing.
8. Don’t compare yourself to others
When you’re feeling stressed, it’s easy to compare yourself to others and think that they have it easier than you do.
But just remember: Everyone is dealing with their own issues – even the people who seem like they have everything together!
Everyone has stressors in their life. It’s not about how many stressors you have, but how you react to them. You might think your coworker has a better job, or your friend has a better relationship with her parents, but everyone’s life looks different from the outside looking in – and that’s okay! Just focus on what you can control (like taking care of yourself) and don’t get too caught up in comparing yourself to other people.
9. Let things go
Just because something is stressing you out doesn’t mean that it needs to be a huge deal. People will often obsess over a situation and feel like they need to do something about it, but sometimes you just have to let go.
It is not like ignoring your problems or pretending they don’t exist, but sometimes there isn’t anything you can do about a particular situation, and beating yourself up about it won’t help. If you’re feeling stressed out because of a particular situation at work or school, talk to your boss or professor – and if nothing comes from that conversation, try to accept that it’s out of your control (and move on!).
10. Get outside!
Fresh air and a little sunlight can do wonders for your mental health.
It’s amazing how much better you can feel just by going outside and getting some sunlight. The sun is a natural anti-depressant – it helps you feel better and more energized. Even if you’re not an outdoor person, try to make time for outdoor activities that are fun for you – whether that means walking around the block or riding your bike to work. You’ll feel better in no time.
11. Get a massage!
Massages are known to help with stress and anxiety, and they’re a great way to take some time for yourself.
If you have the opportunity to get a massage, that’s great. But even if you don’t have time for a full-on massage, you can still incorporate self-care into your routine in little ways. For example, try using some lavender essential oil on your neck and shoulders to help ease tension – or give yourself a mini-facial by mixing together avocado and yoghourt (seriously!).
12. Practice mindfulness
There’s no denying that our minds can get very cluttered, especially when we’re stressed out about all of the things we have going on in our lives! But practising mindfulness can help you clear your mind and focus on what’s happening right now – which is important when it comes to relieving stress.
Mindfulness is about being in the present moment, and it can help you to better manage your stress. You can practice mindfulness by focusing on your breathing or by taking a walk outside. If you’re interested in learning more about mindfulness, you can find tons of resources online – or try this simple guided meditation from UCLA (it’s only 5 minutes long!).
13. Treat yourself!
It’s easy for us to get caught up in the idea that we have to delay self-care until we have time – but that mentality is actually counterproductive.
Many people think that they need to wait until they have time before they can make themselves a priority. But if you wait until you have time, that day may never come! Instead of waiting for an ideal situation where you’re not stressed out and everything is perfect, make self-care a habit even when things are hectic.
There are tons of ways to treat yourself – from giving yourself a manicure and pedicure to watching your favourite TV show or binge-watching your favourite Netflix series. If you have time for it, treat yourself to a spa day! You’ll feel so much better after a day of pampering – and your skin will look great too. And if you don’t have the time (or money) for a full-on spa day, there are tons of ways to take mini-spa breaks at home – like this DIY chocolate mud mask (it’s delicious!).
14. Get enough sleep
A healthy mind and body are dependent upon enough sleep.
Stress hormones are released in excess as a result of inadequate sleep. Plus, when you’re tired, it’s harder to make good decisions. The bottom line: getting enough sleep is crucial for relieving stress in your life.
But what if you can’t get enough sleep? If you’re having trouble sleeping, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. If you’re exercising, do it in the morning or early afternoon, not right before bedtime. And remember no screens an hour before bed! Try reading a book instead of scrolling through your phone – it will help you wind down and relax before bed.
15. Nurture relationships that provide support
Having a strong support system of family and friends who care about you is crucial for managing stress.
When you have people who are there for you – people who listen to your problems, empathize with your struggles, and cheer you on when things are going well – it can be easier to handle stressful situations. So make sure to build and maintain healthy relationships with people who make time for you – whether that’s friends, family, or your significant other.
Having a strong support system of family and friends who care about you is crucial for managing stress.
16. Remember – it’s temporary!
It can be hard to remember that stressful situations are temporary when you’re going through them. But it’s true! Stressors come and go.
You may be stressed out one day because finals are coming up, but after you ace your exams, the stress will go away. At the moment, it’s hard to feel like everything will be okay – but if you remind yourself that things will improve eventually, you’ll feel better in the long run (and you might even be able to enjoy some of those stressful situations!).
These stress-relieving tips won’t magically make every stressful situation in your life disappear – but they can help calm your nerves and put things into perspective so that you can handle stressful situations with ease. And remember, it’s always okay to reach out to friends, family, or professionals for support when you feel overwhelmed. You’re not alone – and you don’t have to deal with stress on your own!
