By taking care of yourself you’re giving yourself the best version of you, and you only deserve the best! Remember self-care is more than just face masks and pedicures - though these things are fun to do we also need to consider our other physical needs, mental health, and wellbeing. Keep reading to find out more ways to take better care of yourself.
Eat Healthy
Eating a range of healthy foods will give your body and brain the right balance of nutrients to work at its best. You will also find your sleep patterns, energy levels and general health will also improve with a well-balanced diet. Being mindful of foods you might gravitate to when stressed will help you understand and overcome emotional and stress eating (a very easy and destructive habit to fall into).
Sleeping Beauty
Indulging in a good night’s sleep is essential for our physical health as it allows our brain and body to rest and restore our energy levels which also impacts our overall mental wellbeing and health. Establishing a good routine can not only help our body’s wake and sleep cycle but can also provide some structure to stay organised, and provide a feeling of stability and control when stressed.
Do Something you Enjoy
Finding the time to do something you enjoy is actually good for you. Having something to look forward to promotes positive mental health and wellbeing. Everyone likes different things, so try something new and find out what works for you:
- Gardening
- Listening to music or a podcast
- Reading a book
- Painting
- Playing with pets
- Going for a walk
Start a Journal
Daily reflections will help you process and accept all your positive and negative emotions. Getting your thoughts out of your head and on to paper can help you think clearer and overcome negative experiences by focusing on the positives. Looking back at past thoughts and feelings can help you look at how you coped with certain situations and help you develop better-coping strategies in the future.
Be Mindful
Mindfulness is about connecting with your immediate thoughts and feelings without judgment. Practising mindfulness allows us to stay in the present moment instead of wandering off with our thoughts in the past or the future which benefits our cognitive thinking and mental wellbeing.
Mindfulness can be found not just in meditation but through a walk in nature, journaling, colouring in, and other activities that give you time to reflect on your thoughts.
Set boundaries
Many of us feel compelled to say yes to every request that comes our way but often saying yes is at our own expense as we are left with no time to ourselves and can be left feeling exhausted, stressed, and cranky. Learning to say no and setting boundaries is something which most of us struggle with but is something that is essential for our self-care. Read our blog 7 Tips for Setting Boundaries and Saying No to learn more.
Forgive Yourself
Everyone is their own worst critic so learn to forgive yourself when you do make a mistake. Beating yourself up over things you’ve done in the past is detrimental to your relationship with yourself. Instead learn to accept your mistakes and move forward, also learn to give yourself credit when it is due and celebrate your wins.
Get Moving
We all know that exercise is good for our physical health but did you know it is also good for your mental health? When we exercise our bodies release chemicals called endorphins which trigger a positive feeling in the body. Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day can help boost your mood, lower stress and anxiety symptoms plus it also improves your physical health.
Be Grateful
Gratitude is the simple act of being thankful and is a really effective self-care tool to improve your mental wellbeing. By practising gratitude daily and nurturing your mental wellbeing you can change your perspective, mood and improve your overall happiness. Learn more with our 5 Reasons Gratitude Can Change Your Day and Make you Happier blog.
Find Friends
Building meaningful relationships is an important part of your mental wellbeing as it allows you to feel connected to people and your community. Positive interactions contribute to feeling good, a sense of belonging and self-worth.
Create a morning routine
Having a morning routine can set you up for a more productive day, provide structure, reduce stress, and even provide health benefits. The only tricky part is how to create a morning routine and actually sticking to it. Learn more with our 7 Science Proven Tips to Set Your Morning Routine blog.
Be Kind
Being kind to yourself is a big part of being happy but did you know being kind to others is also a big part of your own happiness? Studies have shown that when performing an act of kindness, a chemical called oxytocins is released which stimulates the area of our brain associated with social connection and trust, which makes you feel good. Here are some easy ways on how to show kindness to others:
- Donate blood
- Smile at a stranger
- Say thank you
- Help a neighbour
- Give someone a compliment
- Talk to a stranger