The Best Ways to Participate in Self-Care
Self-care is about so much more than lighting a candle and having a bath. Although, that can be an act of self-care for some! In reality, self-care is about meeting the underlying needs of your body, mind and soul through acts of self kindness and nurturing. In fact, self-care has been shown to help increase confidence, improve both mental and emotional health, reduce stress, and so much more!
It doesn’t need to take a lot of time or bulk up your to-do-list. Here are 10 of the best ways you can invest in yourself and prioritize self-care!
1. Fine Tune Your Sleep Routine
Getting enough sleep each night is more important to your health than you might realize. Sleeping 7-9 hours each night can contribute to your emotional, mental and physical health by providing your body with a chance to rest and heal after a long day.
Prioritizing sleep as part of your self-care can help to:
Boost energy levels
Improve your mood
Aid in maintaining a healthy weight
Reduce stress
Improve relaxation
Above all, prioritizing your sleep can help contribute to a stable routine. The steps you take to prepare for bed can also contribute to your self-care, from your skincare routine and drinking herbal tea, to reading a book, meditating and winding down from the day.
The question remains: how do I get started with better sleep patterns?
Well, there are a few subtle lifestyle changes that you can make right now to help improve your sleep patterns. For starters, not drinking caffeine for at least several hours before going to sleep, as caffeine can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Another series of changes that you can make include preparing for bed one hour prior to, creating a comfortable sleep environment, blocking outside light from your window, and even putting mobile devices away as you wind down for the evening.
With a few changes to your nightly routine, you can begin to experience much better sleep patterns, long-term.
2. Movement
While physical activity in general are imperative to a healthy lifestyle, finding an exercise routine that you genuinely enjoy can make an impact on your self-care regimen. Not only will you be strengthening your muscles and moving your body, but you will also be doing something that brings you joy.
To help you get active, here are some more enjoyable forms of exercise that you can try:
Swimming
Cycling
Dancing
Gardening
Hiking
While it is recommended that you engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, you may want to start slow with a 30-minute workout once a week. Once this becomes a solid part of your routine, you can slowly begin to increase the duration and frequency.
As with any change in your health, you may want to first speak with a physician to ensure that it is the right choice for you.
3. Say “No” More Often
One of the best ways you can participate in self-care is, surprisingly, by being a little selfish.
Life is busy, there’s no doubt about that. If you feel like you’re always running on fumes and never have enough time in the day, one of the best things you can do for your mental health is to offload responsibilities and not take on any more.
Whether a friend is asking for your help with moving or a sibling could benefit from a night on the town, it’s okay to say no from time to time. Especially if you are feeling burnt out or your social battery is drained.
4. Plan a Getaway
Are you craving a change of scenery? Sounds like it’s time to plan a little getaway!
Whether it’s a 30-minute drive to a local hotel or a few hours to a remote cabin, you may find it cathartic to plan a small getaway. While spending a weekend at home can be relaxing, it can also be overwhelmed with household duties. By planning a getaway, you can actively take yourself away from the chores that call your name, and instead, enjoy genuine relaxation.
Rest assured, the laundry, dishes and yard work can be handled another day.
5. Spend Time Outdoors
Picture this:
You awake on a crisp spring morning. Wearing a sweater and slippers, you take a step outside and feel the warm sun on your face, as you’re surrounded by the sweet scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. You then close your eyes, inhale and exhale.
Sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?
Spending time outside and in nature can do wonders for your health, inside and out. Whether you plan to nurture your body with some well-deserved vitamin D or get your body moving with a walk around the neighbourhood, spending time outside can help you take a more natural approach to self-care.
6. Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water each day is a great way to nurture your body. Making up 60% of your body, water is essential to human life.
Within your body, water can help to:
Regulate your body temperature
Carry essential nutrients throughout your body
Lubricate your joints
Moisten tissue in your mouth, eyes and nose
Provide protection for your organs and tissues
Flush waste products
It is recommended that women drink a minimum of 11.5 cups a day and men drink 15.5 cups a day.
Not only can water help to aid your overall health and wellness, but it can also leave you feeling good and refreshed. Aid in weight loss or maintenance efforts, hydrate your skin, improve your digestive system, and so much more.
7. Do What You Love
At the end of the day, practising self-care is about investing in your health and happiness. What better way to nurture yourself, than by doing the things that you love?
Does painting bring you joy? Create a space dedicated to art and start to paint!
Do you enjoy reading books? Head to your local bookstore or library!
Do animals make you happy? Spend time with a pet or volunteer at a local shelter!
The first step is determining what activities make you happy. The second step is making it a priority and getting started.
8. Pamper Yourself
No matter your lifestyle, budget or family structure, you deserve to feel pampered.
Whether you’re in a relationship, have children or are part of a family dynamic, it can be difficult to show your loved ones how much you care if you’re feeling burnt out. That’s where a little pampering, rest and rejuvenation can really come in handy.
Pampering can look different from one person to another. For one person, a candlelit bath complete with aromatherapy candles and silence may be enough to leave you feeling rested. Others may need an afternoon at the spa, enjoying a relaxing facial and deep-tissue massage.
With routine self-care, you can take a preventative approach to your energy levels, stress relief and feelings of relaxation. After all, a little pampering can really go a long way!
9. Find a Skincare Routine
The health of your skin should never go overlooked. Whether you suffer from dry skin or cystic acne, finding the right routine can help you achieve skin that leaves you feeling and looking great.
Taking time out of your day and dedicating it to yourself can provide you with a few uninterrupted moments that are just for you. You can begin to unwind at the end of the day and process the various events, or use the time to slowly wake up in the morning.
10. Meet with Your Life Coach
Meeting with your life coach can act as an act of self-care in more ways than one. During an appointment with your coach, you will be provided with the opportunity to talk about what is going on in your life. Whether you’ve had a recent achievement or are navigating conflict, your coach can listen and provide you with insight on how to best move forward.
Time spent with your life coach is all about you and your self improvement. You can work together to set goals, navigate areas of concern and reflect on any progress that has been made. Your coach can act as a sounding board, providing you with a neutral party to help you improve your life from all perspectives.
