Self-care looks different for everyone, but regardless of all the different ways that you can practice self-care, what remains constant is that it is absolutely crucial to take better care of yourself, for both your physical health and your mental wellbeing.
There are so many things that can get in the way of taking care of us, whether it is a packed work schedule, responsibilities taking care of the family, social commitments, and so much more. The truth is that without consistent self-care, you will not be able to show up as your best self not only for you, but for those around you. To make sure that you are giving 100% to all aspects of your life, you need to ensure you are prioritizing you first!
Here are 5 ways that you can take better care of yourself and implement more self-care into your everyday life.
1 – Get enough sleep.
First, to take better care of yourself, you must ensure that you are getting enough sleep each night to be well rested for the day ahead. While this might be easier said than done, there are some ways that you can ensure you are getting the sleep you need each night. Try to ensure that you are completing all tasks before 7 or 8pm each night, this way you can begin to wind down after you finish dinner, and more easily fall asleep at an early hour. Getting enough sleep will not only help to keep you motivated throughout the day, but it will also help you to fight off any infections and feel less stressed throughout the day.
2 – Exercise daily.
Exercising is extremely important to both your physical and mental health and is something that looks different for everyone. Whether you are someone who prefers to take long walks or runs, go for a bike ride, participate in a workout class, or spend some time alone lifting in the gym, getting your body to move, and sweat will make a huge different in your mood and also help to keep you physically fit. This is critical to take better care of yourself!
3 – Eat right and intuitively.
While balance is crucial when it comes to a diet, try your best to eat as healthy and as intuitively as possible. To take better care of yourself, this means making an effort to snack less, especially when you know you are not hungry (we can all relate)! Eating healthy does not mean you have to eat boring – make it more fun by checking out some healthy, unique recipes that you and the family can cook together and try.
4 – Be OK with saying “no.”
Sometimes you may find yourself wanting to be the person who can do it all, when the truth is, your plate is already overflowing. Be OK with saying “no” to additional tasks or activities that you feel you cannot fit in to ensure that you are not stretching yourself too thin. While you want to be productive and get as much done as possible, you also want to ensure you are giving yourself time to rest and relax. To take better care of yourself, you have to have enough time for you.
5 – Read a good book.
Reading is always a great escape from your everyday life, so if you are not currently reading something, check out some options at your local bookstore or on your Kindle and pick out a new book to dive into! To take better care of yourself, try to read a couple chapters per night, perhaps before you fall asleep, which will also help to give you a good wind down routine, while enjoying a great story.