The benefits of self care are profound. Whether you practice self care daily or you practice it once a month, make it a priority to add it to your routine to help yourself feel better. Self care doesn’t have to be daunting or overwhelming. In terms of self care, the most important thing to remember is that there is no specific or perfect way to put it into practice. Self care consists of the little things that will improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Read on to find out easy ways to practice self care in your life.
Taking a walk.
Going on a walk is one of the easiest, simplest ways to practice self care. Research shows that going outside for just 10-15 minutes and having a leisurely stroll can significantly improve your physical and emotional wellbeing. So, next time you’re feeling like you need a little break or you’re wanting to practice self care, take a quick walk outside. It’ll do wonders for your health and happiness.
Don’t check your social media, check your email, or read/watch the news immediately upon waking.
For most of us, the minute we wake up, we are constantly on our phones. While there is nothing wrong with using technology, we should make an effort to avoid checking our phones the second we wake up. It has been proven that checking our phones immediately upon waking contributes to a variety of mental health problems. So, for your happiness and wellbeing, don’t pick up your phone the second you wake up. Take a few minutes for yourself, then pick up your phone.
Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness has a profound effect on your health. Many studies have shown that mindfulness has lots of benefits for our physical and mental health. Implementing mindfulness into your daily routine may seem daunting at first, but, trust me, it’s VERY easy. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be incredibly serious and you don’t have to be an expert at mindfulness to benefit. Mindfulness can be as easy as just paying attention to the things around you. I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to practice mindfulness is right when you wake up. Instead of grabbing your phone immediately or getting a jump start on your day, just pay attention to your body and your surroundings for a few moments. For example, look around you, touch the soft blanket, recognize the sunlight coming through your window, see the colors of your walls, sheets, etc., take a deep breath and feel the air going in your body. It’s really that easy. After practicing mindfulness for a few minutes, you’ll begin to see how it is calming your mind and body.
Start a gratitude journal.
You can either have a specific journal for it or you can just write it down on your phone. Research shows that expressing gratitude has a very positive effect on our physical and mental health. When you’re expressing gratitude, you begin to feel content and happier. Expressing gratitude doesn’t have to be a difficult, tedious task. You can practice gratitude write down what you’re grateful for in just ten minutes. A common misconception is that you can only write down very significant things that you’re grateful for, but that is simply not correct. It can be as simple as saying you’re grateful that the weather was nice today or that you had a chance to catch up with a friend. Expressing gratitude is one of the key self care strategies to include in your daily routine.
Leave room in your schedule to enjoy life.
Plan out your day ahead and ensure that you reserve some time for yourself to do whatever it is that you’d like to do. Nobody benefits if you’re feeling awful, so, take some time doing what you like to do. In the long run, it will make everyone happier. It doesn’t have to be for a long time. Just 30 minutes of me-time can be enough to turn your day around for the better. Some ideas of things to do include watching your favorite television show, going to your favorite restaurant, reading a good book, and listening to some nice music.
Spend time with a pet.
Spending time with a dog or cat is extremely beneficial. If you don’t have pets of your own, visit a friend or family member with a pet. Research has shown that spending just 15 minutes with a nice, sweet cat or dog will reduce your levels of anxiety and stress, increase your happiness, and reduce your risk of physical ailments such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Listen to an interesting podcast or audio book.
Various studies have shown that listening to inspiring, motivational podcasts and audio books has the power to improve our mood. So, what are you waiting for? Put on your headphones and listen to a great podcast or audiobook! Some inspiring audio books and podcasts that you could listen to include The Mindful Podcast, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Quiet: Learning To Silence the Chatter & Believing That You’re Good Enough by Fearne Cotton, Happy Place Podcast, and Tiny Leaps Big Changes Podcast.
Simply Shine Living 