Today, I am grateful for some much needed time off to be at home! Seriously, not much makes me more content than chilling around the house with music playing, cleaning, baking, and listening to a million kids run around (which we totally have – I think the neighbors’ send their kids over because they think we won’t notice a few extra!).
This is our first Friday with all the kids under one roof since school started, so we’re going to work on our vision boards, revamp the house rules, make pizza, and play some games.
I want to share with you some easy self care tips that you can use anytime. I can only imagine how busy your life is, but taking care of ourselves is SO IMPORTANT, because then we can effectively take care of our families.
I hope you find these tips helpful! If you have more suggestions or some easy self care tips you’d like to share, drop a comment below 🙂
- Get enough sleep. This is one of the biggest things we can do for ourselves. We can’t accomplish much if we’re exhausted, am I right? We should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep, and believe me, I know those numbers are comical. It’s also super important to reduce screen time at least an hour before bed. If you can’t manage that, iPhones have a really cool feature on them to reduce the effects of blue light by giving the screen a yellow tint to it. It’s such a small change, but I noticed a HUGE difference in the quality of sleep I got immediately after turning the night shift feature on.
- Meditate. This one is hard for me because my mind is constantly going 100mph, but it is so important to take a few minutes each day and get focused! There are tons of apps and YouTube videos that can help you, but I enjoy most sitting on my bed when it’s quiet, or out on our deck. Spend five minutes focusing on your breathing – in and out – and keep your mind clear. When thoughts roll in, take a second to acknowledge them, and then imagine them floating away on a cloud.
- Journal. Writing down our experiences, frustrations, and joy is crucial to our mental health! It helps us acknowledge our feelings, and let go of things so our emotional suitcase isn’t too heavy to drag with us. Always, always, always write your gratitude list. That tiny little trick literally rewires your brain to be happier and more thankful.
- Drink water and eat healthy! I recently switched over to a mostly plant-based diet. I kept a food diary and realized how much better I felt when I abstained from meats! There are a lot of new studies coming out that stress the importance of gut health, and how much it affects ALL areas of our wellbeing. Water will keep you hydrated, and keep your body running smoothly. Not only is it great for our skin, it helps flush out toxins and keeps our organs happy.
- Exercise. I know this is a tough one, but I seriously feel so much better after a good workout! Even twenty minutes on the elliptical or a quick walk outside improves my mood. Yoga would be a great practice to start, and it will help you knock out #2 as well!
- Relationships. Make sure you are maintaining your favorite relationships – whether it be with a spouse or friend or family member. Having close relationships make us feel more content, and it’s always nice to have someone to decompress with, or enjoy a good time! Prioritize your relationships, even if it’s checking in on the phone once a day. I know that’s all my girlfriends and I can manage most of the time.
- Read! Fill your head with positivity, let your imagination run off, or learn something new. Reading improves your vocabulary, your communication skills, and keeps your brain sharp.
- Speak with a therapist. Most companies offer free services to their employees, and most insurance will cover therapy sessions. Even if there is nothing “wrong”, going to a therapist is great to evaluate how you’re doing in all aspects of your life. It helps you focus on your goals, achievements, priorities, maintain friendships, and be self-aware. We go to the doctor for well visits; we HAVE to have mental wellness visits as well. This needs to be the new normal!
- Say no. This is probably my biggest struggle, because my go-to response is not only “yes” but “what else can I do?!” I used to be a church leader’s dream – stay at home mom with 7 days of open time a week?? I did ALL the things!! And that almost always leads to burnout which is really unhealthy. Saying no means that we care about ourselves and if we don’t meet our needs, then honestly we’re pretty useless to those around us. You deserve to be the priority in your life! You’re all you’ve got!!
- Speaking of priority, prioritize yourself. Grab your day planner or your calendar app, and schedule in some YOU time for this week. Combine it with one of the items above and get some self-care in!
Subscribe below to my blog so you never miss a post! Drops some comments on how you get your self-care in, and if you enjoyed this blog post, please pin it on Pinterest! 🙂
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/817262663613726189/?nic=1