5 Self-Care Practices That Make a Difference
Life is SO busy and it's simply too easy to forget to look after yourself. You work the whole day, look after others, do housekeeping... and finish the day exhausted. All you want to do is sit on the couch, hopefully get some takeaway and take you mind off anything else. Sounds familiar? This is exactly what so often happens around here. This is why this post is so timely for us and hopefully timely for you too.
Working in the health industry we are constantly reminded of how important it is to eat well, exercise and practise self-care. It is easier said than done. However there are practices that you can implement that will really make a difference.
Firstly, remember that true self-care cannot be a one-off thing. It is the constant repetition of small actions that will make a difference.
Some people say that it takes 21 days to create a habit. Well in our experience that is not entirely true. It can take longer if the new habit is perceived as unpleasant at first try. Discipline is important and it will pay off in the end. We would recommend implementing only one or two actions a time - fewer things will increase your focus.
1- Reclaim your morning
Your morning is when you frame your day for success and achievement. Be intentional about how you spend it. Instead of playing with your phone until it's time to rush somewhere take a minute to stretch, eat well and set goals for the day. Be clear about what you want to accomplish to move your life forward. And start with those things whenever possible.
I once heard the technique of "The Big 3". Think of 3 important things that you want to achieve each day. Things that will actually move you closer to your lifelong goals. Then do them first. Just 3. Big goal and baby steps. Focus and lessen the distractions.
2- Ditch anxiety
Anxiety shows in so many different ways. Sometime it is us worrying about what might happen or about how to have a difficult conversation. Sometimes it is us rethinking what happened, what we should have said, what we may have sounded like or come across as.
It is not an easy action, but as the title of this post indicates, it is a practice.
Remind yourself that it is okay to say what you think (not without thinking about it first though) and to disagree with others. If you can't do anything about something right now then choose to focus on something else. It is a choice. Communicate when you need to have a difficult conversation by saying "I need to have a difficult conversation" and do it. We are all human, everyone must go through challenging situations and it is okay not to be perfect.
3- "Water" your friendships
Not literally please :p
People who actually study happiness often stress the importance of friendship and strong social connections. Self-care is about looking after yourself and being happy. This doesn't happen randomly. Be intentional about it.
I recommend setting reminders on your phone to "water" your friendships. This could be sending a message to someone and asking what they are up to. Or making plans to catch up with a friend. Honestly it takes 2 minutes to send someone a message and remember those actions add up. Be intentional about creating strong connections and keeping people who are important to you part of your life.
4- Appreciate what you have
I really hope this doesn't sound like a cliche. This one is really important. Appreciating what you have will train your mind to see the positive aspects of your life and help you become more positive and joyous. I also personally believe that it attracts more positive things.
I've recently started this practice to write a gratitude journal. Every day I write 8-10 things that I'm grateful for. It is amazing how much appreciation you feel after this simple exercise. This is a new habit for me, so I'm slowly implementing it and creating a mental trigger to remind me to do this every day. This practice can also give a moment to yourself - you will sit down for 5 minutes, clear your mind and refocus.
5- Create the habit to exercise
I know, this one is pretty obvious, but it had to be in the list. The special word here is habit. Get rid of the excuses. You can work out at home or simply go for a walk or run. If you don't exercise regularly you can start by setting reminders on your phone and simply showing up. You don't need to start with 30 minutes or 1 hour each day. Just show up. Do it for 5 minutes if it's too hard. Then do it for 10 minutes the day after. I personally set reminders every other day and it's sits on my phone staring at me until I take action. Remember, just show up.
I hope these tips can inspire you somehow. Perhaps they will help you be intentional about how you choose to spend your time - less busy work and more things that matter. Remember that not taking action is also a choice. You are choosing to keep the status quo.
Caring for yourself is not only having your hair and nails done. It is about true happiness and moving towards your life goals :)