Self-care is so important but it often falls to the way-side when we get busy, tired or stressed. The kids may need you, you have errands to run and it just doesn’t feel like you have time to fit anything else into your day. What self-care you say?
Here’s 3 easy tips to ensure you are fitting in your self-care DAILY! Building in time to rest, relax and re-charge and keep you at the top of your game so stress and overwhelm don’t get you down.
1. Prioritise!
Self-care rituals don’t have to be hard, timely or expensive they can be as simple as building in 10 minutes (or 5!) in to your day to sit and have your favourite tea, find a quiet spot to meditate or take time out to exercise or walk in your garden.
Whatever it is, prioritise it in to your day.
You can do this by setting aside time each day and building it in to your morning or evening routines, by getting up a little earlier (and going to bed earlier), by blocking out time in your calendar and making it a regular appointment with yourself (you will be disappointed if you let yourself down!) or by getting an accountability buddy and asking them to make sure to check in with you that you are following through.
2. Choose a daily, weekly and monthly self-care practice.
By breaking up your self-care practices in to daily, weekly and monthly activities you can schedule them in to your busy week more easily and give yourself things to look forward to when the going gets tough.
Daily self-care habits can be small, easy to do and inexpensive like having your morning coffee, reading for a few minutes are doing daily stretches.
Weekly ideas could be a hike at a local park, a relaxing bath or a catch-up with friends.
Monthly activities could differ from month to month. Trying a new activity is always fun and some of my favourites include a visit to the thermal hot springs, having a massage or facial, going to a new exhibition, trying out a new hiking trail or visiting a local landmark.
3. Drop the Guilt
You deserve to take time for yourself to recharge and fill your cup.
As a parent, grandparent, care giver, concerned friend or neighbour we all do so much for others and in order to avoid burn out, fatigue and illness it pays to look after yourself and really embrace great self-care practices and routines.
This quote sums it up beautifully;
‘You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.
The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.’
-C. Maxwell
Interested in further improving your self-care?
Try listening to these podcast episodes:
Episode 9 – Is a Morning Routine Neccessary for Good Health?