Many people (especially women) put themselves last. Are you one of those people?
They’re busy taking care of everyone else instead, and then they forget about themselves. I’ve been guilty of this myself. And when I do this, I end up getting run-down or sick. Then I’m forced to stay in bed to rest and nurture myself. I try my best not to let that happen, and even though I’m a Health & Wellness Coach I’ll admit that I’m not perfect!
I believe that self-care is related to self-love. If we love ourselves enough, we’ll treat ourselves like we matter. After all, we only have one body and it’s precious. If we don’t have our health (emotional and physical) nothing else will really matter.
I thought long and hard about the top 10 self-care tips I can share with you and here they are.
1. Take time for yourself
Is your mind always working overtime? Are you busy doing ten million things in a day? What would happen if you took at least 30 minutes each day to either connect with nature, sit in the sun, meditate, go for a walk, rest, do yoga, exercise, read, etc.? You get the idea. Do you think that your life will fall apart because you took a break? I don’t think so!
2. Say no when you want to
If you don’t want to do something, don’t feel funny about saying no. There’s no need to go into a long-winded explanation either. And if you’re not sure whether you want to commit to something, say that you’ll think about it and get back to the person. Honor and value yourself enough to do what feels good to you rather than feel obligated to do something because most likely you’ll become resentful.
3. Be mindful of your self-talk
Researchers say that we have between 50,000 And 70,000 thoughts per day. This is mind-blowing, isn’t it?!? And some or many of those thoughts might be about ourselves.
I really feel bad when I hear people saying out loud that they’re stupid or ugly. If you’re the type of person that beats yourself up for making a mistake, stop! It’s okay. Just learn from your mistakes. If you don’t like the way you look, stop being so critical. When you catch yourself thinking negatively about yourself, reframe that thought into a positive one.
4. Eat healthy and drink enough water
For your car to function, it needs fuel. It can’t run on an empty tank. Right? Well, the same is true for your body. It won’t do very well if you don’t feed it nourishment. Food can either be your medicine or your poison.
Staying hydrated by drinking enough water is essential. It’s difficult for your body to get water from any other source other than water itself. Be sure to drink filtered water so that you’re not ingesting all sorts of harmful chemicals.
5. Get plenty of sleep
Try your best to go to sleep around the same time every day, and get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. A good night’s sleep is not only about how many hours you sleep. It’s also about getting good quality sleep so you feel rested when you wake up.
Using electronic devices and watching TV close to bedtime can disrupt sleep so if you’re having difficulty falling asleep or you get up in the middle of the night you might try to change your routine. And if you have the opportunity, take a nap during the day if you feel you need one. I love naps! How about you?
6. Make fun a priority
Think back to when you were a kid. You went on the swings, jumped, played ball and games, etc., right? Somehow, many of us lost that inner playfulness and we don’t make fun an essential part of our lives. It’s highly unlikely that we would go for weeks without sleeping, yet we can go for weeks without making time for fun. Take a break from all of your responsibilities to have some type of fun at least a few times a week. It’s a big part of self-care!
7. Smile and laugh often
Your mood determines your quality of life so that’s why for self-care, there’s nothing like a smile or a good laugh to uplift your spirits! Even if you don’t feel like smiling, force yourself. You’ll be surprised how your mood changes. Laughter will relieve stress and relax your whole body. And if you’re not feeling well, it promotes healing and boosts your immune system. So turn on a funny movie, or think of something that will make you chuckle, and get your giggle on!
8. Be selfish (put yourself first)
I grew up thinking that it was selfish of me to put myself first. How about you? As I got older (and wiser), I learned that’s not the case. If I don’t put myself first, who will?
9. Ask for help
It’s okay to reach out and ask for help when you need it. What’s the worst that will happen? Someone might say no. Then move on to the next person and ask again. I’m sure if the situation was reversed, you’d be happy to help your friend or family member. So, ask away!
10. Surround yourself with people that uplift you
Take a moment to reflect on your relationships. Are they healthy and supportive or are they draining you? Ditch the energy vampires or, if you can’t eliminate those people from your life, have less contact with them.
Remember that self-care is an ongoing process. Don’t just honor yourself for a week or a month and then revert to old habits. Create new habits by valuing yourself enough to incorporate these 10 self-care tips into your daily routine.
I’d love for you to leave me a comment below on what you do for self-care, or let me know what you will start doing!
