The Importance of Self-Care

Are there some days where you just feel so tired and burnt out that you don’t want to tackle anything on your never-ending to-do list? This can happen to anyone and often happens to everyone at least once or twice in life. Luckily there are ways we can better care for our bodies, minds, and spirits without taking too much time away from our busy schedules. Here are a few ways you can start on a path to taking care of yourself just a little better, helping you live and more relaxed and stress-free life.

MIND

• De-clutter your life. You may have heard people getting rid of anything that “doesn’t bring them joy” and thought it was a little silly, but you would be surprised how much stuff you hang onto that you don’t even like. Whatever it is, get rid of it! Donate what you can and throw our or delete the rest. Clothes, negative social media comments, shoes, painful or depressing emails, jewelry, old pots and pans, garbage, old toiletry products, and anything else anywhere in your life that pulls you down when you interact with it.
• Get out of your own head. Turn off your phone and computer, detach, and do something new that will challenge your mind and keep your thoughts away from the stresses of your life. Be a little selfish and go see a movie by yourself, stop and literally smell some flowers, get some fresh air, and just change things up in your routine to keep your life feeling fresh, new, and exciting.
• Take time to organize yourself. Don’t just let your stress carry you away, pull back on those reigns and figure out exactly what you need to do and when. Take a few deep breathes and force your body to relax a little, you have plenty of time to do everything you need to. If you find you can’t sit still long enough to meditate, take a few breaths and then let loose and be silly for ten minutes. Dance, scream, laugh for no reason, make funny faces in the mirror, anything you want to take your mind off your day and help you refocus with a fresh and invigorated perspective.

BODY

• Focus on your breathing. The most important thing you can do to calm yourself down and help you feel capable of anything is just to focus on your breathing. In and out, feeling your chest rise and fall. See? I feel calmer already.
• Pay attention to your internal needs. Are you hungry? Did you get enough nutrients from your meals this week? Is anything hurting or causing pain? Taking a moment to reflect on yourself will help keep you aware and in tune with your body’s needs. Take a nap if you’re tired, start laughing if you feel a little sad, or just be still and reflect on your needs.
• Bolster your external self. If you refuse to exercise at least once a week, at least get up and stretch or move around to keep your blood flowing and your muscles loose. Go for a walk or run, change up your diet, and make sure to get plenty of sunlight to keep your body feeling rejuvenated and ready to handle anything.

SPIRIT

• Help someone else. The best way to lift your spirit and make yourself feel better about your life and everything you have, try giving back to those less fortunate or volunteering your time to a good cause. Get to know other people in your community and build a support system for those days when self-care is more difficult. Make a connection with someone special, get a rescue pet, and fill your life with some kind of joy that doesn’t come from what other’s can do for you.
• Spoil yourself a little. Take yourself on a date, go on a trip, or even just splurge a little on something nice for yourself. Whatever you want to do, try it out. Don’t limit yourself or let fear stand in your way. Doing something exciting and terrifying like skydiving is sure to give you a whole new perspective of what kinds of amazing feats you’re capable of.
• Monitor what comes in and out of your life. Don’t let negative people drain you, surround yourself with only positive people who will grant you the honesty and support you deserve. You should never be afraid to ask for help, and you need good people you can trust in your life to ensure you get it when you need it. Plus, getting compliments never hurt anyone’s productivity.

Self-care is one of the most important things we can focus on in our lives. We spend so much time worrying about other people and taking care of our families that we often forget to take care of ourselves. If you really want to be the best you that you can be, make sure you always keep an eye out for number one.