You’ve got a hectic week at work, roadworks are making your commute even longer than it should be and you’re still trying to arrange that catch-up-dinner with the girls. Sound familiar? For many of us, modern life is jam-packed, fast-paced and filled with stresses. When you’re constantly juggling your priorities, taking care of yourself can be one of the first things to drop.
What is self-care and why is it important?
Self-care has become a hot topic of late, but it’s far more than just a passing trend or fancy buzz-word. Self-care is crucial for physical, emotional and mental well-being. Thanks to Instagram, we’re led to believe that self-care is all about indulgent bubble baths and decadent 10-step skincare routines. Although they’re great and we definitely recommend treating yourself to a pamper, it’s not something that can be every day. Put simply, self-care is any measure we take to prioritise our well-being, no matter how small.
If you’re looking to implement a self-care routine that you can actually stick to, here are our top tips.
Don’t do things you don’t like
Self-care is supposed to make you feel good, so forcing yourself into something you hate is counter-intuitive, no matter how ‘good for you’ it is. If you can’t stand kale, don’t eat it. Not a yoga person? Do another workout. If reading isn’t your bag, try unwinding by listening to a podcast. Find your thing and stick to it.
Make a self-care schedule
Let’s face it, if you don’t make time for self-care then you probably won’t ever find the time. Set aside 30 minutes every day for a little me-time, whether it’s heading to bed half an hour earlier to get stuck into a book or popping out for a walk and some fresh air on your lunch break. Add this time into your calendar so it’s embedded in your daily schedule.
Don’t over do it
Be realistic with your goals. You know what you have time for and what you’ll actually be able to stick to. Over-facing yourself makes it harder to make a routine that’s manageable and becomes an effortless part of your day.
Get your 8 hours of sleep
Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. If you only make one change in your daily routine, make it prioritising sleep. Establishing some wind-down time before bed is great if getting to sleep isn’t something that comes easily to you. Put down your phone, turn off Netflix and get yourself in the right headspace for sleep.
Go easy on yourself
Although a little bit of self-care every day is ideal, sometimes life gets in the way and it just can’t happen. In these instances, don’t be too hard on yourself. To help minimise missing out on your daily dose of me-time, be flexible with it. If you planned an after work yoga class but your day overran, swap it out for a face mask at home.
What are you favourite tips for daily self-care? Leave them in the comments below.
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