How to practice Self care to ensure well being

Self-care involves nurturing your Body, Mind & Spirit

It focuses on building you up so that your internal resources don’t become depleted.

You have probably heard the term “self-care” used lots of times. It has become a popular word in the media and in personal development circles.

However, you still may be unclear on what it really means.

While the concept does involve taking care of yourself, it actually goes much deeper, read on to learn what self-care is, why it matters and how to get started doing it.

It requires you to show yourself some compassion and encourages you to be vulnerable with others, asking for help when you need it.  

Self-destructive coping mechanisms such as using drugs, drinking, gambling or retail therapy only make you feel good in the short-term.

They don’t fall under the umbrella of self-care in any way possible.

What self-care is

Self-care is being as good to yourself as you would be to someone you care about.

Lots of people get the wrong idea about self-care. They think they have to be deserving of it.

Do you feel guilty doing something good for yourself? It can also seem selfish but I’d like to change that mindset today.

Self-care is something you deserve. Everyone deserves. It benefits us all, along with those around us, when we put our own well-being at the forefront.

You truly deserve to spend time, energy and effort on your own well-being.

Self-care that doesn’t cost a dime

You can’t take care of others when your own well-being is suffering. Let’s take a look at some free and low-cost ways you can care for yourself.

Take some time out

Sometimes just a little bit of alone time is all you need to feel rejuvenated. So why not give yourself some time out?

Lock yourself in your room with a nice cup of tea. Listen to some quiet music. Just sit still and think for a bit. It’s a luxury we all can afford.

Relax

We often feel pressured to be productive all the time. Being busy is a sign of worth and accomplishment.

However, it really doesn’t have to be that way. Just kicking off your shoes and doing nothing is important to recharging your batteries.

Let yourself have some down time to do something frivolous like binge on your favorite Netflix show, take a nap or just sit and pet your cat. You deserve it.

Journaling

Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, journaling can be a very therapeutic activity. Jotting down what you’re grateful for has been proven to be beneficial to well-being.

It can also be energizing to simply do a brain dump in which you write down all the things that are floating around in your head.

Jotting down dreams for the future might inspire and motivate you to take action. Give it a try.

Coffee Connect

Socializing is a crucial part of self-care and even introverts benefit from interpersonal connection. Humans aren’t meant to be isolated.

Pick up the phone and call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Sit down and Skype with your favorite internet friends.

Meeting up in person for a walk together or a cup of coffee is even better. Connecting with others might just provide the spark you’ve been missing.

Change Your Perspective

A change of scenery can be a wonderful source of renewal, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot.

Just heading out to walk in your neighborhood might help when you’re feeling overwhelmed in your home. If you’re able to afford it, a low-cost staycation to a nearby location for a day or two is a fun way to stir things up.

You’ll be surprised what this change of perspective can do for you.

Say “No!”

Spending time with friends can be rejuvenating, but so can saying “No” too when it isn’t convenient for you.

Allowing yourself to say “No” to invitations or favors when you’re feeling run-down is a big part of caring for yourself.

Take a walk

Going for a walk in nature is great for those who enjoy the outdoors, while other forms of exercise like running or going to the gym work well for some people.

Give yourself a Treat

Treating yourself to a favorite, affordable indulgence like a movie, manicure, an ice cream or taking a bath are all good examples.  

While these are just a few of the countless ways you can indulge in self-care without spending much money, perhaps they’re just the jumpstart you need to begin exploring this concept.

Days are fun when you practice self-care.

Like any new habit, adding self-care into your life can seem kind of tricky. You probably wonder how you’ll manage to find time to do anything extra for yourself, let alone how you’ll actually remember to do these things.

One of the best ways to get started is to build your activities into predictable parts of your day.

In order to make something a habit, it has to happen regularly. Keep reading, and I’ll show you some tricks to making self-care a routine part of your life.

Ways to fit self-care into your day

Now that you know what self-care is and also found some ideas of how to get started, you’re well on your way to adding this useful practice into your life.

There are numerous ways to add self-care to your routine.

The key is to choose one or more activities that are most enjoyable to you, that provide you with the most benefits.

1. By making it your own

The first thing that will help you in creating your self-care rituals is to choose activities that you enjoy and are meaningful to you.

This is your practice, so you want to be sure it’s customized in order to get the most out of it. Consider making a list of things that help you feel relaxed, peaceful, excited or happy.

These activities shouldn’t take lots of time and easily fit into your life without special equipment or tools.

At least as you begin your practice, the things you choose to do should be as simple as possible.

2. Being flexible

It is best to come up with a routine that works for you and stick to it. Committing to a particular schedule will help you create a habit and ensure that you get the self-care you need.

However, try to give yourself some room for adjustments. Some days are more hectic than others and you may not be able to fit in your anticipated self-care activity, and that’s okay.

Tomorrow is a new day, and you can try again. Soon, you’ll find yourself wanting to take part in these self-care routines, and getting back on track will be easy.

Getting into the practice of regular self-care doesn’t have to be difficult.

Making a few adjustments to your existing schedule can free up some space in your day. Remember, choosing things that will refresh you and are simple in nature will make getting started a breeze.

3. Fitting it all in

Self-care is best added to your routine during the most convenient part of your day.

Choose times that you are relaxed so that incorporating something new into that space will be less stressful.

Many people go with morning or evening routines, right when they wake up and before going to sleep each night.

Getting up fifteen minutes earlier than usual and setting aside a window during the usual night-time schedule are things most people can do.

However, maybe designating your daily lunch break as your self-care time might work better for you. Consider activities like writing a gratitude journal entry before bed.

Listening to music while having your morning coffee or going for a short walk during your lunch hour.

Trial and error may be required, but find a moment to call your own every day.

Self care routine

Beneficial habits like self-care often go by the wayside during stressful times.

It can be difficult to focus on anything but the bare minimum when life gets hard. The fact is that these are the days when you most need to take care of yourself.

One way to achieve this regardless of your situation is by having easy go-to routines you can practice.

Having a list of self-care routines can make it easier for you to implement them when needed.

There are some other tricks you can employ to get you through those tough times, too. Keep reading, and I’ll share them with you.

A list is a good idea

Let’s start with your self-care backup plan. This is a list of at least five activities you can easily fit in your life during the most stressful periods.

Having such a reminder on-hand will let you gain the benefits of caring for yourself without having to think about it too much.

This list can include simple reminders like go to bed early so you get enough sleep, eat nourishing food to keep your energy up.

Or ask for help when you need it because these are all the things you might forget when you’ve got a ton on your plate. During times of trouble, the very basic foundations of self-care can be the most important.

A care package that won’t break the bank

Another way to boost your chances of keeping self-care at the focus during hard times is to prepare a care package ahead of time.

This can include some of your favorite little indulgences like a good book, herbal teas, facial mask, fuzzy slippers and classical CD.

Include anything that brings you joy. Being able to reach for this package when you’re stressed can mean the world and make a huge difference to your outlook.

Get your loved ones involved

When things look bleak, you may require a bit of help to get back on track.

That’s why it’s a good idea to reach out to trusted friends and family now to enlist their help for the future.

Talk to your closest friends and let them know how you would like them to always encourage your self-care routine.

Share with them the benefits it has provided you and tell them you’d appreciate their assistance if they see you aren’t caring for yourself as well as you should be.

Sometimes those who know us best can see things we don’t. When your crew knows to look out for you in this regard, they can reinforce your self-care needs during times of stress.

Taking steps to plan now can make maintaining your self-care routine easier in the future.

Always remember it’s during the hardest times that you need the nurturing of yourself the most.