You see “self-care” and “self-love” plastered everywhere, however none of these simple quotes or signs you see driving by truly tell you the HOW’s on the best ways to implement this self-care. With constant responsibilities of this project at work and that appointment after school, it can be hard to find the space for self-care. As much as we may want to focus on our wellbeing, it seems like life gets in the way sometimes. But don’t worry—there are some simple ways you can prioritize your wellbeing even when things get hectic. Let’s look at six tips that will help you stay focused on yourself during chaotic times and further explain the HOW’s behind the self-care movement!
Set Reasonable Goals
The first step towards taking better care of yourself is setting manageable goals. This could be anything from “meditate for 10 minutes every morning” to “join a gym class once a week”.
Creating achievable goals gives you something tangible to strive for—and when you reach those goals, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to set more for yourself! Everyone’s goals should be personal and achievable so don’t compare yourself to others or feel overwhelmed if your progress is slower than someone else’s; just focus on what works for you.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness have been proven to reduce stress levels, improve clarity, and increase emotional resilience. Taking time each day—even just 10 minutes—to sit quietly with yourself can be incredibly beneficial. There are many resources available online that provide guided meditation sessions if you’re a beginner. Meditation can help you become more aware of yourself as an individual and better equip you to handle the challenges in life.
Make Time for Yourself
It can be tempting to fill every second of downtime with tasks or errands but making time for yourself helps keep stress levels low and boosts your overall wellbeing. Before you are capable of filling everyone else’s cup, you need to make sure your cup is full too! Whether it’s reading a book, taking a walk around your neighborhood, or indulging in your favorite hobby, make sure that you take at least 10 minutes out of your day for yourself–you deserve it.
Eating Nutrient Dense Meals & Mental Health
Eating healthy isn’t just good for your body; eating nutritious meals has been linked to improved mental health too! Eating fruits and vegetables not only provides your body with the nutrients it needs but also reduces the risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. So, make sure that you get enough fruits and veggies each day–your mind will thank you later!
Keep Track of Your Progress
Once you’ve set your goals and created an action plan, make sure that you track your progress so that you can measure how far you’ve come! Keeping track of small accomplishments each day serves as motivation to continue working towards achieving bigger goals in the future. Plus, when times get tough (and they will), having visible evidence of how far you’ve come can help remind us why we’re putting all this effort into taking care of ourselves in the first place!
Connect With Loved Ones
Having strong relationships with family members, friends, or even colleagues help build connections between people which ultimately leads to improved wellbeing for everyone involved! Take time each week to connect with those closest to you – whether it’s over a video call or in-person – making the adjustment to connect to others will improve your health long term. If you do not feel you have time, try calling your mother on the way to work or your best friend while you’re waiting for your laundry in the dryer. You may also be just exactly who your loved ones needed to hear from that day.
Taking care of ourselves is no easy task, but by following these six tips – setting reasonable goals, making time for yourself, staying healthy through diet, and keeping track of our progress, we can prioritize our wellbeing even amongst life’s chaos. At first it may seem intimidating but remember – even small steps forward are still stepping forward nonetheless! Put these practices into action today and watch how they help bring balance into your life over time.