Sometimes we lose track of ourselves and our needs due to life responsibilities such as school, work, or family. However, dedicating an ample amount of time to self-care practice is crucial and beneficial for overall well-being. Lack of time for yourself and the things you love can result in burnout, stress, and poor mental health. Below are five self-care tips and techniques that’ll help you prioritize yourself and your needs.
Self-Care Tip #1: Sign up For Skills-Building Courses
One of the best ways to nurture ourselves is by dedicating time to things that will help develop and improve our skills. One of my favorite ways of doing so is by taking skills-building courses such as fitness classes. Yoga and Pilates are my favorites as I walk out feeling in control and refreshed. I am also able to learn new techniques that’ll improve my flexibility and strength. Other skills-building courses include cooking classes, learning a new language, acquiring better swimming abilities, or even taking on writing courses. There are so many interesting things we can learn and expand our abilities in. So, find what interests you the most and develop your skills in those areas even if it’s just for fun.
Self-Care Tip #2: Pamper Yourself
Pampering oneself can mean many things. It can look like setting time aside to get a much-needed haircut or just visiting your favorite salon or barber shop. It can also look like buying your favorite smoothie or even taking the time to moisturize your skin after a nice warm shower. It entails taking time to do the things that you’ve been meaning to do but have not had the time for. My favorite way to pamper myself is by hydrating and massaging my hair and scalp with castor and coconut oil before washing my hair. This makes my hair silky which in turn makes me feel happy and taken care of.
Self-Care Tip #3: Favorite Movies, TV Shows, And Book
I love nothing more than getting home from work and school and binge-watching the latest episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Married at First Sight. As you can see, I am obsessed with medical dramas and reality TV shows. Dedicating some time to your favorite movies and shows is a perfect distraction and a fun way to escape from the outside world. The same applies to getting lost in the lives of book characters. These things make me feel comfortable and at peace. Although some may say that television is a waste of time, I see nothing wrong with dedicating some time to watch your favorite movies and TV shows.
Self-Care Tip #4: Exercise
Now if you’re like me, you know how hard it is to find the motivation to exercise. You may also be aware of that sense of accomplishment and motivation experienced once you’ve finished your workout. It is an empowering feeling. So, get your headphones and your favorite workout song that’ll get you in the mood to exercise. One tip that has helped keep me motivated is taking away the excess pressure of feeling as though I must complete a full workout. Instead, I aim for at least a 30-minute workout. P.S. Exercising outside in nature, even if it’s just walking around the neighborhood, is one of my favorite routines. Nothing beats the enjoyment of being active in nature!
Self-Care Tip #5: Feed Your Body At Least One Nutritious Item for The Day
As a picky eater and sweets lover, I’ve always struggled with making sure my body is getting the right set of nutrients. One of the goals I’ve implemented for myself is to make sure that I am consuming at least one healthy food item a day, whether that is an avocado, an apple, or even almonds. Beginning to incorporate healthy food options day by day sounds like a much easier task to take on than revamping your entire diet all at once. Another tip I’ve found to be helpful is to slowly start replacing certain food choices with healthier ones.
For example, as a sweets lover, I occasionally crave something sweet. When these cravings come up, as opposed to reaching out for a Hershey’s chocolate bar, I prepare myself a cup of Greek vanilla yogurt topped with a side of granola, banana, and chopped mango. This delicious food option can even be topped with a little bit of honey and provides a more nutritious and filling snack while still satisfying my sweet tooth. Just take a moment to appreciate how delicious it looks!
Big Picture
These self-care tips are not by any means exhausted and there are so many other techniques that can be added to this list. However, they all have one thing in common and that’s that they require time dedicated to you. So, whether that means setting boundaries with the people in your life, taking a day off from work, or taking a day off from school, aim to frequently have a designated time for yourself.
If you have any other self-care tips or techniques that work for you, we would love to hear them!
I thought I’d leave you with an image of my puppy enjoying some pampering.
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