Making time to take care of ourselves is never easy, especially when our days and nights are full of work, responsibilities at home, and more stress than most of us know what to do with. However, it’s important to know how to ensure your mind, body, and soul are well taken care of no matter how much free time there may be, so looking for ways to practice self-care each day in some small way is imperative.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small and think of ways you can make yourself happy. If your days are long and you’re feeling your shoulders ache from tension, ask for help from a partner, spouse, or friend, and request a quick shoulder rub, or treat yourself to a massage or pedicure when the stress starts to take over.
From there, it’s simply a matter of planning out your days to fit in ways you can stay healthy and happy. Here are a few of the best tips on how to do it.
Plan Your Meals
Setting aside an hour or two on Sunday night to prepare several meals will not only save you time throughout the week, it will also allow you to benefit from healthy, home-cooked fare rather than grabbing fast food on the run. Check out Pinterest for fresh ideas, invest in some resealable plastic bowls that can spend time in the freezer, and get to cookin’.
Limit Alcohol
A glass of red wine with dinner once or twice a week is fine; it may even help your heart. But limiting your alcohol intake is a good idea for lots of reasons. Not only can it make you feel bad physically; it can also leave you in a fog mentally and drain your energy. Stick to a glass of something with dinner only every now and then and drink plenty of water the rest of the time.
Schedule in Some Exercise
It might be hard to find time to work out, but if you commit to waking up twenty minutes earlier than usual or taking the dog on a longer walk at night, you can get in some daily exercise without a ton of effort. Making the time to do it can boost your energy, your metabolism, and your mood, so carve time from your schedule to get it done. You’ll thank yourself later.
Talk to Someone
Life’s daily stresses can take their toll, so make it a point to find someone to talk to. A counselor, a therapist, or just a trusted friend can make a world of difference when you’re feeling overwhelmed. If you don’t feel you have someone to vent to, consider finding an online support group.
Get Organized
Living in a cluttered, disorganized home–or having an overfull desk at school–can lead to a feeling of chaos and keep you in a state of stress even when you’re making an effort to get a handle on your life. Make it a point to de-clutter, clean your home or workspace, and get organized, and get your family on board so you aren’t the only one taking charge of the mess.
This is a guest blog post by Julie Morris, a life and career coach. You can learn more about Julie at her website.
The photo is via Pixabay by Cuncon.
