With The New Year just around the corner, we are all thinking about our goals and resolutions for the upcoming year, filled with opportunities. Most of the people who make the lists of resolutions do not even consider putting self-care on it. Self-care is the basis of everything else in our lives. Without proper physical, emotions, and mental well-being, there is no chance for success in other spheres of our busy lives. A lot of people say that there is just no time for taking care of yourself when there is so much stress around work-schedules, social obligations, and family. Reducing stress around ourselves is precisely what self-care is all about.
Here are some tips on how to love and take care of yourself in 2020.
Get some quality sleep
Resting after an exhausting day is the only way to get ourselves ready for tomorrow. Sleep is crucial, not only for our energy levels but for our emotional and mental state. An average adult should sleep between six and eight hours to keep their optimal health. Apart from the duration, having uninterrupted sleep is also crucial for waking up energized and fresh in the morning. Most people do not sleep enough or have poor sleep quality, which is taking its toll on their health, focus, and appearance. To have better sleep hygiene, you should invest in the right mattress, like the ones at My Sleep Bot. Another essential advice is to have a night-time routine, which allows your brain to learn when it is time for bed and start preparing your body for rest.
Eat better
Just like sleep, the food that we eat affects us both physically and mentally. Do you ever feel bad after eating all the junk food? Start meal planning and prepping in, and take care of your ingredients. It is vital to get all the nourishment from our diet. But also do not forget to drink water. It is something a lot of people don’t do. Water is just as important.
Do not be too strict with your diet, occasional indulgence in cakes, and junk food is just as crucial for our self-care. But do not think of junk food as a reward, because it is not. The award is the health benefit from eating all the healthy foods.
Start exercising
Even the simple morning yoga routine improve your mood for the day and do not even get me started with health benefits. If you do not like going to the gym, try some fun group activities and classes, they are social and engaging, as well as great for stress relief. Try exercising outside sometimes. There is something soothing about the smell of grass and plants that lifts your mood.
Practice mindfulness
Spending all of your free time on social media is the opposite of self-care. Instead, be mindful of everything that you do on your phone or laptops and try to reduce screen-time as much as possible. Include mindfulness in other areas of your life. For example, at lunch, instead of scrolling social media pages, take a small bit of your food and try to focus on the taste of it. Eat slowly and pay attention to all the textures and senses of your food; it can be a relaxing experience. Include meditation in your morning routine; you will start to see the benefits even after a week of doing it.
Slow down
Our lives today are more about the future than about the present. Are you constantly worrying about tomorrow, next week, or next month? You are not alone; almost everyone does. Do not overwork yourself, and do not rush; nothing is really that important. Being in a rush is probably the main reason for stress and exhaustion. The best advice is to focus on what you are doing right now. Give the present your full attention, and you might find that you are more productive and efficient that way.
Our rushed lifestyles are definitely affecting our relationships. Even when we are with your loved ones, we are always thinking about tomorrow’s obligations instead of enjoying the wonderful company. Being present while talking to a friend or a partner will help you grow and nurture your relationships.
Treat yourself
Every once in awhile, it is absolutely fine to spoil yourself with a gift. You deserve it. Take yourself to a nice restaurant, buy some clothes and makeup, or travel. Whatever it is that you like doing, there is always something to look forward to. How often does it happen that you want to buy something beautiful, but decide not to because you make yourself believe that it is not worth it? Well, it is. Doing something that brings you joy is absolutely worth it.
Keep in mind that self-care is not a goal. It is not a competition. Be patient with yourself, allow mistakes and setbacks, there is nothing quite stressful as falling off the tracks. But it is not a big deal; it is just an opportunity to learn. Do not be so focused on succeeding that you forget the whole point of self-care. Do not forget that mental health and self-care are ongoing processes, and there is no finish line - so do not rush and enjoy the process.
