Self-care in 5 simple steps.

It's been an interesting week filled with a lot of highs and lows. The kind of week that leaves you feeling incredibly restless while also utterly exhausted - you know the type. As we approach the end of the week, I realise that it has been 3 days since I last sat down to meditate, despite the thought and intention often being on my mind. Attempts have been made, but sometimes life just manages to get in the way. The week started off with a lot of excitement and adrenaline. Opportunities abound! A few too many opportunities if I'm completely honest. All of them were great and worthy of my time and energy, but unfortunately as I looked through my calendars I was only too aware that I just didn't have enough time and energy to pursue all of them.

Something would have to give.

I began working through my non-negotiables. The important stuff that I cannot even consider dropping or changing - things relating to my husband and kids, quality time together, cooking and eating, meditation, and getting my health and fitness back on track.

Next I had to take a look at the rest of my options. All of these were things that I wanted to do, but with limited time available I knew that I would have to choose carefully which things I could do now, which would need to wait, and which ones I would need to release. I began to set boundaries around some of my projects - letting those people involved know what my dilemma was, with an aim to seek solutions. Unfortunately those boundaries were not respected and the project in question had to be released.

I spent some time with a good friend out in nature, watching the turn of the season as we walked and caught up with one another "Why is this not a non-negotiable?" I asked myself. It is this type of experience that adds the most benefit to my mental health, and to that of my friends. And so it was added to the list.

A few other situations came and went, adding both value and stress to my days. As I ran from meeting to appointment and home in time for visitors to pop by, I tried to remain mindful of which of these activities were assisting me in living or creating my best life, and which were in fact hindering the process by taking up valuable time while adding little value.

It is on weeks like these that we are forced to take stock and reevaluate what is most important in our lives. With so many people and situations demanding our time and energy, self-care often takes a backseat to all of these other obligations. However, without stopping to take care of our minds and bodies, we are at risk of burning out and of suffering from serious health issues. Research also shows that those of us who make time for the things in our lives that really matter are less likely to indulge in negative or destructive habits and behaviours such a mindless scrolling, drinking or gambling. And so not only does adding self-care practices to your daily routine greatly strengthen your health and well-being, but experts tell us that the happiest and most successful people regularly focus on self-care! So with that in mind I wanted to include for you a few ways that you can begin to bring more self care into your life each and every day.

5 steps for introducing self care into your life today:

1. Block out time for self-care in your schedule. It’s not enough to occasionally stop your busy lifestyle and take a walk or indulge in a hot bath. Self-care is an ongoing process. Just as you reserve time in your schedule for other appointments, set aside time to take care of yourself, too. It’s important to adopt self-care habits that you can enjoy on a regular basis. They’ll help you avoid burnout, increase your productivity, and allow you to enjoy life.

2. Enjoy your favourite hobby. Whether you love to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen or paint pictures of sunsets, your favourite hobbies can be part of self-care. Hobbies and activities that you already enjoy are easy to select and put into practice. You just have to find room in your schedule to do them. This is an important step and shows your commitment to self-care.

3. Make note of the compliments you receive. You can enjoy this self-care practice even as you work or run errands! Start taking notes of the compliments you receive. You can keep them in a journal, diary, or online folder. Your compliment folder can also include emails, notes, thank you cards, and other things that make you smile. This self-care practice can help you fight negative thoughts. Compliments can serve as reminders that you matter, your existence is important, and someone appreciates you.

4. Remove clutter. Whether you decide to declutter your closet or clean out the fridge, removing clutter will uplift you. Clutter can drain you physically and mentally. It can also make you unhappy as you try to move through your day. Eliminate the things that no longer serve you. For example, if you’re keeping clothes in your closet that you hate each time you open the door, replace them with clothes that you love.

5. Do one selfish act. Living selfishly all day isn’t recommended, but doing one selfish act that makes you happy can do wonders. You can enjoy just that one thing without feeling guilty about it! If you struggle with self-care, it’s often because you spend all of your energy and time taking care of others. There’s nothing left in your well for yourself. By taking the time to do one selfish act, such as reading your favourite book or ignoring a boring phone call, you’ll be restoring your own importance.

And as for that meditation? It still hasn't quite happened..yet.

Thank you for reading. I hope you found some value in this short blog post. If you did please subscribe to receive more helpful tips, guidance and advice in the future!

#selfcare #feelgood #maketime #hobby #knixterwellbeing