[Day 4] Self-Care

According to the Oxford Dictionary:

• Self-care is defined as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”

There’s s a misconception that self-care is synonymous with being overindulgent or selfish.  This couldn’t be further from the truth. Self-care means that you take care of yourself so that  you can stay healthy emotionally and physically. It’s vital for building resilience toward the  stress of keeping up with the pace in your daily life, which has been hastened with technology.

The endless flooding of our inbox with emails is a perfect example of why overwhelm and  anxiety are at an all time high. People feel they’re unable to slowdown and unwind at the end  of their day. When you’ve taken steps to care for your body and mind, you’ll be better  equipped to live your best life.

Self-care involves checking in with yourself and asking how you’re doing and whether or not  your body is getting what it needs. It may not be the same for everyone. Here are some things  you can try to get you started.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, which sometimes results in not sticking to anything, decide to commit to one item for the week.

Make your goal  achievable. When you accomplish what you say you’re going to do, you’ll show yourself that you can keep your word and this increases your belief in yourself! Small consistent wins will lead to larger wins!!

• Unplug:  Put your device down when you’re at home. Your brain needs time away from your screen to help it quiet down. When your mind is quiet, you’ll have better focus, feel more  calm and your mood will be lifted.
• Set better boundaries:  Healthy boundaries make our expectations clear and show others what to expect from us and how we want to be treated. Without boundaries we feel taken  advantage of, depleted, angry and resentful. Better boundaries are the foundation for a  healthy relationship.
• Do something for yourself that makes you happy!  Get a massage or facial, do acupuncture, take a bath, listen to music, dance around the house, sing in the car, spend  quality time with a loved one, paint a picture, or call a friend that makes you laugh!  This may  be different for everyone.  Spend time doing what feels like a treat for yourself because you deserve it!
• Move more!!  Exercising regularly improves your mood, helps you relax and decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition to strengthening your heart and burning  calories, it also boosts your energy and self-confidence! If you feel like you don’t have time  to exercise, even doing as little as 10 or 20 minutes per day can have a profound effect on your health. If you can’t get to the gym or out for a run, try dancing at home for 10 minutes!  Small daily changes in your routine can make a big difference.  Remember, a little every day  is much better than working out for 2 hours then not doing anything for weeks.  Switch it up so that you don’t get burnt out on your routine.
• Spend more time outdoors:  Take a walk in nature, watch a sunset or sunrise, get out in your garden, watch the clouds, or look at the stars at night!

Self-care allows you to make better decisions, communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships and helps you to be more productive at your job. When you’re caring for yourself you’ll be more confident, less overwhelmed and exhausted, experience more joy and accomplish everything you want to get done in your day!