Has the new normal (whatever that means) got you busier than before? With lockdown easing, your day is becoming filled with one thing after another and the self-care you discovered is slowly slipping to the back burner? Are you needing a mood boost or stress break?
I am here to tell you self-care doesn’t have to be a choice!
No matter how busy, overwhelmed or annoyed (we all feel this way sometimes!) you get, self-care can be a staple in your daily routine with these 11 simple hot tips!
1
Take a breathe (breathe in and count to 4, hold and count to 4, breathe out and count to 8)
How?
4-4-8 is known for reducing stress and gaining focus. Give it a try by using slow deep breaths that fill your stomach, hold and then exhale through your mouth.
Great for?
If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, like everyone is asking for you to do something or you have a big deadline you need to finish NOW. Take two minutes to do this breath 10 times. Before you know it, you will naturally use this as a stress reliever!
Time?
2 minutes
2
Move it, move it!
How?
Turn on a song that you love and makes you feel powerful. And just move! Listen to what your body needs and follow it. If you are unsure, a great tip is to tense up your arms, breathing in ….. and then RELEASE!
Great for?
When you are feeling stressed, bored of staring at a screen for hours or feeling annoyed by someone… just let your body feel the music and do what it needs to do!
Time?
3 minutes
3
Say No. Period.
How?
This might be one that feels uncomfortable but is such an important part of self-care. Is there something you feel you don't want to do but feel you have to? What if you say no instead and use that time doing something you want to? Find that one thing you have been avoiding, put a boundary in place and say no! I promise it will make you feel lighter by doing it!
Great for?
If you feel you have no time, are tired and just don’t want to. Because you don’t have to!
Time?
30 secs - 5 minutes
4
What do you want? Write it down.
How?
What do you want today? Ask yourself this in the morning and write it down. See what comes up and think of how you can make this part of your day. It could be feeling like you want to laugh and creating moments for this. Find out what you want and make sure that becomes a part of your day!
Great for?
Always! We forget to ask ourselves this or think that it matters. But it does and you do!
Time?
5 minutes
5
What do you need? Create it.
How?
What we need can be different from what we want. Check-in with yourself and see what is coming up for you. How can you make that a part of your day? For example, If you feel drowsy, you might need some energy which can be achieved from jumping jacks! Or if you feel annoyed and it is loud, you might need some quiet, and ask those around you to give you that.
Great for?
Always! Make this a priority and do something every day.
Time?
5 minutes
6
Gratitude Check-in.
How?
Gratitude might seem like something just for Thanksgiving. But taking a moment to think of (and writing down) what you are grateful for can really change your mood around. It makes you feel present and shifts your perspective towards ‘cup half full’ instead of ‘cup half empty’. Do this everyday and you will be feeling even more happy before you know it!
Great for?
Everyday! No matter how you are feeling, this will only deepen your sense of feeling happy and present.
Time?
1 - 5 minutes
7
Self-Love in Action
How?
Turn gratitude inwards - what are you grateful to yourself for? What is something you have or did that you really love and appreciate? Thank yourself for this and remind yourself of this throughout the day. Because you rock!
Great for?
Whenever you need to hear something supportive or want to feel present and grateful for you.
Time?
3 - 5 minutes
8
Walk It Out!
How?
Get up and go for a walk - whether this is around the block, around the building or up and down the stairs. Just walk it out. This energy burst will help you to re-focus, get a breath of fresh air and bring back some energy!
Great for?
When you feel distracted or low energy. Also great for before work if you are working from home. This will make you feel like you are leaving and arriving somewhere rather and change the way you feel about the space to get you ready for work!
Time?
5 minutes
9
Nourishment Check-in.
How?
Your body tells you what it needs, it is usually just a matter of listening to it. Check-in and ask what does my body need right now/what is it craving? Think past the junk food, and notice the core craving and nourishment you need. Once you know what it is, feed your body.
Great for?
Whenever you feel annoyed, distracted or hungry, this can be a great thing to do!
Time?
5 minutes
10
Screen Break!
How?
It is so important to give your eyes and brain a rest from the screen - that means from the laptop, phone and TV! Schedule in mini breaks for this, setting a timer for 5 minutes every hour where you look out the window and focus. What do you see? What colour is it? What do you hear? Just give your other senses a chance you set in and your eyes to take a break.
Great for?
Every hour for 5 minutes!
Time?
5 minutes
11
Ask for help.
How?
Ask for help with something you need at work or at home. This can be something small, like someone else doing the dishes or something bigger, like asking for advice on something that has been playing on your mind. Remember you are not alone and you don’t have to do it alone, asking for help is a big part of self-care.
Great for?
Always! Ask for help when you feel annoyed, overwhelmed or anxious. Or even ask for those you love to celebrate something with you!
Time?
5 minutes
Bonus Tip!
Discover exactly
what your version
of self-care looks
and feels like.
Here’s the thing:
You are unique and your ideal Self-Care Plan is too.
That's why I created Self-Care Queen for you!
Self-Care Queen is for you if: