The idea of self-care has been misconstrued for a long time. In the past, if self-care was ever mentioned, it came with the notion that you are being self-centered or lazy. Let’s clear this up by putting it simply; self-care is not selfish. It’s taking care of yourself and making sure you are feeling your best inside and out. This gives you the ability and opportunity to be in the best place to help others. Now more than ever, the idea of self-care is becoming a more celebrated and accepted practice. Here listed are just a few ways you can incorporate self- care into your day to day life without going overboard or neglecting your “you-time” entirely.
Spa time
Treating yourself to a little spa like relaxation can be just what you need after a long, draining day. Spa time can be flexible with your schedule and budget. Go get your nails done at the salon or book a massage or facial. If you want something a little less pricy or don’t have time to fit that into your busy schedule you can always do those same treatments to yourself at home with no appointment required. Something as simple as doing an at home exfoliating body scrub can be just the pick me up you need. The saying, “look good, feel good” definitely has truth behind it.
Allow yourself some downtime
Whether you work, go to school, or stay home with the kids life can get chaotic. Let yourself have some time to wind down and relax and have a little downtime after a busy day. That could mean picking up a book or catching up on that tv series you started, making time to enjoy one of your hobbies. Allow yourself time weekly if not daily to decompress and have some time for you. It’s easy to feel guilty or like you are neglecting some other task but if you look at it from the perspective of just adding it into your schedule, you won’t feel bad about making time to focus on yourself.
Indulge a little
If you are a hard core dieter or just like to stay on the healthy side, it’s okay to reward yourself with a well-deserved cheat day. You can let yourself have a whole day to eat whatever your heart desires or limit yourself to a special treat or meal. By giving yourself that freebie it will make it so if you ever slip up or are tempted beyond your control you won’t feel like you’ve totally stunted your progress.
With everything in life, you have to find balance. Making time for self-care is important and what that looks like is completely up to you. Self-care allows you to take a step back from your busy life and focus on you and what you need. How can you expect to be kind to others if you aren’t kind to yourself? Don’t be afraid to show yourself a little more love.
