3 Selfcare Tips to Get You Started
The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to focus on me. So often I try to be everything, for everyone. I’m a wife, dog mom, sister, daughter, colleague, teacher, mentor and leader. So it’s no surprise, that I occasionally forget about myself. In fact, I never noticed how hectic my life was - until others began to point it out. At that very moment, I realized it was time to ground myself and make more time for me. And what a difference it’s made…
So how do you get started? Check out these three tips:
1. Plan out your selfcare schedule.
Humans, by nature, are creatures of habit. We feel comfortable in our everyday systems which can be hard to breakthrough. The selfcare process is no different. Planning out your selfcare schedule fosters accountability. So what did this look like for me? I started really simple: time to get ready in the morning. I found myself constantly running around in the morning - cleaning up the house, preparing lunches (for me and my husband), running to my parents house to check in with them before work, the list goes on. I had no time for myself. My selfcare schedule was waking up earlier (5:30am to be exact) and spending 1.5 hours on myself.
Here’s a list of some of the stuff I do during this time:
Do my hair (blowout, curls, straighten, etc.)
Put on makeup
Dress to impress
Listen to music/podcasts
Drink coffee
Plan out my day
Start my day with prayer
2. Get lost in a book (or magazine... or anything).
Reading can have such a huge impact on our overall well being. In fact, studies show that reading can actually decrease stress by 68%. It comes down to finding something you enjoy to read. Take a walk around a local bookstore and find something that inspires you - a book, magazine, comic book, etc. When you find something you enjoy to read, everything else will fall into place.
So what did this look like for me?
I started replacing some of my “bad habits” with reading - and of course working it into my selfcare schedule. In the summer, it’s so much easier to find time to read: at the beach/pool, at the park, sometimes I’ll even eat lunch outside with a book. Currently reading: Como Ser Feliz (by Eva Woods)
3. Find quiet time
I was born and raised in New Jersey… so by nature I’m use to a fast paced lifestyle filled with noise (traffic, people, music, you name it). For anyone that can relate, quiet time will really make a worlds difference. This is your time to meditate and focus on your future. Meditation is proven to improve sleep, lower anxiety, and foster creativity.
So what did this look like for me?
I started disconnecting myself from noise (no music, no technology, just thinking) during my daily commute. This gave me 1.5 hours (45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon) of quiet time - five times a week. During this time I concentrated on myself and my goals. I would think through all my important decisions. I slowly started transitioning this quiet time into my selfcare schedule. 10-15 minutes of “noise free” meditation in the morning or afternoon.
Self care is all about finding what works best for you. Remember… work on you, for you. Follow @heyruthg for more tips and tricks.