At a time when we are surrounded by chaos, stress and a pace that is impossible to maintain, self-care is more important than ever.,
Many of us categorize self-care as being indulgent and perhaps a little selfish. However, this is an incorrect assumption that is often based on limiting beliefs deep in our subconscious mind. Truthfully, self-care is something that is more important than ever.
It’s not just about booking a massage or getting a manicure, but rather about introducing small habits and changes that nurture our body and mind. It fosters self-love, which is an essential part of our overall wellbeing and happiness.
Here are a few ways to introduce self-care:
Start a Morning Routine
Each morning that you wake up is a fresh start and has so many possibilities. Introducing a morning routine is a great way to boost self-care, which can be as individual as we are. The key is to carve out some time first thing in the morning, before your day begins, to nurture yourself. This may mean rising earlier than normal to allow enough guilt-free time before your regular day begins.
Taking some time to quiet the body and mind is one of the best uses of a morning routine. Rather than rushing all of the time, it’s beautiful to find a quiet place to reflect. Setting this time aside to really sit in silence will allow you to connect with yourself. To feel what is happening inside, notice your thoughts and experience expansion in your heart and mind. Any time you can spend in deliberate silence will take you a step closer to feeling whole and at peace.
Gratitude journaling is the perfect act of self-care. Living in gratitude is one of the best ways to increase your vibration and include more love and happiness in your life. When we focus on the good, more good will come our way. It’s also a great way to remember all that we have to be grateful for. It’s so easy, with today’s pace and chaos, to forget these simple things. Bringing them back to mind and putting pen to paper will amplify our love and raise our vibration. It’s virtually impossible to feel stressed when you are in a state of gratitude.
Reading a book with a cup of tea is such a lovely way to start the day. Taking the time to read for fun is something many of us have stopped doing. There’s something so healing about taking time to slow down and begin to read again with no time pressure.
Quiet, conscious forms of movement such as Qigong, Tai chi, or Yoga have the benefit of slowing down and focusing on the breath, as well as getting you in touch with both body and mind. There are many platforms offering these sessions, so you can do them in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Having a morning routine sets the intention for the day and tends to reduce our stress and allow for less overwhelm.
Quick Mood Boosting Strategies
Start to include some simple ways to get you back on track if you are having a rough time. Some ideas might be:
Move your body: go for a brief walk, quiet reflective movement such as yoga Qigong or Tai Chi; do some stretching
Earthing/Grounding: go outside, remove your shoes, and stand on the grass. The healing properties of earthing have been well documented, and just a short period of time will help to reduce stress and improve health.
Deep breaths: close your eyes and take a deep, slow breath in through the nose. Hold your breath in for a few moments and exhale through the mouth. Repeat this 4-5 times. This will clear the head, reduce stress, and allow you to feel calm.
Listen to music: play your favorite song or playlist. Sometimes it takes just one song to feel like yourself again.
Gratitude: write down three things that you are grateful for right now.
Connect with others: reach out to a friend if they live close by, go for a walk, or grab a coffee.
Each time you choose something to bring you back to yourself, you choose self-care and self-love.
Boundaries
Setting boundaries is the ultimate act of self-care. There are plenty of areas to set boundaries in, but the key is to start small and build from there.
Personal Boundaries are things you set for yourself. Set boundaries, such as getting to bed at a certain time, to ensure you get sufficient sleep. Having a budget helps reduce financial stress. Eating healthy food to nourish your body. Spending time with people who make you feel good. These may seem simple, but setting simple boundaries for yourself allows us to grow and feel safe. We are able to succeed and feel more confident as we navigate the world.
Boundaries at work are something we often don’t focus on, as we feel like we ‘have’ to do a lot of things that don’t necessarily make us feel good in order to keep our job. An example would be to only work the hours you are contracted for. Take on only as much as you are capable of, and if the workload is too high, speak with your supervisor. Don’t allow others to overload you with extra work, which will cause stress. Steer clear of office gossip; it’s so much better to remove yourself from those conversations or situations.
Family and friend boundaries can be tricky! However, they are often the most needed, as we feel a sense of duty to remain in situations that can be really unhealthy. Establishing small, easy-to-introduce boundaries is a good idea with family. As you become more confident, it will become easier to have more boundaries as required. If there are certain times that you are unable to have any boundaries, it might be an idea to find ways to distance yourself from the situation or individuals involved.
Self-Care Emergency Kit
There are going to be times when all of the best laid plans go out the window. Something happens that causes major stress or overwhelm. In these instances, it’s important to have an emergency self-care toolkit in place.
In these times, it’s important to know what will help quickly. Things that are tried and true. Examples might be:
- A song or playlist
- Lay in bed to quieten the mind
- Call a friend or family member
- Certain comfort foods
- Getting outside and into nature
- A calming cup of herbal tea
- A TV show or movie
- Meditation
- Taking a bath
Take the time to really think about what brings you comfort. Take note and have a plan in place for those really rough days. We all have them, and having your emergency kit in place will help you move through things with more ease.
Beginning the habit of self-care is so much more important than you can ever know. Just by taking that step, you are beginning the journey to freedom. To the place where you feel like yourself and fully at home. There’s no other experience quite like it.
Connect with Kim on The Wellness Universe.
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Kim is a PSYCH-K® Facilitator; International Best-Selling Author; Reiki Master ; Intuitive Healer ; Speaker and Educator.
Using her knowledge and extensive PSYCH-K® training, Kim has become an expert in transforming the perception of stress and replacing any limiting or negative subconscious beliefs. This is the key to living a happy, fulfilled life as we are able to work on strengthening our foundational beliefs that center on self love, self worth & self acceptance.
