Do you ever get so busy that you do things like completely forgetting to eat anything all day, not working out all week, or even not giving yourself a routine to unwind at the end of the day? It’s time to start taking care of yourself –– which means that you are going to have to put yourself first sometimes.
Self care is a trend that we hope sticks around for a very long time. And why shouldn’t it? Our health (meaning mind, body and soul) should always be a top priority, from what we eat to how we recover from the daily and weekly grind. Having a self care routine is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. So here are four easy-to-execute activities you can include in your regimen to help you relax and give you a well-deserved boost.
#1. Set an intention for your day. How you kick-off your morning can have a huge impact on how the rest of your day goes. Even the first few minutes after waking up can make a difference on your entire mood. Before allowing any stress, anxiety or negativity to enter your thoughts, set a goal (intention) for the day. This will help add purpose and clarity to your daily routine.
Here are some fun and simple ways to incorporate reminders into your day:
- Add it into the title of your alarm clock.
- Write it into your daily planner or journal.
- Write it on a sticky note and place on the mirror where you get ready in the morning.
- Put a note in your lunch or wallet.
#2: Give yourself a mental break. It would be amazing if we could literally unplug our minds at the end of every day –– but we can’t! For some of us, quieting our racing thoughts is extremely difficult, especially after a stressful day / week / month. Anything you can do to divert your attention and sink into a more relaxing state is going to provide benefits. Curl up on the couch and get lost in a novel, or escape to a quiet room and meditate. When you really want to escape, tune into your favorite mind-numbing tv series (we’re looking at you, Real Housewives). Because sometimes indulging in guilty pleasures is exactly what the doctor ordered.
#3. Try a face mask. Bubbles. Dead Sea Mud. Clay. Charcoal. Masks are having a major moment and there’s a good reason why. Face masks are an easy, yet luxurious skin care treatment to address many of your skin concerns. Using the right mask can help cleanse impurities, remove oil, lock in moisture and reduce the look of your pores. Plus, it’s a really relaxing process from start to finish if you allow yourself to truly enjoy those 20-30 minutes of pampering.
#4: Incorporate essential oils. You might initially be intimidated by essential oils, simply because there are so many ways to use or apply them. There are also a wide range of therapeutic benefits to them as well. Despite the seemingly sudden rise in popularity, essential oils are far from being a new thing. They’ve literally been around for thousands of years.
Some popular ways to use essential oils include direct topical application, adding them to your homemade beauty products, adding them to cleaning products or using them in a diffuser. With the right amount of knowledge (yes, you should do a little bit of homework here), you can put essential oils to great use. Like many avid essential ‘oilers’, you’ll probably find its use to be life changing.
Must-have “me time” can come in many forms. Maybe you’re finding 15 minutes for a morning coffee without distraction, or going as far as building out an entire evening beauty regimen. When it comes to taking care of yourself, no amount is really too much.
