The term "self-care" is being thrown around the internet a lot these days and it's for a good reason. I see the tag on every form of social media: Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr, you name it. If you've seen it while scrolling through your feed, you might be confused or skeptical about why self-care is even important. Although it's been said that we're living in the "me" generation, I've noticed people tending to discount the self as being unworthy of time that could be spent furthering their careers or helping others. While I'm all for giving back and moving forward, it isn't healthy if we sacrifice our own physical and emotional well-being in the process.
Self-care is time specifically set aside to take care of you. When life is stressful or dysfunctional, it's important to make time for your most basic, bottom-of-Maslow's-pyramid needs. So, the next time when you have 15 minutes to spare, try one of these self-care practices to revitalize yourself from within.
Self-Care for the Mind
1. Put your phone on "Do Not Disturb." Start with just 15 minutes. At first, you might be anxious, but you'll grow to appreciate unplugging from the outside world.
2. Write down three things that you love about yourself. When low self-esteem strikes, remember the parts of you that are truly on-point.
3. Compliment someone. Making someone else feel great is a sure-fire way to create positive energy in the world.
4. Eliminate negative people from your social media feeds. We all have a friend or family member who posts things that bring us down. Unfollow that person and free yourself from the negativity.
5. Declutter your immediate surroundings. If the environment that you are in is stressful, you probably won't be able to find peace of mind. Spend five minutes cleaning up, it'll improve your mood in an instant.
6. Call or text a friend. Modern life can be unbearably isolating. Instead of scrolling through images that give you FOMO, put your phone to good use. Call or text someone who will brighten your day.
7. Try meditation. It might seem cheesy or too difficult at first, but meditation is linked to approximately a billion health benefits. Here's a guided meditation video that doesn't suck.
8. Take something off your to-do list. This is a quick one! Choose one task that has been on the back of your mind and cross it off. It's instant gratification!
9. Identify your thoughts and emotions on paper. I'm a firm believer that everyone should journal. If you don't have the time or interest too keep up with it all of the time, just take a few moments to actually identify your emotions or give legitimacy to your thoughts by writing them out.
10. Listen to music you love. It can be a relaxing song or a song that makes you dance. Whatever it is, put your headphones in and enjoy the moment.
Self-Care for the Body
11. Take five deep breaths. Focus on your breathing and be present to instantly relax.
12. Drink water. Chances are good that you aren't drinking enough and it's literally your body's life force. Just do it!
13. Power-nap. If you haven't been getting enough sleep, set a timer for 15 minutes and give your body the rest that it needs.
14. Take a luxurious bath or shower. Nothing puts me in a worse mood than feeling gross or unclean. Take a bath or shower that lets you relax. Light some candles, use your nicest soap, and spend some time alone with yourself.
15. Do 15 minutes of exercise. If you aren't an avid exerciser, getting a few minutes of movement in will do wonders for your body in particular. Even just walking or going up-and-down your office stairs a few times can completely transform your mood.
16. Go outside. The sun is basically nature's energy drink.
17. Play with your pet. Animals make us happy. If you don't have a pet, borrow a friend's or go to a park and give some love to a fluffy friend.
18. Grab some lotion and give yourself a massage. Everyone could use a massage, but we don't all have the time or money for it. You can give yourself an awesome massage that will relax you just as much!
19. Stretch it out! Do a couple of yoga poses or just get down on the floor and stretch, your muscles will thank you.
20. Eat a snack. When I'm grumpy, it's almost always because I was secretly hangry. Eat something healthy or treat yourself to a small luxury. I humbly suggest chocolate-covered almonds.
Whether your self-care style is all-out "treat yo' self" or more low-key, remember that you absolutely deserve to feel your best every day. The world around you might be a hurricane, but you can use self-care to create a space that's safe from the storm.
