2020 has been a rough year for many people. With the pandemic still going on, there can be times where it feels impossible to juggle school, work, and other priorities. Nevertheless, it is especially important to take care of your mental health and to fit self-care into your routine.
Here are some ways you can implement self-care into your busy schedule:
Meditation
Take 15 minutes out of your morning to meditate. Meditation works to calm your mind and body, and gives you a fresh start to your day. I usually meditate with a guided audio from Spotify, or you can do simple breathing exercises to begin with. Remind yourself that this is a new day and any negative thoughts from the past will not affect today.
Exercising
Work out your stress and worries through exercise. Growing up, my dad would always tell me that exercise eliminates your negative emotions. Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins that relieves stress in your body and results in a relaxed state of mind. Whether it's going out for a 30 minute run or following along to a 15 minute workout video, exercise can be extremely beneficial to your health.
Pampering yourself
Reserve one day of your week as your pamper day. When you make time to take care of yourself, you will feel more relaxed and happy. On my self care days, I like to do a hair and body care routine. For my hair care routine, I put on a hair mask prior to showering. Then, I shampoo and condition my hair with oil infused products. Finally, I dry my hair with a cotton T-shirt and spray hair oil on my damp hair. For my body care routine, I start out by applying a clay mask to my face, and while that dries I exfoliate my whole body with a sugar scrub. Once, I wash everything off, I moisturize my body with coconut oil and my face with face cream. I find that taking care of my body puts me in a good mood, and sets a positive tone for the following week.
Practicing gratitude
Take the time to appreciate everything around you. Throughout quarantine, I realized how lucky my living situation was. I had a roof over my head and food over my table every night. I didn't have to worry about struggles that others may have had to deal with. Practicing gratitude has made me more appreciative of my own life and to prevent me from constantly comparing my life to others. Right before you go to bed, make a mental list of the things you are grateful for in your life. Gratefulness can come from the little things you have in life, including the people around you, good health, and a bright future ahead of you.
Journaling
Write out your thoughts in a journal. It is normal to encounter stressful situations, but it's always best to clear out these negative thoughts. To do so, I like to journal before I go to bed. Take thirty minutes out of your night routine and journal about how you felt that day and what you went through. When you verbalize your thoughts, it will make you more aware of the good memories you have and find solutions about the not so great memories.
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