Daily tasks, work, children, house cleaning, and more rule our daily routines. Things that are important to us fall to the wayside as we complete necessary tasks. Focusing on oneself and what makes you happy—something big or small—is very important in daily life. To keep your mental, physical, and emotional health in good shape, practice good habits of self-care. Below we’ve come up with some self-care tips you should add into your life.
7 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself
1. Establish a Morning Care Routine
Rather than shove all your self-care on Sunday, establish a self-care routine for each morning. Maybe it means waking up a bit earlier so you can journal for 10 minutes. For some, a good routine involves morning meditation, some exercise, and journaling. Take the time to begin each morning with a focus on bettering yourself—it can do wonders for how the rest of your day goes.
2. Plan a Vacation…And Take It
There’s a big difference between thinking about a vacation and actually taking one. Think about when the last time you took a vacation was—if it’s been over a year, you deserve one! Whether it’s a weekend trip to a relaxing spa in Napa, or a week-long vacation to Tulum, plan your vacation and take it. You’ll come back refreshed and revitalized.
3. Reward Yourself
If you just finished a tough project at work, give yourself a little reward. Whether that be dinner at your favorite restaurant or a night of watching the newest rom-com—do it! Giving yourself those little rewards will help get you through rough patches. Besides, if it makes you happy, then that happiness will flood into other aspects of your life.
4. Learn to Say No
This is an important one. So many people struggle with saying no, and task after task piles on top of their already busy schedule. Saying yes to everything can lead to burnout, stress, and anxiety. Practice saying no to the small things and slowly you’ll get more confident in recognizing that you-time is more important than giving your time away.
5. Exercise Daily
Get moving for at least thirty minutes each day—it does incredible things for your mental, physical, and emotional health. It will boost your strength and reduce stress; even if it’s just a walk around a few blocks. That movement will also help your body produce chemicals that make you happier.
6. Make a List of What Makes you Happy
Take the time to sit down and make a list of things you can do, places you can go, and songs you can listen to that make you happy. Compile this list, and when you’re having a hard day, pull it out, and do one of the activities that brings you joy.
7. Drink More Water
More water leads to more energy and less exhaustion. There are many great benefits of drinking the correct amount of water each day. Headaches can often be relieved by getting more water in your system. So, pop a few lemon slices into your glass and get refreshed.
