Between work, tending to our families, and endless to-do lists every single day, we don’t often take the time for ourselves that we should. More often than not, we’re doing things for everyone else and letting our own mental and physical health fall to the wayside. But we can’t let that happen anymore!
In order to live a fulfilled life and to best serve those around you, you need to make you a top priority. To help out, we’re sharing five self-care routines you can incorporate daily for a much-needed mental refresh.
1. Schedule Time for Yourself Each Day
The first step to incorporating self-care into your day is to actually schedule in time for it. While it may seem impossible to block off an extra hour in your already jam-packed day, it needs to be done. And when you find that time for self-care, record it in your calendar and look at it as a meeting with yourself. It’s one meeting you’re not allowed to cancel!
What you do with this newly discovered time is totally up to you. You can get outside and go for a walk, do some yoga, or even meditate. It’s also a great time to get caught up on that book you’ve been trying to finish! Just let this be your time to let the stressors in your life fade away.
2. Stretch Out Every Morning
You already know the benefits of daily exercise, but did you know that stretching is equally as important for your mind and body? Because muscles can become tighter and joint movement can be minimized with age, stretching is a great way to combat this. It helps to increase your flexibility, which also helps with balance and coordination.
Stretching is also a fantastic way to relieve stress that has built up in your muscles, which causes them to become tense. And since you’ll be focused on the stretches, it helps to calm your mind and allows your body to recharge.
When you get out of bed in the morning, take just five to 10 minutes to complete a stretching routine. Your body will feel lighter and your mind will feel clearer afterwards. Plus, it’s a great way to start your day with an energized, uplifted mood.
3. Utilize Essential Oils to Improve Your Mood
If you aren’t using essential oils in your daily routine, you might want to consider starting! Essential oils provide many positive health benefits, both emotionally and physically. All you have to do is figure out which ones you need the most in your life. Then, you can start diffusing them or diluting and applying them to your body.
For example, if you’re feeling a bit sluggish, you can use essential oils to energize you. Some great options include orange oil, grapefruit oil, cinnamon oil, and peppermint oil. On the flip side, if you need something to help you sleep you can try lavender oil, vetiver oil, or Roman chamomile oil.
4. Be More Mindful
Another self-care routine that can be incorporate into your day is to be more mindful. Mindfulness allows you to be fully present when it comes to where you are, what you’re doing, and what’s around you. You’re able to feel this sense of being present without feelings of overwhelm or stress.
One of the best ways to practice mindfulness is to meditate. You can easily incorporate a 10-minute meditation session into your morning or at night before you go to bed. Meditation can be done totally on your own or you can use an app to guide you through the process. It’s a short and simple way to clear your mind, relieve stress, and encourage a sense of calmness.
5. Take a Technology Break Weekly
Our final tip is to take a weekly break from technology. In this day and age, we are so glued to our devices. We’re on the computer all day at work. We take phone calls, we’re sending texts, and we spend endless hours scrolling through social media. While it’s amazing to be so connected to people around the world, it has its downfall too.
Constantly using technology can impact your sleep patterns and mental health. It can also be a major distraction, pulling you away from other tasks and the people you’re with. That’s why it’s so important to take a break from our devices every now and then.
Shut down the laptop. Turn off the phone. And just get outside to be in nature. Don’t bring any of your devices along with you. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and the greenery that surrounds you. You’ll feel so much better after some time away from all your technology. Try doing this one day per week and see how much it changes things for you.
