As women, we can often neglect self-care by brushing it aside to attend to the most pressing issue. Well, ladies, it’s time to make self-care a priority. Stop looking at self-care as a selfish act but instead an investment in yourself. Taking care of your body and your well-being is the key to living a happy, healthy, and fruitful life.
- Move Your Body
One of the best things we can do for our bodies is to move them. Whether you want to take a long walk in the park, do an intense workout at the gym, or take a yoga class, moving your body is vital. Moving your body every day is an essential part of self-care. You will reap the physical and mental benefits of exercise if you prioritize movement in your daily routine. Soon you will be one step closer to strengthening your bones and flexing those muscles. By being active you will most likely feel your mental health improve. If you start moving your body every day you will learn to love exercise, not be afraid of it. Enjoy exercising, and participate in the movement you love the most and feel most comfortable doing.
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Drinking water has so many benefits it’s impossible to name them all! If you’ve ever felt groggy, low energy, and unmotivated in the morning, try drinking a glass of water first thing. Drinking water helps to boost your energy and also increases your brainpower. Even before you go and grab your coffee, drink a glass of water and it’ll start the process of waking you up. While this cup of water will help to wake you up, it will also help to flush out your bodily toxins. The acidity in your stomach may go down and your lymphatic system will be balanced, leading to a healthy immune system.
Not only can water affect how you feel on the inside, but it can also affect how you look on the outside. Are you seeing a difference in your skin? If your skin is glowing and radiant, thank the water. This glow comes from the increased production of new blood cells. Keep that water bottle on hand, and soon it’ll be second nature to drink your water! The best part is this healthy habit is another step towards practicing self-care.
- Take Care of Your Skin
Drinking water can do wonders for your skin, however, water will not do it all. Our skin is our largest organ, so the question might be where to start. First, let’s start with your body. One of the easiest and most important ways we can take care of our skin is to keep it clean. Taking showers helps to remove dead skin cells and get rid of bad bacteria. To ensure the dead skin cells are really gone, you should exfoliate two to three times a week. Focusing on the areas where your skin can get the driest is the trick.
To finish off body care it’s important to lather up with lotion and hydrate your skin. Investing in facial skincare products is also an important part of taking care of yourself. Keeping your face hydrated and free of toxins and bacteria will help you avoid skin issues. If you are dealing with dark circles, uneven skin texture, or wrinkles try to incorporate an anti-aging cream into your routine. Starting to use an anti-aging cream in your 20s and 30s is the ultimate way to invest in self-care, your future self will thank you.
- Limit Your Screen Time
If you ever feel overwhelmed by social media and all the negativity that can be online, it might be time to take a break. Stepping away from the negative and sometimes toxic environment that social media creates can help you focus on the positive things and relationships you have in your life. Not only will you be able to allot more time to the things and people you love, but you will also see a difference in your ability to focus and your productivity level.
Now that you’re freeing up some time you can take up the opportunity to explore, find a new hobby and master it. You will also be able to make deep connections with the people in your life. More often than not, electronic devices can be distracting when trying to develop a connection. Although this can be a challenge, limiting your screen time will help you feel cared for and give you the opportunity to strengthen old relationships and create new ones.
- Treat Yourself
If you’ve ever had a really hard, long day one of the only things you want to do is sit down and relax. You can take your relaxation routine to a whole new level by having a DIY spa night. Draw a bubble bath, light a candle and grab your favorite or current book you’re reading and relax. While you’re soaking, take some deep breaths, say some affirmations and express your gratitude.
You can also take the time to find the calmness within yourself while you are enjoying your warm bubble bath. Allow yourself to appreciate alone time so you can recharge, self-reflect, and practice mindfulness. It’s important to remember that you don’t need to have a bad day in order to have a DIY spa night, treat yourself to them any time you want and cherish the alone time you are getting.
- Prioritize Sleep
There’s no doubt that when you don’t get enough sleep, it can definitely affect your mood. However, when you prioritize sleep you can find yourself in good spirits and in an uplifting mood. It’s understandable that with all the stress, anxiety, and frustration in your life that you might have difficulty falling asleep, or getting good quality sleep. Eating certain foods throughout the day or before bed might help you get a good night’s sleep. If that doesn’t work you can always try to take a melatonin supplement that will help you fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. Taking care of your sleeping patterns is taking care of yourself.
Indulge in self-care and take the opportunity to develop a self-care routine with these six self-care healthy habits! Once you adopt these habits, you’ll want to be doing self-care 24/7. Don’t forget to take the time and energy to invest in yourself and these practices.