Today’s world is so busy, with so many competing pulls for our time and attention, that self-care is so important. I, for one, am absolutely guilty of getting so caught up in everything that I have to do, work commitments, drop offs, pick ups, what everyone else needs, that I quite often forget that I exist, that I am a person as myself and not just the provider for all other needs and attentions. I will often put off doctor and dentist appointments, check ups, because I am busy in work, or a case needs my attention, but in the end this can only lead to burn out, to collapse, and to feelings of resentment, like we just don’t matter.
I won’t call it a New Year’s resolution, more of a promise I made to myself going forward. I have promised myself to make a little time for me, to look after myself better, that it is ok to be a little selfish sometimes. After all, what use will I be to everyone else, if I am constantly dancing on the edge of breakdown.
Of course I would love to have the time, and money, to take off to a spa retreat every month, and zone out from the world, but I think finding the time for that would just stress me out more! I have therefore come up with 8 tips, that are the 8 things I have promised to do for myself, to build self-care into my routine. Some of these are so very simple, but remembering to build them into my day or week has made them actually happen and happen in a way that brings some benefit. Hopefully these can give you some inspiration!
- Breathe! That sounds ridiculous, but just taking 10 minutes to yourself, no emails, no work calls, no children’s needs, just to sit down for 10 minutes, with a cup of tea, of hot chocolate, or latte, or whatever is your thing. For me, I put on a record, make a cup of tea, and sit down by myself, just to decompress, and stop go, go, going for that little part of the day. I am guilty of eating at my desk, on the go, or simply not stopping, a practice that can steamroll over even the strongest of us.
- 2. Walking, moving, dancing, the gym, whatever may be your thing, but just getting some active time to clear your head and blow away the cobwebs. For me, it is walking with headphones in, normally either with the dogs, or pushing the pram, but I find this as good for my mental health as it is for my physical health.
- 3. Sleep! Busy lives, busy people, busy mums, I am sure we are all guilty of this, when there is so much to be squeezed into a day, something has to give, and normally it’s pushing the boundaries of the time you go to sleep or wake in the morning. I fully appreciate this can be difficult, my youngest is 4 months and he definitely impacts the amount of sleep that is attainable, but I am at least now trying to be sensible. Rather than watching that extra episode, reading that extra chapter, or putting my phone down, I am trying to go to bed at a better time to give my body the time it needs to recover in sleep.
- 4. Relax – once a week I have promised to build in something for myself, for me that will be a bubble bath with candles lit, and a good book, or a massage with reflexology. I am going to try to do this once per month, that is more realistic both for time and money. It doesn’t have to be a fancy spa, I have found a great local beautician where the treatments are fantastic, but don’t come with the prices of the fancier salons. Of course I still love a treat to a spa, but I couldn’t justify the cost on a very regular basis.
During this hour or so, I have told my husband that him and the boys are banned, this is mummy me time, and I have been guarding it with my life!
- 5. Moisturise, again this sounds so simple, but I use to jump in and out of the shower, and get ready to go, in as quick a time as possible, with no thought to looking after my skin or body. I now take the time to moisturise my whole body after the shower, this adds about 5 minutes, but at least I feel as if my skin is getting some kind of care and attention, and that I am looking after me.
- 6. Friends and family, time to sit down over lunch or coffee, and actually talk to each other, laugh, put our phones away and catch up. This is so good for the soul and lifts my day right up.
- 7. Eating better and drinking water, I was terrible for not planning meals and rushing in late from work, drinking fizzy drinks to keep me going through the day, and eating, well basically, rubbish. I have been trying to drink more water, which is helping with headaches, and planning better food, making fresh soups and meals at the weekend and trying to step away from the take away!
- 8. Digital detox, my work emails come to my phone, and anytime it beeps, I was reading it and acting on it right away, basically working every waking moment, taking me away from family time, downtime, every type of time that wasn’t work. I am still battling with myself in my promise to set it down, turn the notifications off and get some head space. I do think this is vitally important, I work a lot already, but was constantly having some aspect of work running about my head, with no downtime or escape from it, this cannot be healthy for any of us.
So these are my tips and my promises to myself, I am trying very hard to stick to these. Whether these tips resonate with you or not, we all do need to find something or somethings, to do to look after ourselves, and prioritise self care.
Good luck, and I hope these help! Thanks for reading, and hope to see you here again soon,
Princessluxlove xx