10 Easy Ways to Practice Self-Care

I’m a big believer in the power of self-care.

You can’t live an optimal healthy, nourished life without practicing self-care regularly, but I think that sometimes we find ourselves so busy with life – just trying to do everything that “must” be done – that we neglect to make self-care a priority. 

I also think that sometimes self-care gets misunderstood. In fact, a recent poll found that 44% of people believe self-care is only possible for people with enough time, and 35% believe self-care is only possible for those with enough money.

Sometimes people also label behaviors like binge watching Netflix as self-care. Is it relaxing to get into a TV show or movie? Sure, but it’s more of an indulgence than an act of self-care.

Truth be told, self-care is simply anything that we deliberately do to take care of our physical and mental health. It’s been shown to boost our moods, lower stress levels, and helps to develop a stronger self-relationship. Self-care doesn’t need to be anything expensive or time-consuming – What’s most important is engaging in activities that refuel you and make you feel good.

10 Ways to Practice Self-Care

Move daily.

You may be thinking, “Yea yea, I know that exercise is good for me..” but moving daily is more than just beneficial to keeping your weight healthy and body strong. Proven exercise perks include getting those endorphins flowing to boost your mood and decrease anxiety, stress and depression, improving brain health & memory, and increasing energy levels.

The ways that you move daily is up to you & the possibilities are endless! Find something you actually look forward to doing. Personally, I like to do yoga, cycle, hike, box, strength train, and do Pilates.

Practice saying “no” to voluntary things that are a time and energy suck.

A part of self-care is recognizing the people and things that give you joy, and also the things that take away joy from your life. None of us have unlimited quantities of time & energy, and sometimes you must choose between self-care and saying “yes” to something. Getting comfortable with saying “no” to things that you don’t have space for is also a form of self-respect: You’re saying that you highly value your time and happiness.

Meditate.

I promise, meditation isn’t just some weird hippie practice! It’s actually a practice that has many science-backed benefits. Meditating can quite literally alter your brain, and has been shown to effectively reduce stress, enhance brain areas associated with mental processing and empathy, and improve focus and memory, just to name a few perks.

In my experience, you don’t need to be in a quiet room with your eyes closed to meditate either. When I was pregnant, I regularly practiced hypnobirthing as I drove to and from work. I obviously had my eyes open and all, but I used the time to decompress and focus on visualizing a healthy birth with positive affirmations and other manifestation tools.

 

Pamper yourself with an at-home spa.

I love to pamper myself with professional spa treatments, but when I’m short on time – or when we’re in the midst of a pandemic like right now – the next best thing is pampering myself at home. I love putting on a face mask, giving myself a pedicure, and using exfoliating scrubs in the shower to get my skin nice and smooth. It always feels like a luxurious way to practice self-care.

Write in a journal.

As a writer, putting pen to paper always has a way of making me feel good. Throughout my life, particularly when I’m experiencing waves of sadness or worry, writing about it always makes me feel better. I know I’m definitely not the only one who feels this way, as journaling has been shown to strengthen immune cells and be an effective stress management tool.

Take a bath.

A prime example of self-care not needing to be time consuming or expensive is taking a bath. Most of us have baths in our homes, and you really only need 20 minutes out of your day to practice this form of self-care.

I’m a big fan of using Epsom salts and bath bombs, and I like to read or tune into an audiobook or podcast, or use the Calm app.

Stay hydrated.

Drinking lots of water is an important everyday self-care habit. Staying hydrated is crucial to your health and in helping to keep everything in your body functioning properly, including the heart, brain and muscles. When you’re dehydrated, you’ll likely experience a whole slew of not so fun effects, including brain fog, headaches and fatigue.

If you have a hard time keeping your water intake up, jazz up your water by infusing it with slices of citrus, or try using electrolytes to give your water some flavor.

Spend time in nature.

A simple way to practice self-care is to head outside. I always find that being outdoors has a way of calming the mind. I enjoy doing a lot of nature-filled exercise activities, including walking in a quiet part of my neighborhood, hiking in the forest, and kayaking on a river. Whatever floats your boat and gives you joy outdoors… do that!

Eat a diet full of nourishing whole foods.

We all know this one, but eating a diet full of nourishing whole foods is THE #1 self-care habit that aids in a vibrant, healthy life. Making healthy homemade food is one of the most primal forms of self-care, but if cooking and baking isn’t your favorite thing, it isn’t the end of the world. What matters most is that you’re taking care of yourself by eating healthy the vast majority of the time.

Commit to quality sleep.

Being well rested is another very basic, very important form of self-care. So many of us are sleep deprived, and while sometimes we can’t do a lot to change the amount of time we get to sleep – I get it, I’m a mom to a temperamental sleeping baby! – there are always a few things you can do to improve your sleep quality. A few ideas include:

• Meditating or taking a bath before bed to decompress
• Disconnecting from your phone a little while before bed
• Diffusing lavender essential oil to help you relax

Last weekend, after a particularly rough week of mommying, my husband took our 10-month old baby out for a daddy/daughter date, leaving me with an afternoon to myself. I spent my day engaging in soul-satisfying activities, including taking a boxing class, meditating, spending a few hours at the beach soaking up the sun & reading, and grabbing a healthy plant-based dessert that I’ve been craving.

As I soaked up the sweet silence of being alone and doing things that I enjoy without worrying about the time, I felt like I could breathe for the first time all week. And then, I couldn’t wait to see my baby again. This is exactly what self-care is all about – filling up your cup, so that you can tend to your responsibilities and life with a nourished, more content soul.

Tell me.. How have you practiced self-care lately?