The Importance of Self Care + How to Take Care of Yourself

The holiday season is such a fun, festive, and special time of the year…but it’s easy for us to get caught up in that and overlook self care.  And honestly, some of us may struggle with this year round!  I think especially for people who are natural “givers” and who put others ahead of themselves all the time, it can be especially difficult to remember the importance of self care and taking care of yourself too.  So I wanted to put together a little list of ways you can take care of yourself even if it doesn’t come naturally for you or if you are short on time.  I know how hard it can be just from a time perspective now as a new mom, so hopefully this list is helpful!

1. Sleep – I know this can be hard to do (especially if you have a baby!) but doing your best to get the sleep your body needs is so crucial.  No other self care tip will do much of anything for you if you’re sleep deprived.  Even if you aren’t a new mom or sleep deprived, be mindful of how much time you spend at night staying up late.  I know it’s easy to get caught up in a Netflix binge but try to get in bed to get 7-8 hours a night as much as possible!
2. Move – Next to sleep, exercise is the second most important thing to me that helps me feel like myself.  At least 3-4 days a week you should aim to do 30 minutes of some sort of movement that you enjoy.  Go to a workout class, go on a run or a walk, do some yoga or even just stretch at home.  Endorphins are mood-changing!
3. Relax – Do a little mini spa night at home with a bath or hot shower, put on a soft robe and fuzzy slippers, pour yourself a glass of wine (if that’s your thing!) or tea and add a face mask!  I love the Summer Friday’s Jet Lag mask for when I’m feeling lazy because you don’t have to wash it off.  I also love this Charcoal Mask.
4. De-Clutter – Literally and figuratively.  Clear out your home and closet of things taking up space and also clear out your life of negative influences or people that are taking up space.  Taking an evaluation of what serves you (and doesn’t) is a great way to free up your mind and your time for more important things.  I also think it really helps relieve stress to get things off your plate that aren’t worth your time.
5. Nutrition & Hydration – Eating nutritiously, drinking enough water, and taking your vitamins go a long way to taking care of yourself every day.  I try to eat enough vegetables every day and to help with that I try to eat a big salad for lunch almost everyday or I will have a veggie bowl for dinner.  Don’t get me wrong, I eat dessert almost every day too but it’s all about balance.  I aim to drink at least 100oz of water every day too, and I take my daily vitamins!
6. Don’t Overcommit – Saying yes to everything and spreading yourself thin will put you on the fast track to burn out.  That is the opposite of self-care so just remember when you are putting things on your schedule that it is okay to say no to things and simply enjoy a night at home in your PJs.

What are some of your favorite self-care tips?

xo,

Bess