It’s not just yoga and bubble baths on the self care ideas menu here…
Self Care has suddenly become the ultimate ‘wellness’ idea. Often accompanied by product pushing that we can’t afford, just to make us feel even worse about ourselves.
So what do we do instead?
Stop Procrastinating
A huge thing you can really do to prioritise self care, is to stop putting off those things that are creating an anxious response.
It may seem the furthest from the idea of self care, but to focus on doing something that you KNOW will make you feel better in the end is the epitome of self care.
Journalling
Writing to release what’s clogging your brain down onto paper is a really great way to make yourself feel lighter.
There’s an explanation on how to journal in this morning routines post.
It explains how to not get bogged down with WHAT you’re writing, and to just write everything in your head, even if that’s ‘I don’t know what to write!’.
Write a realistic To-Do List
Similar to journaling, by writing a to-do list, you’re helping to take anything that is overwhelming your brain and you’re releasing it.
With a to-do list, you’re releasing the things that need remembering! So it eases your mind, whilst not being forgotten.
This will help to not only release the anxiety of a huge, mental load, but it will also help you to organise your day, and to remind yourself how much you’re achieving each day.
Enforce Boundaries
Do people constantly demand more of you than you have available?
Are you left feeling drained?
It doesn’t matter whether it’s family, friends, your neighbours… If your relationships leave you feeling negative, you need to work on putting up boundaries, and holding those boundaries in place when they’re challenged.
Try not getting involved in those conversations that make you feel uncomfortable. Don’t bite when people are looking for an argument. These are changes that will make a huge change to you over time. The more you practice at this, the easier it becomes.
Here is a great article on Setting Healthy Boundaries.
Learn to say ‘NO’
This definitely could be in the boundary category, but I felt it deserved its very own section.
People have such a negative association with saying no. If we were allowed to set boundaries as kids, we wouldn’t have such a negative association with it now.
We were taught that saying ‘no’ when we didn’t want to do something, was bad.
Unfortunately that stays with us into adulthood, and consequently we have never learned to say no and it be respected as okay.
But saying no when we aren’t comfortable with a situation, or when we don’t want to do something, or when we don’t want to be in a sexual situation… any of these… it’s SO important.
We all need to get better at saying no, and respecting no.
Gratitude
Now I know this lives on the ‘toxic positivity’ checklist at times, but there’s definitely something to be said for practising gratitude.
Even when you feel completely flat, writing 3 things you’re grateful for can be a good way just to keep your mind a little more afloat.
You don’t have to push yourself through at times you just don’t feel like you can pick up a pen… but try this when you can. It really can help just to lift you out of the hole on a bad day.
Make sure to read our post on growth mindset, and check out our reading list of growth mindset books for adults. If you’re looking for further inspiration, check out these self care ideas.
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