5 Quick & Simple Ways To Squeeze In Self-Care Everyday

Life gets really hectic at times. Some days it takes all I have to just get through the day. On days like this, the last thing I have time for is anything related to self-care (unless you include a glass of Jack Daniels on the rocks as self-care). Anyway, I know how important self-care is and I know I definitely can’t afford to skimp on it. So I have been trying to incorporate some form of self-care into my daily (or at least almost daily) routine to ensure that I’m staying healthy, grounded, and keeping myself as a priority. When most people think of self-care they usually think of a vacation to a beautiful island, going to the gym/eating healthy, or a nice spa day. But there are other ways to incorporate self-care into your routine that you may have never actually thought of. Here is a list of 5 simple ways that you can incorporate self-care into your daily routine and the best part is they won’t cost you a dime!

#1. Say No, Unapologetically

It can be uncomfortable saying no to people. Sometimes we say yes even when we really don’t want to simply because we feel obligated to. We even overextend ourselves and place undue stress on ourselves because we are too afraid to disappoint others by saying no. As a form of self-care you should get comfortable saying no. Most of the time when I tell someone no, I immediately feel the need to follow it up with an excuse or an explanation as to why I am saying no. Life, however, has taught me that it’s okay to just say no. Period! No explanation needed. You have the right to unapologetically say no and simply keep it moving. Sometimes your own sanity and self-preservation requires that.

 

#2. Establish Clear Boundaries

Sometimes in dealing with other people, lines get blurred and boundaries aren’t clear. A good form of self-care is establishing clear boundaries with others. This can include friends and family members who sometimes feel like your boundaries don’t apply to them.

Do you ever feel like your boundaries and personal space are constantly being intruded upon? People may not even be aware that they are overstepping their boundaries or they may simply not care. In either case, as a form of self-care, it’s important that a conversation takes place with this person to establish clear boundaries in order to maintain mutual respect and a healthy relationship/friendship that’s not one-sided.

 

#3. Prayer and/or Meditation

Prayer and meditation are both great ways to clear your mind and de-stress. Guided meditation through Youtube videos or audiobooks are a good way to start out if meditation is new to you. Both prayer and meditation have been proven to help with depression and help maintain better control over emotions. It’s also something that can be done in minutes. So even on your busiest day, you can squeeze in a brief moment to pray and/or meditate. Some people prefer to pray and/or meditate first thing in the morning, while others prefer to do so in the evening. It doesn’t really matter when you do it, but it is a great way to practice self-care each and every day.

#4. Be Honest With Yourself

We all tend to paint a picture of ourselves in a flattering light because that’s how we want others to perceive us. It’s like a Instagram filter. It blurs our flaws and make us more appealing. This “representative” of ourselves that we often send out to meet others is usually not entirely honest, and that’s okay I guess. But the one person that we should absolutely be honest with is ourselves.  This means acknowledging our own flaws and addressing them so that we can grow and become a better person. One thing that I have learned by working with people is that we can easily pin point everything that is wrong with others, yet we are often as blind as a bat when it comes to seeing our own shortcomings. We have to be able and willing to acknowledge that sometimes things are our fault and that we have some negative traits and toxic tendencies as well. Being honest with ourselves isn’t about being hard on ourselves or beating ourselves up. It’s more about being objective and taking a hard look at who we truly are right now, which includes the good, the bad, and the ugly; and then working to improve and be better. Which leads me right into my fifth and final self-care tip…

#5. Forgive Yourself

Nobody’s perfect. Nope, not even you. Which means you will mess up and you will make mistakes. For example, one day earlier this year I had an incident where I got really upset and I acted in a way that I wasn’t really proud of. (Okay, who am I kidding, I have plenty of days like that.) Anyway, on this particular day I went home and I reflected back on what had happened. Instead of making excuses and blaming the other person or pointing out their faults, I asked myself what could I have done differently? What can I learn from this? How can I be better next time? And then, I forgave myself. Because nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes. It’s just life. So be gentle with yourself, but also be honest with yourself. Learn from your mistakes. Forgive yourself quickly and move past it. You have plenty more mistakes to make. Don’t get caught up on what you did wrong. More importantly, focus on what you can learn from it so you can get it right the next time!

 

Which one of these tips will you incorporate today? What are some of your favorite self-care practices? Share them below in the comments!

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