Self-care has always been a prominent, yet overlooked part of our daily lives. We know that it’s important to take care of ourselves, first. But what about that work deadline or family at home?
Sometimes we put these issues before our own and can eventually fall into a fast paced life of work and home. We forget to prioritise our own wellness and treat our bodies properly.
Self care has been portrayed as a bit of an out there concept, but we believe it is essential to your health, wellness, happiness and longevity. If we don’t learn to listen to our bodies and treat ourselves well, eventually we are going to wear out and end up sick and unhappy.
I see this a lot in clinic with adrenal fatigue, especially in females. Taking on too much, trying to do it all and forgoing any time alone or time to look after yourself takes a toll on your body. Even just a few minutes of self care every day can help to counteract the effects of our busy lives.
Healthista.com published these great tips for adding self care into your daily life, which I really love - I am going to share them with you over a two part blog series.
These tips may just be what you need to get well and stay well moving forward. You have permission to prioritise yourself and your health!
Here are the first five tips, with a little input from us:
1.Check yourself before you wreck yourself
Get in the habit of checking in with yourself — physically and mentally — every morning. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Just sit still with your eyes closed for a few minutes. Notice if your mind is racing or slow, if your breath is shallow or deep or if your body feels tense or relaxed.
Try not to judge how you’re feeling, just observe it. If you’re wired, think about how you might make the day ahead calmer. If you’re relaxed maybe today’s a good day to take on something challenging.
This is extremely important, just these few minutes can help you move into your day without your adrenals already firing too hard. This might be a good time too to check in with how you’re feeling physically, being more in touch with yourself will help you determine what you need (food, exercise, rest, etc).
2. Start each day with some movement
Start every day with some kind of physical movement. You don’t need to head to the gym or go for a run, You could just dance around the kitchen to your favourite song.
Movement brings you out of your head and into your body, and gives you energy for the day ahead. Make it fun, that way you’re more likely to stick to it.
This can be hard to do with kids, so get them involved too! Even if you’re not a morning person, getting up five minutes earlier to go for a quick walk around the block will do you wonders.
3. Like yourself
We know this one’s easy to say and hard to do, but get practising because liking yourself will change your life. When you look in the mirror, instead of seeking out the things you don’t like, pay attention to the things you do. How would you compliment your best friend? Talk to yourself that way with kindness and love.
This is essential to your wellness journey. If you don’t like yourself, you will often find yourself punishing your body with food or exercise (too much or too little). If you don’t respect your body you won’t be inclined to treat it well.
There are many resources, books, podcasts on this topic and it is worth spending time on. Find something that works for you and helps you move forward.
4. Get a nature fix
Studies show that time spent in nature is good for your health. Easier said than done if you live in a big city, but any bit of greenery will have benefits. Put a plant in your work space and get outside even if it’s just to a patch of grass between buildings. Get your feet in the sand at the ocean if you can, daily.
Even just not wearing shoes at home can help to ground you!
Tonnes of benefits to having plants in your home too - This is worth investing your time and money in.
5. Get energised without the crash
When that 4 p.m. slump hits you at work, try reaching for essential oils instead of sugar or caffeine. Peppermint is great for energising and rosemary is said to bring mental clarity. Just pop a drop into your palm, rub your hands together and inhale deeply.
Another suggestion would be to have a healthy snack - something with a good amount of fat to keep you satiated (apple and peanut butter, carrot sticks and hummus).
If you find yourself crashing often, be sure to seek support from a medical professional. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies could be to blame, as could a host of other issues.
Join us next week for more self care secrets!