“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary. “– Mandy Hale
If you’ve been stuck in a rut mentally and emotionally, and you aren’t sure how to get yourself out of it then it might be time to do something physically. Self-care is the practice of taking care of yourself without the help of medical or other professional consultation. Self-care can make it easier to improve mental, emotional, and physical health.
If you’re looking for a few small and simple ways to take care of yourself, and improve the overall state of your everyday life then read on!
Method 1: Super Quick and Easy Gratitude Journaling
Every day write down three things that made you happy, or three things that you are grateful for. Write down a few things a day over a longer period of time; you don’t have to have a great big list every single day. Gratitude journaling is especially great to do just before bed, as it is the best time to reflect on the day, and you will go to sleep in a contented mood.
Method 2: Social Media Clean-Up
Take some time to tidy up your online presence and remove negative people from your online life. You don’t necessarily have to ‘block and report’ a person, but you can simply mute or unfollow them. Simplifying your social media presence can really help declutter your state of mind.
Simplifying your social media presence can really help declutter your state of mind.”
Method 3: Deep Breaths
Once every few hours (or whenever you remember) take deep breaths. Breathe in through the mouth and out through the nose. Fill up your lungs, belly and feel your ribcage and diaphragm expand to their fullest then exhale slowly. This will help replenish your oxygen levels, as well as help you become more mindful of your breathing. Try going on a walk outside; the fresh air will do you good and can help clear your head.
Method 4: Stretch
Stretch your legs, shoulders, back, neck and stretch out all your limbs and muscles. If you want to you could also search up some guided stretching or light yoga videos online. Stretching is particularly good for you if you spend a lot of time sitting down working at a desk. Often, there is not enough time for people to exercise during the day, so stretching is your next best bet.
Method 5: Eat fruit
For some people food is an emotional comfort, as well as a nourishment, but it’s not the best idea to be chowing down on chips and candy all the time. For a healthy boost of natural sugar, is good for both brain function and mood have some fruit.
Method 6: Sleep
When a person doesn’t get enough sleep they may become sleep deprived. A person may get annoyed more easily, bored and sleepy in class, and life just sucks in general. Keeping yourself healthy is key if you want to enjoy life to the fullest, and sleeping can play a huge role in that. Find your optimum amount of sleep, and then develop a nighttime routine to wind you down before bed. If you can, try to get unplug from electronics an hour before going to sleep (I know it’s hard, but it’ll be so worth it!). And if you’re in a hurry and just need some quick Z’s, try a 10-20 minute power nap! Your body and your brain will definitely thank you.
