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Is your busy schedule leaving you breathless, as you rush from one place to the next? You are constantly exhausted; – from work, to friends, to kids… it never stops. And you’re not putting enough back in? Your mind has officially switched to stress overdrive, and your health is suffering! It’s time you made up your mind to love yourself today, and the solution is simple: self-care is the way!
You know the saying ‘you are what you eat’; have you considered that you feel as you think? Mental self-care is vital as your mind greatly influences your body’s holistic health. Imagine yourself as a cell phone whose battery is constantly on near-empty. Self-care is that surge of power once you plug in the charger – it refreshes, replenishes, revitalises, refocuses and redirects the mind. So, how can you achieve this?
Start by developing a mini self-care routine. Here are some easy tips you can start focusing on every day that’ll help you to care for yourself better, from the inside out! As you explore each of these areas, you will start to fill up mentally where you feel physically depleted:
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Intellectual (try keeping a balance between stimulating and relaxing your mind):
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- read a book
- listen to a podcast
- build a jigsaw puzzle, do a Sudoku or crossword puzzle
- colour in with pencils, sketch or paint
- learn a new language
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Personal:
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- watch your favourite movie
- treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, facial, a new hairstyle, colour or cut
- buy something for yourself – just because!
- engage in a long-lost childhood activity
- regularly have a ‘pyjama day’
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Physical:
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- cycle or walk (with your dog) around the block after work
- eat outside during your lunch break
- give (and get) a hug from someone you love – or cuddle a pet!
- get enough sleep on the week-end (include some afternoon naps!)
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Practical:
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- start a home improvement project
- create or build something or learn a new skill (jewellery, woodwork, handcrafts, etc.)
- cook a home-made meal
- plant something (create your own vegetable or herb garden)
- tidy your house, garage or tool shed
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Professional:
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- arrive at and leave from work on time every day, and don’t get into a habit of taking work home!
- take a proper lunch break every day
- develop healthy boundaries with co-workers
- attend a professional development course
- find a workplace mentor whom you can regularly meet with
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Social:
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- phone or visit a friend
- use a babysitter and go out for Date Night
- spend time with like-minded people
- take up a new hobby by joining a class or club (think board games, books, art, photography, mountain biking, squash, hiking, etc.)
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Sensual:
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- enjoy a sundowner in your garden
- have an aromatic, candlelit bubble bath
- listen to music or play a musical instrument
- make yourself a cup of tea or go out for a gourmet meal
- indulge in a massage
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Spiritual:
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- have a regular quiet time
- meditate on your beliefs, values and purpose in life
- do reflective journaling (focus on what you’re grateful for, happy memories, loved ones)
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Technological:
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- regularly have a social media detox
- make your bedroom a no-phone or no-screen zone
- switch off your work emails and phone after-hours
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Taking care of yourself is a beautifully rewarding journey you can embark on today. Your mind and body are so worth it - you’ll be thankful for the time you invest in the heart of the matter. Remember: you are the most important person in your life – be good and kind to yourself, love yourself, and let nothing or no one stand in the way!
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