It seems that everyone is talking about ‘self-care’ these days. Our weeks are busy, our decisions seemingly endless, and life can feel incredibly overwhelming. It’s easy to forget to take time out and look after ourselves in amongst all that stress – especially when part of the overwhelm is people telling us we need to be making time for self-care as well!
WHAT IS SELF CARE?
There are all sorts of definitions floating around, but here’s my take:
Self-care is an intentional activity carried out by a person to look after their own mental, emotional and/or physical health. It can improve our mood, reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy levels and help improve our relationships.
Good self-care is enjoyable, something that refuels us rather than feeling like a chore. For me, this is key. There’s no ‘should’ for good self-care, and probably no ‘all you need to do is…’. Self-care looks different for everyone, depending on who we are, but also what our current circumstances look like. There really is no one-size-fits-all approach.
With that in mind, here are some ideas for different self-care activities you could try next time you’re feeling overwhelmed. And because one size does not fit all, I asked @novelteabookclub followers for their top self-care tips as well - many of these ideas came up frequently!
NINE IDEAS
1. Take time out
Sometimes self-care is as simple as taking a break. If a work task feels frustrating, a five minute break to make a cup of tea or chat to a colleague can work wonders. If social media becomes overwhelming, a screen-free day could be just what you need. And there’s a reason that parents the world over value locks on bathroom doors (to keep the kids out, not to lock them in!).
Recognising that a situation is causing a downward spiral in your mood and making an opportunity to take a break are two great first steps to self-care.
2. Change up your environment
They say a change is as good as a holiday, and it can definitely be a very simple form of self-care. Try changing any aspect of your environment to see if it helps. If your house is noisy and chaotic, try taking some time in the evening (with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones if needed) to sit in silence and stillness. Sick of working at the dining table? Try moving to the kitchen bench for an hour or two. Print a few nice photos to decorate your walls. Open some windows. Consider all five senses and what small things you could change, even temporarily.
3. Movement
If you’re anything like me, you’re doing a lot of sitting at the moment. A great way to change things up is to find an enjoyable way to incorporate more movement into your day. A walk, a short yoga routine, a mini dance party while the kettle boils for your tea – whatever works!
4. Get creative
Creativity comes in many shapes and forms, but it can be a wonderful activity for self-care. Baking, crafting, drawing, colouring, gardening, photgraphy, writing - take your pick! Art and creativity encourage self-expression and self-knowledge, as we consider what colours, styles or flavours we might enjoy. It can encourage a different perspective, give us a low-risk way to try something new, and often produces something beautiful (or delicious) at the end. You might even surprise yourself and discover a hidden talent!
5. Grab a book and make a cup of tea
This is (unsurprisingly), my favourite form of self-care. I love escaping into the different world of a good book, or enjoying the beautiful words and feelings of a piece of poetry. When things around me are uncertain, I find the predictability and neat endings of genres such as mystery and romance to be particularly soothing.
The act of making a drinking a cup of tea is also incredibly important to me. You can read more about tea and mindfulness here.
6. Meditation/MINDFULNESS
Following on from tea and mindfulness, you might find that other forms of meditation and mindfulness are helpful acts of self-care for you. Again, there are a lot of different options out there, and so it might take a little bit of trial and error to figure out what works for you, but you can start small and move on if it doesn’t feel right. Some quick ideas:
Find a short poem that you enjoy, and read through it several times, fast and slow, allowing your thoughts to be captured by whatever stands out - a particular word, a phrase, an idea
Choose a daily task and try completing it ‘mindfully’. For example, if you’re hanging out the washing, you can focus on identifying the sounds and smells around you, or enjoying the feel of the cool breeze and sunshine on your face.
Download a mindfulness and meditation app such as Smiling Mind, which has lots of free exercises to choose from. They suggest just 10 minutes per day to start with.
7. Something indulgent and then something productive
This idea comes straight from our Instagram community.
@danaew17 says: “First I indulge myself (Netflix, book, movie, coffee shop) then I do something productive that prepares me for the week ahead (gardening, tidy the house, washing my hair, making healthy snacks). Rinse and repeat in however much time you have. I think self care should involve both enjoyable things, and things that set you up to have a good week.”
I love this, and I am definitely going to be trying it out this week!
8. Get outside
Even when we’re staying at home, perhaps especially when we’re staying at home, getting outside is a wonderful act of self-care. Whether it’s some gardening in your backyard, a walk around the block if you are able, or just walking out to check your mail, the fresh air, movement, and change of environment will all help!
9. Rest
Is good for everyone! Again, it comes in many forms and we all need different amounts, but perhaps try going to bed half an hour earlier tonight. Experiment with leaving your phone out of easy reach or even, shock horror, outside of your bedroom!
Perhaps rest for you means an extra nap during the day, or using your lunch break to sit quietly away from your work station, or choosing to put aside your to-do list for a day and not feel guilty about it.
Our bodies and our minds need time to stop and recharge, and we will usually feel much better for it afterward.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What is your favourite act of self-care? Do you have more tips and ideas? Why not send me an email or a DM on Instagram - I always love to chat.