Self Care for the Soul - 11 Things You Need to do to Take Care of Yourself
/In the past, I used to believe that self care was fluffy and simple things like face masks and bubble baths. And yes, sometimes that is the kind of self care we need but self care is actually bigger than that. So why is self care so important?
Self care is listening to your body and spirit to understand what you need to feel better. Self care is important because it is an act of self love and gratitude. Having ideas for creating the best self care checklist or self care strategies can be helpful but a true self care day has more to do with how it makes you feel. Your self care routine should be full of different self care practices to fully nourish yourself. Self care can look like many different things for many different people but you will know what feels right for you.
By creating a self care routine or a self care day around nourishment and health of mind, body and soul, you shift from doing something because it is on a list or because you think that that is what self care is supposed to be, to doing something because it feels good and makes you feel healthy and abundant. Now, not to be contradictory of the list-- a list of no BS self care tips that actually makes you feel good and benefits you on a multitude of levels.
Do Something You Love
Read a book. Create art. Journal. Take a nap. Do something that you don’t normally have time to do or seem to always find a reason not to do. Do this just because you love whatever it is.
Talk to Someone You Love
Call your mom, I bet she’d love to hear from you.
It doesn’t have to be your mom specifically, just take a few minutes out of your day to have a conversation with someone you care about. Go distraction-free and just talk.
Say “No”
Self care can be as much about not doing something as it is about doing something. The best thing can sometimes be to say no to the event or thing that you don’t want to do. You know the moment from your childhood where you gave your parent the look that said, “please don’t actually give me permission to go, I’d rather stay home than go.” Give yourself permission to stop when you know that something is just going to drain you more than you are prepared to deal with.
Meditate
Taking a quiet moment(even as little as 5 minutes) just to calm your mind and recenter yourself, can not only help you to relax but will also help you to focus on how your feeling.
Self Improvement
Learning more about yourself and cultivating habits that are healthy for your mind and body, is a big part of self care. Self improvement or self development don’t have to be big things. It could be as simple as taking one thing from this list and applying it every day. Self care is nourishing yourself and the best way to do that is by getting to know and grow yourself.
Laugh
Ever heard that laughter is the best medicine? It seriously is. Laughing, not only distracts you from the busyness of life, but it also acts as a release of energy. Put on your favourite comedy, joke with a friend or loved one, or just laugh at yourself. Whatever you do just find some time to laugh or joke or just straight up be silly.
Move your body
Now I actually don’t mean go to the gym or run a marathon(unless that tickles your fancy). Find a way to move your body in a way that energizes you and excites you. Dance. Take a walk. Learn to do a handstand. Just move your body in a way that makes you happy and feel good.
Have a Morning/Night Routine
Self care can be the act of nourishing your body whenever you feel like you need it, but it can also be something that you bring into every day. If you know that drinking water first thing after waking up feels good, try to make it a habit. Having a routine is a good way to nourish yourself without having to think too much about what feels good or right.
Clean Up
You're probably a little confused by this one but I’m not saying you need to deep clean your whole home. Just do a little bit, declutter, dust, or any household chore that is simple but that might be bothering you. It can be surprising how much better you feel when you tackle a small task.
Talk Nicely to Yourself
Tell yourself, out loud or in your head positive affirmations and words. When you talk kindly to yourself you are doing inner self care that feeds you from the inside out. When you love yourself unconditionally, you begin acting out of self love more easily and all self care becomes more powerful. Instead of being critical and hard on yourself, give yourself a break and just be loving and kind to yourself.
Smile!
Do it right now. Slap a big grin on your face and be happy that you are alive. Smiling makes you feel and believe that you are happy. Smiling is probably one of the easiest and fastest ways to feel better. For that extra umpth, think about something that you are grateful for and smile big.
Self care doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Keep it simple and think about how you can nourish yourself and give love for yourself. Don’t feel guilty about putting yourself first, I promise you, you deserve it. When you use self care with the intention of recharging and nourishing yourself, you are giving back to yourself for all that you do. Self care is an act of self love and self appreciation. Self care can be so much more than just what is on a list, including this list. So do what feels good for you and do it often because you need to practice taking care of yourself and self care is the perfect way to do that.
