Self care, self love, me-time – whatever you call it, it all comes down to the same thing: looking after yourself. We’ve all heard about how important it is, especially with the crazy world of social media we’re absorbed in everyday, but a lot of people (I know I certainly don’t) don’t have hours of their day to give away to just focusing on themselves.
But it doesn’t have to be so hard.
Over the past few months, I’ve learned how to make time for self care every single day. Some days might have more time than others, like today where I’ve spent the entire day watching Suits, and other days it might just be five minutes spent reading a magazine.
Whether you feel like you need it or not, everyone needs a lil self care to keep going every day. Even better, once you get into the habit, it becomes something to look forward to.
After becoming somewhat of self care junkie, I though I’d share five ways to practice it every single day. You might only have time for one, or some days you might do all five (the dream), but either way they’re sure to make every day even a little bit easier.
1. Have a *insert favourite non-alcoholic drink here*
Coffee. My favourite word in the morning. I’ve gotten into the habit of buying a coffee halfway through the morning every day, and every day it gives me something to look forward to. I love taking a few minutes to step away from my desk, chat to the barista at the coffee counter and return to my computer with a creamy coconut milk cappuccino.
Although buying a coffee every day isn’t always possible, I try to bring my lunch with me to work during the week so I can afford the luxury of my morning coffee. Maybe your favourite healthy drink is water and lemon (I salute you), green tea or a smoothie, (fizzy drinks aren’t the best thing to drink daily, unfortunately), but whatever it is, finding the time to have it every day means that no matter what is going on, there’s always that little bit of routine.
2. Read your favourite blogs/websites/magazines
How often do you say ‘I’ll read that later,’ or ‘I wish I had the time to read this’? I know I used to say it all the time, but now I make the effort to bookmark things I want to read and use a few spare minutes during my day to catch up on blogs, articles and features I’m interested in. Bonus points if they make you feel good after reading them.
3. Listen to a podcast
I’m a little bit addicted to podcasts at the minute. Whether I’m getting the bus to work or tidying up at home, listening to podcasts stops me from mindlessly scrolling through my phone and helps me to switch off. I wrote about my favourite ones here, so have a read if you’re looking for recommendations.
4. Make a nice meal
‘You are what you eat’ is a saying for a reason. Make meals you enjoy whenever you can so no matter how much of a crazy day you’ve had, there’s something healthy and filling in the fridge that will take no more than 10 minutes to put together. It’s not always possible to have homemade meals all day every day, but having at least one a day is a good place to start.
5. Treat yo’self
Self care doesn’t have to mean spending money, but there’s no harm in it once in a while, if you feel like it. I’ve gotten into the habit of getting my nails done every three weeks and, although it takes a chunk of time out of my day, I adore how they look when they’re done and that I don’t have to think about them for another while. You could even do a manicure or pedicure at home, do a full body exfoliation or a face mask. Go wild.
There’s literally millions of ways to practice self care and there’s no right or wrong, it’s just about finding out what works for you.
Let me know in the comments what you think about self care and what your favourite ways to do it are, I’d love to hear!
*Take time to make your soul happy*