6 Ways To Look After Yourself

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If you are anything like us, you are probably not very good at doing this. All of your time and energy goes into looking after your family, your work commitments, supporting your friends and running your home, which then leaves very little leftover for you. We repeatedly put ourselves to the bottom of the pile, and yet we know that this makes absolutely no sense to do.

We cannot be there for everyone else if we are continually running on empty, which is why today we want to share with you 6 ways to look after yourself, a few suggestions of ways to take care of yourself from time to time. 

Get back to basics

When we are frazzled and starting to feel run down, we need to get back to basics. These are so often overlooked as they seem to be so simple, and yet they are essential to your wellbeing.

Prioritise getting an early night. We know that it is a busy time of year, we know that germs are flying around all over the place and you have probably lost a few nights lately due to nursing sick children through the night. Getting enough sleep underpins a lot of our physical and mental health so it is well worth going to bed a little early for a couple of nights to set yourself back on track.

Similarly, take the time to focus on your nutrition and exercise. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water every day, eating a well-balanced diet and getting out and about in the fresh air. It is hard to get all of our vitamin D at this time of year, so make a point of taking a stroll at lunchtime, get out with the dog or go jogging. 

Keep a journal

There are so many benefits of keeping a journal, and this is something that is just for you. Journaling helps you to organise your thoughts and it is an opportunity to reflect on your day and things going on in your life. You might like to combine yours with a gratitude journal, which encourages you to think about something that has happened each day that you are grateful for. Practising gratitude in this way gives your well being a real boost and is so simple to do. 

If you choose to journal, it can be a creative outlet for you. You might choose to sketch and doodle, write poems, or simply pour out your thoughts. Journaling can help to alleviate stress and anxiety and it can enhance your creativity, along with improving your memory. 

It comes with so many benefits and can take you as little as a few minutes each day to do. All that you need is a pen and a notebook and you are good to go, so why not give this one a try?

Pamper yourself

Why does it always feel so indulgent to say ‘pamper yourself’? It does, and yet this is something that you should regularly find time to do. Your body deserves to be treated and it can help you to switch off and relax. 

You might go for a full spa day for this one, or you could just have a long soak in a hot bath. You might like to try whitening your teeth, getting laser hair removal or having a brand new hair cut and colour, whatever it is, just go for it. 

Pampering yourself is enjoyable and you usually come away from the session feeling refreshed and re-energised.

Give yourself some extra space

Now this one seems like such a decadent option, and there is no doubt that it would be a treat, but it could actually be the practical solution that you have been looking for. 

We all need some extra space now and then, and when you have a family home it can often feel like all of the space is actually the kids’ space! Which is why we are suggesting that you look to create a space that is just for you. You might repurpose a room, convert your garage, add an extension or opt for a garden room. 

You could have your own home office, which is something that your business might be absolutely crying out for. Or you could create your own home gym, to save on membership fees and travelling to and from the gym each day. Or perhaps it could be a summer house, just begging for you to read books and drink coffee all day long.

Spend time with friends

We appreciate that you have a to-do list as long as your arm right now, but trust us when we say that you can afford to make time for a cuppa and catch up with a friend.

Spending time with friends is like getting a warm hug. You can share all of your woes with them, celebrate the good news with them and relax and laugh with them. 

Book a date in to catch up now, and you will find that just knowing that it is in your diary will pick you up. It is something to look forward to and you know that it will be a chance to unwind. 

Have a ‘duvet day’

When was the last time that you had a day of doing nothing? We will bet that you are struggling to remember. Then it is about time that you did just that and had a duvet day.

Take a day, or an afternoon if that just cannot be done, and take things really slowly. What will you do with it? You might choose to take it literally and catch up on some sleep. You could spend hours reading books and magazines, or perhaps you will binge on the latest that Netflix has to offer? 

Do whatever it is that you love to do but barely have time for any more. You might bake, paint, garden or blog, it really doesn’t matter what it is as long as you are relaxing and enjoying the moment that you are in.