Sometimes we need a little self-care! We can’t help others unless we help ourselves first. I thought discussing some different activities that can be a good mental relief is the perfect way to start off a new week AND a new month! Maybe you got the whole self-care thing down to a science and you’re just stuck inside (9 weeks in lockdown so far for me!) and you are BORED. To be honest, I’m bored of being bored, but these little self-care activities are helping me through it:)
READ A BOOK
I mentioned this is my morning routine blog post. I decided at the beginning of May I wanted to read everyday… and I think i’ve only missed a day! I am loving it! I’m on my third book (for this month) which is mindblowing. I read 4 books TOTAL all of last year, so the fact that I’m already on my third makes me so happy. I usually spend an average time of 45 minutes to an hour everyday. Lately, i’ve been reading a bit at night as well. This is the perfect time to just shut out the outside world and dive into a fictional one. Or maybe you’re reading a self-help book or an educational one. Either way this is a perfect way to focus on you.
EXERCISE
Yup. Great form of self care. I’m not saying you have to go do an extremely hard HIIT workout to check off this box but hey if that’s what you want to do, I’m about it. The endorphins are the best. Unpopular opinion: I LOVE burpees. Does anyone else? Or is that just me?
Your form of exercise can be a simple walk, a run, a bike ride, or a small yoga flow. Just moving your body in some way for at least 15-20 minutes is gonna get you feeling refreshed and energized.
COLOR
A classic. Coloring is not just for kids, let me tell you. I work at an elementary school part time in the after care program and honestly think I enjoy the coloring pages more than them. All you need is your favorite coloring tool (crayon, color pencil, marker) and something to color. If you have a coloring book, AWESOME and if not simply google some coloring pages and print them out. You can also draw out a picture before coloring if you’re super artsy. Please don’t ever ask me to draw though, you’ll get a very lopsided stick figure.
PUZZLE
I’m talking all sorts of puzzles… Sudoku, Crosswords and Jig-saw puzzles. These three are all so different but take a deep concentration. The concentration element is what makes it a wonderful self-care activity as you get so focused, that you simply block out the rest of the world. You are only focusing on the task right in front of you. I am the first to admit though that I get very angry when I do puzzles because I can’t find a piece but oh well. These are great self-care activities as you are keeping your mind sharp yet relaxing (until you can’t find that one piece…)
HOT SHOWER/BATH
This right here is everything. It can be as simple as taking a longer shower or as extra as a full on warm bath with candles, bubbles and bath bombs. I love baths. They are super relaxing and leave me feeling mentally refreshed. I fill up the tub with water, a bath bomb and some bubbles, light a candle and dim the lights. Then I either read a book or watch some TV depending on how I’m feeling in the moment. Other times when I just dont got that time, or the energy to do all that, I take a little longer of a shower. I turn the water up a bit warmer and just stand there. Just nice to clear ya head sometimes.
I hope these few activities inspire you to take some time for yourself everyday! If you have any self-care ideas that I didn’t list, please leave a comment so we can try them out too:)
Related Posts:
-No More Grouchy Mornings. The Perfect Morning Routine
With love,
Em
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