The words “self care” have gotten a lot of buzz over the last couple of years. It can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Although I love all the intention behind it, I get overwhelmed with even deciding how and what and when is self care for me. If you’re like me, it feels like just one more thing on my to-do list that I can never get done.
Here’s to YOU this year and putting yourself as a priority… but in a way that fits comfortably in your life!
The two busy mommies behind Candy Lemon Books (Kristina and Ciara) have decided to take on exploring all elements of self care this year… and maybe give us permission to redefine it for ourselves.
Many people think self care has to be a dedicated time, every day, or even an entire day just for you! Believe me, all moms really do deserve an entire day or even a dedicated time every single day. But how is this even realistic?
Of course it would be nice to set aside this amount of time, but let’s be real. Between working, shuffling kids, making meals, taking the dogs out and trying to keep a semi-clean house in order… there just isn’t TIME!
But, the whole idea of self care is that we should try to MAKE the time for ourselves. I think the core of self care is simply being aware that we NEED to make ourselves a priority more… whatever that looks like and is doable in your life.
With that in mind, here are 3 very simple, no cost, easy and quick things you can do right now to add a little self care in your day.
- Ask Yourself – Check in with yourself and ask some questions. What are your priorities? How do you FEEL? Even just taking a split second, between folding laundry and doing the dishes, to stop and think for a minute, can go a long way with easing overwhelm. Think about how you are feeling lately and what it is you really need to get done, accomplish, or focus on. If you give yourself some space to ask some questions, often the most important things will surface. Once you get in the habit of doing this throughout the day, it is easier to focus on your big goals and streamline the tasks to get there.
2. Breathe – So often overlooked, pausing for a minute to deep breathe can really help alleviate stress and frustration. I get it, throughout the day there are so many moments when my emotions take over and the wrong words just come out. If I remind myself to stop for a little bit, breathe deeply (and threw my stomach), then I can come up with the right things to say. I also feel a lot less overwhelmed and hopeless. Try these breathing exercises if you need some inspiration. Give the kids an activity while you give yourself a few minutes alone to breathe.
3. Go for a walk – It is amazing to me how much a little fresh air and movement (by myself) does for the soul. A clear mind can more easily tackle the day than a cluttered mind. Even if it is just to the end of your block or a few minutes outside with the dogs, walking can move mountains for your brain.
There you have it! 3 SUPER easy things you can do right now to help take care of YOU! I’d love to hear in the comments how you practice self care, even if it is a small thing and only on occasion.
It is good to know that self care is trending and buzzworthy, because I definitely need a few reminders to just stop and check in with myself… and if I have time, maybe I’ll throw in a quick meditation, quiet stillness brainstorming session, or even a quick walk around the block in the sunshine. Here’s to YOU this year and putting yourself as a priority… but in a way that fits comfortably in your life!
Share this post if anyone you know could use some good old fashioned self love this year!
Great quick self-care tips! I do the last two once in a while which should be more often, but I have yet to start the first one. Self-care for me is important to keep sane 🙂