All too often, we hear people talk about sleepless nights, losing friends, and sometimes losing themselves, in the process of chasing success. However, I believe that taking care of yourself puts you on the right path to go after whatever it is that you are chasing. This is where self-care comes in. I think self-care comes in various forms. It all just depends on the person and what you like!
I’ve often felt myself crashing from sleepless nights, eating unhealthy foods, and burning the candle at both ends of the stick. So, for 2017, I’m vowing to practice self-care by doing the following.
Clocking Out of Work
I spend a lot of time on my phone because my job is heavily involved in social media. Therefore, I’m always checking my notifications and emails and refreshing my feeds. Instead of overworking and wearing myself out, I am putting myself on a strict schedule of handling my business during “regular business hours” of 9am-6pm.
Any projects or events outside of those hours is fine, but staring at the phone until it’s time for bed is a no no.
Getting More Rest
It’s important for us to get an ample amount of sleep each night for various reasons. For one, we function a lot better because we’re more alert and secondly, our skin repairs itself overnight. Those alone are 2 good enough reasons to get more sleep! So in 2017, I am aiming to get more rest by going to bed earlier. That means I need to be in bed with the tv off and phone down by 11pm the latest.
Keep in mind that the light from your phone can confuse your brain, making it think that it is daytime, so your body will function as such. To get regulated, turn your phone off by reasonable time so your brain relaxes, making it easier to fall asleep. If turning off your phone isn’t a viable solution, dim the brightness so your mind relaxes.
Unplugging For a Few Hours
Constant access can be mentally and physically draining. This is why it’s important to unplug for several hours or even for a few days to get out of the habit of being so accessible. Social media has provided us so many different ways to contact one another. Thus, unplugging allows us to breathe and do things that we enjoy like resting, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family uninterrupted.
Saying No
Saying no can be hard, but we have to learn to do so for our sanity. I am slowly learning that I can’t be everywhere, which is why it’s important for me to say “no”. Saying no to certain events and outings allows me to take a breather and rest up.
Eating Healthier
I also plan on eating healthier this year. This means changing my soda for water, limiting my fried food intake, eating more fruits and vegetables, and healthier snacks in general. I find that when I change my eating habits, I’m more alert, I have more energy, and I’m able to think a lot more clearly. It also helps to see a slimmer waist and know that I’m not busting out of my jeans!
Eating healthier is one of the most important self-care practices for me because I’m an avid snacker; I really love food in general! I’m also getting older, so my body doesn’t handle food the way it used to. With that said, I need to help it along to stay healthy and keep my waist snatched for as long as possible!
Self-care is what you make of it, and for me, that means doing things that allow me to function with a clear head and thought process, as well as a healthy mind and body. It’s important that we take care of ourselves en route to success. Take the time you need to rest, as one cannot serve from an empty vessel. It all starts with you!
Here are 6 more random but easy ways to improve your self-care routine.
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