Why you should take the time to look after yourself

Life can be really stressful at times don't you think! Rushing from one thing to another constantly can really take its toll on our health. It is so easy to let yourself become run down if you aren't careful. But, in between the stresses of day to day life, what is the best way to be able to take some time to stop and relax before you lose yourself?

There are many different things you can do depending on your circumstances, but taking time for yourself whatever your situation, is essential to make sure you are in the best place physically and mentally so you can keep on doing what you are doing. 

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Rest and relaxation

Of course, the easiest thing to do is to make sure you are getting enough rest. Not only does it make us feel better but it also helps our bodies to recover from the day's activities and repairs itself too. If you're not getting enough sleep of a night, then taking a 30-60 minute power nap when you can could give you the boost you need.

If you are struggling to sleep, then try to make some changes to your bedtime routine. Try not to take electronic devices to bed with you or watch TV in bed. Taking a warm bath around an hour before bed can help you relax a little bit more as can using a lavender spray on your pillows to induce relaxation.

Meditation is a brilliant way to help you unwind at bedtime. you can release all of the days stress and worries before you try to sleep. Even 10 minutes a night can be beneficial to your mental wellbeing and help you give yourself a great stress reliever!

Exercise

Regular exercise is one of the best ways to take care of yourself. With proven physical and mental health benefits, exercise can help reduce stress, make you feel better as you keep in shape. If you can't take up strenuous workouts, then look at gentle exercises such as yoga and Pilates to help stretch your body and still give you a good work out. Swimming is a great exercise that works the whole body and is extremely low impact.

Check out YouTube for some great videos you can workout to at home if you can't get to a class or gym but try not to work out too close to bedtime so you have plenty of time to relax before starting your bedtime routine. If you have kids, this is a great way to involve the whole family too. Do some kid-friendly workouts and you can all get some more exercise into your day and have fun together too!

Self-care

Both of the points mentioned above are great ways to practise self-care, however, making sure you are taking care of yourself when you can is essential in today's busy world.

Self-care doesn't have to be expensive or luxurious unless you want it to be. It is about doing something for you that helps you to feel better, re-energised and revitalised. So whether that is booking into a spa for the weekend or doing something fun like getting that new tattoo or looking for piercings online you want, if it makes you feel better then you shouldn't feel bad about it.

How about some of these great ways to practise self-care at home when you are short on time;

* Take a bath

* Read a book

* Watch a movie

* Unplug from devices

* Meditate

* Take a power nap

* Eat the cake

* Declutter

* Take a breather

* Start a journal

Eat and drink well

Feeling good starts from the inside. If your diet is lacking in nutrients and is overly unhealthy, then you will start to feel sluggish and bloated. This could also show in your external appearance too, resulting in bad skin, excess weight and lethargy. So try incorporating some healthier foods into your diet and making swaps. Fill your plate with fresh vegetables and snack on fruits and nuts to help restore your glow and make you feel better on the inside and out.

Drinking water is one of the best ways to improve your overall health. Long term studies have proven that drinking around 2 litres of water per day can have many positive side effects. As well as helping your body run the best it can, water can help keep skin nourished and hydrated. 

Indulge your passions

Do what makes you happy. Depriving ourselves of things we enjoy inevitably leads to more stress and as we lack an outlet for our creative energy. So take up a new hobby, enroll in a class, or simply find the time to express yourself creatively in what you do each day.

Your passion is what makes you who you are so find something that makes you happy and stick with it. In fact, there have been studies taken that show hobbies, especially the more creative ones, can help reduce stress, alleviate depression and improve memory. If your hobby is a more physical one, then even better as you get the added health benefits from being more active too.

Crosswords, board games, sudoku and quizzes can give your brain a boost and help keep you as sharp as possible as you get older.

So instead of neglecting ourselves, it is now time to take the time to look after ourselves a little bit more on a day to day basis. With life showing no signs of slowing down for anyone, making sure we can keep up and stay on top of everything is paramount and the best way to do this is to start with ourselves.

Even 10 minutes per day can be beneficial, regardless of what you do. As is making small changes and sticking to them. So look after yourself and you can be sure you are fighting fit and healthy to be able to take on what life has in store for you every day of the week!