Let’s face it, we all love the feeling of having our sh*t together, am I right? However, life can just get in the way of that feeling. Our schedules are overbooked, we feel overwhelmed, exhausted at the end of the day, and as if we zero time to even think about self-care. Of course, this may not be every day for a lot of people. But I can only imagine the mom’s, business owners, nurses, etc. who maybe feel as though they don’t have enough hours in the day to focus on themselves. So with that, I thought I would share a few of my favorite self-care ideas for those who are constantly busy. And show you how to practice self-care on the go when you have very limited time. I hope these 6 quick and easy tips will inspire you!
1. Treat yourself
When life gets overwhelming and stressful take a little moment out of your day to treat yourself. If you have time in your day, such as your lunch break or after work, go get your nails or your hair done! Of course, you don’t need to spend a whole lot of money, you could simply paint your own nails or take some extra time to style your hair. But for me, something about taking an hour out of my day to get my hair blown out or get a fresh manicure or pedicure really does improve my mood and makes me feel happy.
Other things that getting a massage or trying out a new aerobic or yoga class is an excellent way that I like to practice self-care, even on a busy day. I even consider treating yourself to matcha latte that’s full of antioxidants, or delicious almond milk cappuccino as a form of self-care. So if you are ever trying to think of how to practice self-care on the go, think of what brings you happiness and joy! Even just a quick stop into a local cafè or getting a green juice enhances my energy and my overall mood!
2. Practice gratitude and self-love
Practicing gratitude is such a great way to invest in yourself and establish a healthy mindset each day. Not to mention, you can practice gratitude pretty much anywhere. My favorite way to practice gratitude is by saying three things that I am thankful for and three things that I love about my self each morning on my commute to work. It’s such a positive way to begin my workday and it instantly improves my mood.
In addition, there are so many ways that you can practice self-love and gratitude on the go or when you are busy! You just need a couple of minutes at the most! For example, you could think about them in the shower, when you’re getting ready, when you are in the elevator at work, or even when you are brushing your teeth at night. Whatever time of day that you plan on practicing gratitude and self-love, always remind yourself of the little things in life that you may take for granted each day. Small things that you wouldn’t think about like clean water, a toothbrush, a roof over your head, a house, food, a car, etc. Simple reminders like those can really change your mindset and allow you to look at your life in a more positive and beautiful way.
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3. Pamper yourself
Take a few minutes during the day or evening to pamper yourself. When you’re ready to wind down for the night and relax in a hot bath, take a quick moment to put a face mask on! It’s funny how face masks and baths have become the prime image of self-care, but it’s all for good reason! Something about face masks just makes you feel good, not only because you’re benefiting your skin, but because you feel more productive and luxurious. Even though there are so many effective and high-quality face masks that are super cheap!
Another thing that I love to do when I am busy or I don’t have a lot of down-time is to put a hair mask on or hair treatment in my hair. The feeling of soft and bouncy hair along with a fresh and shiny appearance really enhances my mood! You know that feeling when you’re having a really bad hair day and just don’t feel like yourself? Ugh, it can be the worst! Even though it’s something that is so insignificant, but when my hair feels greasy, dry, or damaged, I love to reach for a quick hair mask. What’s funny but a little weird is that I actually put a hair mask in before I do my cardio or workout some mornings. It’s a two for one deal!
4. Digital detox
Make it habit to decrease the time you spend mindlessly scrolling on social media. Practice being more present during the day. It’s honestly one of the best (and cheapest) ways to add a little bit of self-care into your busy lifestyle. An easy way to do this is by being more intentional with how you spend your time. Instead of constantly checking your social media websites, try spending more time in the moment. When you’re drinking your coffee in the morning, try making it a new habit to remove or turn off your devices (tv, phone, computer, etc.). Use this time to meditate, practice gratitude (tip #2), focus on your breathing or talking one-on-one with your partner, friend, or family member. Which brings me to my last tip!
5. Get social
Not social media! Like I mentioned in my last tip above lol. But, when you are out running errands or your taking your lunch break, invite a friend to have lunch or coffee with you. This tip kind of branches off of my previous tip about the practice of presence. However, making time to be more social and have quality face-to-face conversations with your loved ones is a great, but kind of overlooked form of self-care. When you think of self-care you probably think of face masks, exercise, and Epsom salt baths. And even though those are wonderful ways to practice self-care, the company that you choose to surround yourself with can also impact your life in many positive ways.
6. Accept help when you need it
Do you ever notice that when people’s lives get crazy busy and overwhelming, some tend to view it as if it’s a badge of honor or a gold medal? Self-care is not a circus act where you are desperately trying to balance all of these necessary and tedious tasks in order to make it look like you have your sh*t together. Because in reality, by the end of the day you are often exhausted and reaching for the bottle of wine. That’s not self-care in my opinion. Okay, a glass of wine is fine, but trying to juggle a million exhausting tasks and calling that “balance” is everything but a healthy balance. Self-care is about setting yourself up for success in a healthy and positive way. A way that benefits your mind, body, and soul.
So sometimes, when life gets hectic, instead of trying to juggle it all, remove yourself from that “I need to do all of the things” mindset and admit to yourself when you need help. You can’t do everything alone, and you shouldn’t be struggling to try. Practice accepting help when it is offered and showing that you are grateful in the process. Accept the help and take the time to focus on your mental health and overall well-being. Give yourself permission to SLOW DOWN!
What are some of your favorite ways to practice self-care on a busy day?
xo, Cydney
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