Upgrade Your Self-Care Routine

Life seems to be on a constant fast-forward and sometimes it seems impossible to make time for self-care when we have so many responsibilities. Our daily lives tend to get busy with work, school and raising children. Due to this, it can be difficult to maintain a decent self-care routine. However, it is vital to our overall well-being that we do. The way that we take care of ourselves allows us to retain and maintain a healthy mindset as well as promoting resilience and confidence. I’ve noticed that when I upgrade my self-care routine, I feel more optimistic and happy. Here are some of my tips for upgrading your self-care routine.

Mind:

Our mindset really does influence the way we behave. Upon self-reflection, I have observed that when my mind is consuming negative media constantly, such as the news, social media, and sometimes shows with melancholy plot lines, I tend to view the world differently. I become melancholy, myself and my behavior parallels that feeling. Therefore, I have the motto, “good in and good out.” This means that I actively practice putting good things into my mind that will create a positive influence on my mindset. I often meditate, read books, try to learn new things, listen to a positive podcast, listen to up-beat music and also watch videos that make me laugh. These have helped me to become more positive in a short amount of time. Of course, it will be different for everyone else. It may take longer for you to shake those melancholy feelings. That is okay! The great thing about self-care is that you can tailor it to your specific needs and wants. I recommend becoming aware of the negative media you are consuming and practice reducing it. This doesn’t mean you should ignore the news or delete your social media. It’s important to be aware of what is going on in the world. What I am suggesting is that you don’t allow it to cloud your mind with negativity.

Body:

Along with our mind, it is also essential to take care of our bodies. With each busy day, we may forget to eat well and exercise. When I was attending college, I would often forget to eat and would go to sleep at 2am when I had finished my homework. I was frequently sluggish all day and was unable to focus. Due to my body not being taken care of, my emotional well-being was also at an all-time low. It is difficult to feel good about ourselves when our bodies aren’t being taken care of. I often practice seeing my body as a temple and do my best to eat well, exercise, get eight hours of sleep and drink plenty of water. I understand that for a lot of us this is difficult to do. It certainly isn’t easy for me. Exercise and eating healthy can even be unpleasant at times. However, through our mindset we can approach these necessary habits in a way that is pleasant. For instance, I enjoy salads, fruit, yogurt, vegetables, chicken, beef and boiled eggs. From these ingredients, I could make a tasty stir fry, tacos, protein salad or a healthy smoothie. And the good news is that eating healthy doesn’t mean I need to skip on the sugar and carbs. It just means that I can treat myself after my healthy meals. As far as exercise, I enjoy riding bikes, running short distances with loud music, swimming, yoga and hiking. I have found that if I can make exercise enjoyable, I am more likely to continue doing it. Again, this is something you can tailor to your wants and needs. Finally, remember to treat yourself! Go get a massage, a pedicure and that life-changing haircut from time to time. Take a hot bath and have some chocolate. It’s important that we treat ourselves too!

Spirit:

It can be easy to forget to nourish our spiritual sides. I know that I often forget this as well. Nevertheless, it is important that we do. Spirituality helps us to have greater insight on our lives. Especially, during the difficult times. It gives us the strength to continue pressing forward when hope is hard to have. For my friends who aren’t religious, you can still upgrade your self-care in this area too. Personally, I like to take walks in nature, meditate and self-reflect. These make a great difference for me! They help me to get outside of my situation and gain greater perspective. They also allow me to be calm and quiet when my world has been loud and anxious. I greatly recommend this! For my friends whose religious beliefs are rooted in Christian and LDS doctrines, I recommend the above and additionally, I recommend reading your scriptures and praying in the morning,It sincerely impacts my day greatly whenever I have done this. I also suggest praying out loud whenever you can. I often feel closest to my Heavenly Father when I can talk to him like I would my dad. I liked to tell him about my day, my dreams, my worries and my gratitude. It may sound a little weird but it has had a great impact on me. I also liked to listen to spiritual music in the morning. It helps me to be more optimistic and to remember that today is a gift!

Conclusion:

I know this is a lot to insert into your daily routines but I promise it is worth it! It will help you to feel better physically, mentally and spiritually. Your days will get better as you feel better. Remember to tailor each self-care routine to yourself and then take it one step at a time. Always know that you deserve to feel amazing!