My Top 5 Self-Care Tips
Do you find yourself full of energy, productive and happy at work, but tired and depleted at the end of the day?
If so, you could be one of those people who leave work feeling worse than they did when they started.
When your body needs to recharge after a long day’s work, so do your mind and emotions.
Let’s make sure both stay healthy.
INFO: Check my amazing 100 self-care tips post.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is about making sure your body, mind and spirit are ready for what you do throughout the rest of the day.
You may not be aware, but without having self-care, your interactions with others and what you do every day can actually leave you feeling stressed and exhausted as the months go by.
Studies have shown that poor sleep and stress can have an even greater impact on health than many of the illnesses we have been taught to avoid.
When you take care of yourself on the inside, you’ll be more effective and efficient on the outside.
I’m going to share my top 5 self-care tips with you today. I hope they help you feel more energized, happy and productive at work and at home while being replenished by the end of the day!
1. Taking daily “siestas”
A “siesta” is a Spanish word which means taking a short rest usually after lunch.
In many parts of Spain and Latin American countries, a siesta is almost regarded as a cultural institution. It’s a way for people to recharge and refresh themselves during their workdays.
Quality sleep is one of the best ways to overcome fatigue (mental and physical) and increases energy levels in the body.
NOTE: Studies have shown that lack of sleep can negatively impact the immune system, hormones, heart rate and blood pressure making a person more susceptible to illness.
If you are going through the day with low energy, it may be time to give siestas a try!
SUGGESTION: I can’t fall asleep easily. If you find it difficult to doze off after lunch, simply rest. Rest means doing NOTHING for a few minutes. Try it.
2. Make your outdoor time count!
We now know that the best way to boost your mood and keep you energized throughout the day is to get some natural sunlight in the early morning.
Not only does it help us reset our body clocks, but it increases levels of serotonin and vitamin D.
Research has shown that vitamin D protects against the harmful effects of stress on the body, and it relieves depression to help with more energy and a positive outlook.
I introduce this self-care tip to you as a way to increase your ability to deal with stress. Whenever possible, I try to spend at least 20 minutes outside first thing in the morning, which is when I do my praying and meditating. At times, it helps me mentally prepare for what is ahead that day.
3. Emotional check-in
Any emotions, big or small, can affect your self-care.
This is why I like to maintain a balance between the high of accomplishing something and the low of not meeting expectations.
Crying, laughing, loving, talking, dreaming…
Feelings are not good or bad.
If something is upsetting you, take a few minutes to let it out. In the end, you’ll feel much better.
4. Forgive and forget, truly
I believe it’s a good idea to forgive others, but that doesn’t mean you should stay in a bad mood.
Carrying around grudges and negativity can actually make you feel worse.
One of the best ways to turn your negative emotions into positive ones is by forgiving yourself and clearing your mind of anger, frustration or resentment.
It may sound hard to forgive someone, especially if you feel like you are in the right, but when it comes to our own well-being and happiness, it’s very important that we take care of our emotions.
To forgive is not a selfish act; it’s an act of love.
In my own experience, I’ve found that forgiving others can encourage me to let go of negative emotions within myself. It’s incredibly freeing especially when one forgives oneself first.
5. Avoid multitasking
This is a biggie.
We all think we are really great at multitasking, but when we lose track of what we’re doing and begin to feel fragmented, scattered or confused, the reality is that we are really doing a bad job at it.
When you are fully concentrating on one thing at a time, you become more productive, efficient and make fewer mistakes.
You’ll be amazed at how much easier your work will be when you handle one thing at a time.
What about you?
Now that I’ve shared my top 5 self-care tips with you, I want to hear from YOU…
What are your top self-care tips?
Please share in the comments below!
