In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, it can be easy to neglect taking care of yourself.
And this lack of self care is reflected in some disturbing statistics.
For instance, did you know that in 2016, there were twice as many suicides as there were homicides in the US?
Stressful situations happen to everyone. However, stress doesn’t have to take your mental health or your life.
One of the most effective ways to deal with stress is to take care of yourself. And since March is Women’s Month, we decided to share 21 self care tips for women everywhere.
- Drink a glass of water (or two) right after you brush your teeth. Water is great for your skin, your digestive system and even for brain health. But a lot of people regularly forget to drink water thoughout their day. To give yourself a headstart on your water requirements for the day, drink a glass or two of water before you jump into anything else.
- Write down 3-5 things you are grateful for in a journal. We acknowledge that life is tough. However, it is possible to have a few things going for you even in the midst of that. Take time to write those things down everyday. Gratefulness puts you in the right frame of mind to tackle each day positively.
- Don’t check your phone the moment you wake up. Raise up your hand if you’re guilty of this? *We are raising our hands too!* To help prevent this temptation, our suggestion is to keep your phone out of your bedroom. If you use it as an alarm, it might be time to get a regular alarm clock instead!
- Read a book for just 10 minutes everyday. Relax your mind and educate yourself at the same time. It’s a win-win.
- Give yourself permission to say no to things that overwhelm you. If you’re going to take great care of yourself, it is important that you have healthy boundaries that allow you to say no to things that overwhelm you. If someone wants you to come out with them but you don’t, it is okay to say no and suggest another hang out opportunity another time. Trust us, the world will not come crumbling down if you say no.
- Foster healthier relationships. Is it time to find new friends who nourish and challenge you to be a better version of yourself? Is it time to block relationships that are toxic to your health? Well since you’re nodding your head to those last two sentences, we must be on to something!
- Listen to music. The soothing power of music is a centuries old fact.
- Dance. Go ahead! Nobody is watching. And if anybody is, and so what?
- Move for 30 minutes. Health experts recommend that the average adult should move for at least 30 minutes each day, five times per week. Take a walk. Run. Use your treadmill. The powerful thing about exercise is that it releases chemicals in your brain called endorphins. Endorphins interact with cells in our brain to give you a sense of well-being.
- Sit a table and have your meals without distractions. Whether you have a family to sit down at dinner with or not, sitting down to eat your dinner without distractions is an excellent relaxing idea.
- Enjoy breakfast. Are you rushing out everyday and chugging down coffee as your breakfast each morning? While we’re not against your cup of joe, we all know that coffee alone doesn’t make a great breakfast. Take the time to make yourself and enjoy breakfast each morning.
- Detox from technology. This may sound like an alien language if you are addicted to your phone, social media, your computer etc. But taking a break from all of these things might be the very thing you need to reduce anxiety. This generation’s addiction to social media has led to a condition known as social media anxiety. Technology was meant to help us; not make us sick.
- Talk to yourself kindly. If you wouldn’t talk to another person unkindly, why talk unkindly about yourself?
- Make time for family and friends. If you’re too busy to spend just an hour a week with your family, you might be too busy and on a slippery slope to mental issues like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Make time to foster healthy ties with your friends and family.
- Do something creaive. Take that pottery class. Write that novel. Go to those painting sessions your friend has been inviting you to all these years. When we are creative, we challenge our brains to work in ways it is not used to working. This is great for brain health and may even stave off conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
- Set realistic goals. Trying to lose 50lbs in one week is close to impossible. Trying to lose 50lbs in one year is a more realistic goal. Set these realistic goals for yourself. You will reduce overwhelm in your life when you do so.
- Break down your audacious goals into doable steps. Have a huge goal? Instead of getting overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the task, break it down into actionable steps that you can take everyday to reach that goal.
- Celebrate your accomplishments. Yes, you did that! Yes, you should celebrate it!
- Seek therapy. You go to your doctor for annual check-ups right? There is nothing wrong with seeking therapy that helps your mind stay healthy too.
- Wake up early. Because waking up early will set you up for a super productive day. Also, if you are trying to be consistent with eating breakfast, exercising, reading and improving your life overall, waking up early is a great habit.
- Get enough sleep. You will wake up early if you get enough sleep. A lot of us try to cheat sleep and wake up early. It is not sustainable. Get the sleep you need so you can wake up and be productive the next day.
There you have it: 21 self care tips for women that will help you reduce stress and overwhelm.
Which one of these resonated with you the most? Let us know in the comments below.