Continuing into another year of spending lots of time at home there is no better time to invest in yourself and start creating some self-care habits. I am a huge advocate for taking time to work on yourself and having a few moments each day to do something you enjoy.
It is sometimes hard to find the time in a very hectic day to take some time for yourself, but try and make it a priority. Just like you would make work or watching TV or eating a priority, also make spending time on you a priority.
The self-care habits I am going to be introducing in 2021 and the ones I will be continuing from 2020 include the following:
1. Move More
This is actually a really tricky one for me, because at this moment of writing this I feel lazier than ever. We have to stay at home, exercise options are limited to at-home or a walk / run outdoors and I would, quite frankly, prefer to snuggle up on the sofa watching a film than completing a HIIT workout.
But this is the problem, I get stuck in a rut and end up not properly moving my body for days. I may hate the thought of having to exercise, but when I do there is no denying the positive endorphins I feel afterwards.
So, I am going to start small. Maybe a few step workouts, dancing around my kitchen and some relaxing yoga. It may not seem like the most energetic, efficient exercise, but it is a start. Some movement is better than none and I am sure I will feel loads better for it!
So if you are feeling a little lazy and demotivated like me, pop up some of your favourite dance songs and have a little boogie around your kitchen. You will probably laugh lots and feel a lot better for getting some movement in!
2. Eat Healthier
This is the ultimate cliché, so please don’t stop reading. But I mean it. I spend each year telling myself I will eat healthier, make better choices, lose weight. Some years I do and some years I don’t.
I want to get to a place where I can be intuitive with my eating and make sensible choices and not yo-yo between crazy eating habits. I am a self-proclaimed comfort eater. I eat when I’m happy, sad, angry, bored, celebrating – any occasion, there is probably food! This is certainly something I want to work on and in turn, know I will feel in control and healthier.
I will never be one to advocate cutting all chocolate out of a diet, I really don’t think that is sustainable. However, if you are someone like me who turns to chocolate (or any other yummy substance) daily, then perhaps we would both benefit from trying to reduce our consumption. If the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ has truth to it, then I must be a bar of Dairy Milk…
Not only will eating slightly healthier maybe but you back in control of your diet, but it will probably help make our skin clearer, boost the number of ‘good’ foods we eat and maybe even shed a few pounds.
3. Laugh More
They say you should laugh heartily at least once a day. Most days I do try to have a giggle, whether that be with my boyfriend, watching a film or maybe a funny video. But some days I can feel fed up and in a little bit of a grump, and maybe unintentionally don’t spend much time smiling or laughing.
There is a phrase that ‘laughter is the best medicine’ and I actually couldn’t agree more. You know the feeling when you have been out with your friends and told the funniest stories to each other or when you have watching a video or played a game that has made you belly laugh, how good did that make you feel afterwards? Sometimes it’s even contagious, to both yourself and others. Once you start laughing you can’t stop!
There are so many health benefits of laughing, including:
- Relaxes the whole body;
- Boosts your immune system;
- Triggers the release of endorphins;
- Protects the heart;
- Burns calories;
- Eases anxiety and tension;
- Relieves stress;
- Strengthens relationships; and
- Diffuses anger.
So perhaps take some time to think of your laughter ‘trigger points’. Make a list of the things that you know will make you giggle. Often laughing moments come naturally to the circumstances you are in, but if you’re currently alone or having a rubbish day, then a list of things that are sure to make you laugh and brighten your day might just help.
4. Perfect Your Skincare Routine
Routines are very important, as is consistency. Consistency gets your results and routines help achieve consistency. This can be applied to any situation in your life, but let us focus on skincare.
For me, skincare is hugely important. I want to have clear, hydrated skin and to look after my appearance. Even if you are not a huge beauty lover, skincare is still hugely important and something you should be doing twice a day.
Treat yourself to some new skincare products or start using the ones you already have and build yourself a morning and evening routine. Like with everything, start small. Just a simple cleanse, tone and moisturiser and then add a serum in the evening. You can always build up the products as you go or try new things.
Speaking from experience, doing your skincare is hugely therapeutic and your skin will thank you gratefully for it. You may not see the results immediately, but you will see results in a few weeks, not to mention the anti-ageing benefits in the long term.
5. Make Sleep A Priority
This is something I need to work on hugely. My sleeping pattern is so fragmented it is actually unhealthy. Some days I don’t sleep until the early hours of the morning, and that is because my sleeping habits really are not great.
I spend a lot of time throughout the day and well into the evening staring at screens and doing very active things, rather than winding down and setting up an optimum sleep environment for myself.
I have purchased a couple of pairs of blue light glasses which have really helped with my blue light exposure throughout the day, so they might be worth a try if you spend a lot of time staring at a screen?
Again, try get yourself into a good routine before bed to allow yourself to get a really good nights sleep. Having said that, if you are struggling to sleep try not to be so hard on yourself. Do the best you can, catch up on some sleep wherever you can, and just try your best! I quite often find when I put myself under pressure to get a good night’s sleep, the opposite actually happens. So take it easy, try the best you can to unwind before bed and hopefully you will have a lovely, deep sleep.
Always remember to just take care of yourself, stay safe and keep smiling! There is always a positive.
Lots of love, Clo x
