Anyone else feeling a little burned out right about now?
If you’re reading this in the 21st century, you probably know all too well that life can be busy, hectic, and stressful (to put it lightly). When we’re juggling jobs, family, friends, responsibilities, chores, finances, and everything in between, it doesn’t take much to feel completely run down and exhausted.
Sadly, you can’t always manipulate the environment around you. But what you can do is start prioritizing your mental and physical health by doing a little bit of self-care! Give yourself some much-needed R&R; read on for 10 self-care and wellness tips that everyone can benefit from.
- Enjoy the great outdoors more often.
Many of us spend the vast majority of our day indoors (and if you’re working from home, you probably know this a bit too well). But according to the American Psychological Association, spending time in nature can have a major impact on your mood and stress levels! Make it a point to disconnect from all that screentime and explore the great outdoors a couple of times a week, whether that means driving to your closest state park or walking around in your city’s green spaces.
- Walk more.
It’s probably not news to you that physical activity is one of the most important facets of taking care of your body and mind. But you don’t necessarily need to hit the gym every single day to stay active – it can start with something as simple as increasing your steps! As a general rule, aim to increase your steps gradually until you’re hitting approximately 10,000 step a day. While the figure may seem daunting on its own, breaking it up into smaller walks throughout the day can add up big time. This is a great way to increase your natural physical activity if you’re leading a more sedentary lifestyle where you’re sitting for a good portion of the day.
- Establish a skincare routine.
Skincare routines are not just a trending hot topic on TikTok: they’re a necessity! Your skin is the largest organ on your body, which means that everyone can benefit from taking care of theirs. If you’re brand new to skincare, you can start off with a fairly simple regimen: all you’ll really need to begin with is a gentle cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer with SPF. It’s a great way to start and end your daily routine, and your skin will thank you in a big way in the long run.
- Drink enough water.
Good hydration is crucial for your body: drinking enough water helps keep your organs healthy, regulates your body temperature, keeps you energized, clears waste, and more! Get into the habit of keeping a water bottle like your LARQ Bottle PureVis on hand and drinking it throughout the day for an easy way to optimize your wellness. If you have a hard time remembering to hydrate, you can always set an alarm on your phone to remind you periodically to take a sip.
- Take time to prioritize your most important relationships.
Life gets busy – but we’re social creatures at the end of the day, and being around your favorite people can do a world of good for your mental health. When you’re feeling especially run down, give yourself a thirty-minute break to call up a loved one or schedule a much-needed hang-out sesh. Studies show that taking the time to do this can actually help you cope better with stress, which is always a good thing!
- Talk to a therapist.
Everyone can benefit from talking to a therapist: it can help give you a better understanding of your own behaviors and help you get out of unhelpful thought patterns you might be falling into (maybe without even realizing it). There are also plenty of virtual therapy options online these days like Talkspace and BetterHelp that you can take advantage of if you just can’t find the time to visit a therapist in real life.
- Give yourself plenty of time to explore your hobbies.
Contrary to what your boss might want you to believe, life is not all work and no play. Making time for other things that interest you can make a huge difference in your overall life satisfaction and give you even more motivation for getting up in the morning. Make some room in your schedule for doing the things that you really love to do, whether it’s reading a good book, making art, surfing, photography, etc. It’s a great way to disconnect from all of life’s more mundane tasks and ensure that you’re always doing something during the week that you really enjoy.
- Perfect your sleep routine.
Sleep is another one of those things that tend to get shunted to the wayside when we have a lot on our plates, but too many days of inconsistent sleep can really mess with your energy levels and your overall health. Try getting into a consistent routine an hour or so before you hit the hay so that you can get your mind and body more ready for sleep — a warm bath, turning off your screens, and keeping your bedroom a sleep-only space can really help. And if you find that you have a hard time turning your mind “off” when you’re trying to settle in and get some sleep, consider using a sleep meditation app like Headspace or Calm to help you drift off.
- Practice being in the moment more often.
In this day and age, it’s really easy to get caught up with all the pressing matters that we have to take care of throughout the day, which means that it’s also really easy to go through an entire day without taking one moment to really breathe and be mindful. So give yourself a couple of minutes to put down your screens and focus on simply being mindful and present in what’s going on around you. Even a ten-minute focused stretch sesh during the middle of a busy workday or dedicating your coffee break to being in the moment can be great ways to recenter and reconnect with a little bit of mindfulness.
A little bit of self-care can go a long way in helping you get back to the things that really matter in your life, no matter how hectic everything else might be! Consider this your daily reminder to take a step back and do something kind for your psyche.