From the time the term “self-care” made its way into society in the ’60s and ’70s up to today, there has been quite the transformation of how this word is interpreted. The media has been bombarded with ads for juice cleanses, with hundreds of influencers throwing products on our social media feeds. With this constant bombardment of distractions, it can seem like a real commitment to find your true inner peace. Below are some of the most fundamental, simple and easy ways to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.
Honor Your Imperfections
As corny as it sounds, deep self-love can add to your confidence and make you feel unstoppable. Loving yourself starts with acceptance and knowing who you are. Trying to be something you’re not will only make it feel harder to succeed. A shift in perspective can shift your life. When you choose to see yourself as beautiful and appreciate everything your body does for you, you choose to honor yourself, rather than complain about what’s wrong with you. Practice saying thank you to yourself every day. Whether you just finished a really long workout or studied endless hours all week for a test, saying thank you helps to practice gratitude towards everything our bodies do for us.
Catch Those ZZZ’s
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for your well being. We all know what it feels like to wake up for that 8 a.m. class without having slept long enough. To say the least, it sucks. You may think that staying up all night to get work done is a valuable use of your time, but chances are, you’ll be burnt out the next day. Sleep helps you to feel energized and rejuvenated and gives your body time to recover from a day of hard work. If you find it hard to fall asleep, practice reading a book and turning off the screen at least 30 minutes before falling asleep. Don’t skip out on sleep, it is more crucial to self-care than an anti-stress face mask.
Use Your Voice
Amidst the scary amount of screen time that consumes the average person’s day, practice the amazing power of actually using your voice and writing things down. If you’re not one to journal, start a gratitude list. This can be as fancy as glitter pens and doodles or as simple as writing down five things you are grateful for on the back of an old grocery list. In the hectic atmosphere of everyday life, it can be easy to think of everything we wish was different. This is why it’s crucial to remember everything you are grateful for every day of the year. Additionally, saying three things you love about yourself out loud every day can be a game-changer. This practice rewires your brain to look for the things that are beautiful about yourself and everything you love.
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