Self Care - For Those Who Really Struggle To Switch Off
Self-care and looking after your mind and body is something that I'm super passionate about. But I'm actually pretty bad at doing it myself. Because of the elusive guilt, that only exists in my mind. And I'm 100% sure that this is something that we all encounter at some point in our lives. This is a post for when you want to switch off but you find it hard to.
SWITCH OFF THE NOISE
I love the internet and the online world but sometimes the noise can be so suffocating. Turning off your laptop and putting your phone on aeroplane mode for just an hour or more. Isn't going to cause anything catastrophic to happen. If you're anxious about people not being able to contact you then just let them know that your phone is going to be switched off for a little bit. Not having it on right next to you takes away from the temptation to endlessly scroll through social media.
DO WHAT FEELS GOOD TO YOU
There is no set way to do self-care. I think everyone should do what feels good for them. For some people that might be taking a long bubble bath and for some it might be going for a run. The way that you look after yourself doesn't have to be the same way that your friends do it.
THERE SHOULD BE NO GUILT ASSOCIATED WITH SWITCHING OFF
We're a funny old bunch. We all say that people should take care of themselves. But the moment we see someone doing that we judge them for being lazy and not working at the same level we are. Resting and looking after yourself is key. When you're at the beginning of your 20's and don't have a huge amount of responsibility. It's the perfect opportunity to make the most out of having your time to yourself. If you don't take care of yourself and allocate time to rest. No-one else is going to do it for you.
create your space
This is something that is difficult to do. Having a dedicated space to just relax isn't something that we can all have. But what we can do is try to keep our work away from the space that we relax in. As nice as it might be to work in bed it can take away from that relaxing feeling when you're trying to sleep. Last year I utilised my old IKEA wicker chair and turned into a reading chair. I don't bring my laptop into that space, it's purely for reading which is something I class as self-care. It could be as simple as making your vanity or dressing table a laptop free zone.
MAKE IT PART OF YOUR SCHEDULE
When we leave things up in the air and unplanned often we don't get round to it. If you plan and make switching off and unwinding part of your routine. You're more likely to do it. It's just as important as every other aspect of life. Without taking good care of yourself everything else will suffer too. We're all human, we all run out of steam and need to refresh so we can give everything our best effort.
YOU DESERVE IT - NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
We all deserve the chance to take care of ourselves. Whether it be physically or mentally. It shouldn't only be reserved for when you're having a tough time. So no matter whether you've had the worst or the best day. Looking after yourself with love and care can have a huge effect on your long-term happiness. Not taking the time to practice self-care only affects you, no-one else.
Do you have any self-care tips?
R x
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