Over 44 million Americans are currently living with a mental health condition, and with young people increasingly struggling, that statistic looks set to rise. While the proper treatment for mental health issues is important, so is self-care.
Whether you’re experiencing a mental health problem yourself, or just feeling the day to day effects of stress, prioritizing your self-care will help your sense of wellbeing. But how? If you’ve neglected yourself in the past, these self-care tips might be just what you’re looking for.
10 Simple Self-Care Tips
When choosing something to add to your self-care routine, be open-minded. Try things that you haven’t before, you may find that they are just what you need to feel refreshed. You might also be surprised by how even small self care practices can make a big difference to how you feel.
1. Drink More Water
The human body is over 50% water, so making sure that you stay hydrated is the key to health and wellbeing. While the advice to drink eight glasses a day has now been revised to “drink to thirst,” there are still plenty of benefits to having a glass of H2O. Water helps you eliminate waste, and keeps your skin looking younger, too.
2. Start a Gratitude Journal
Psychologists have researched wellbeing and discovered that feeling grateful is a key to feeling good about yourself and your life. Taking time out of each day to think about the things that went well, and even starting and maintaining a gratitude journal is one of their recommended self-care activities.
To do this, just record five things each day that you are grateful for. That could be things which happened on that day, or something or someone that has been in your life for a long time. Focusing on the good points, helps the mind to steer clear of more negative topics.
3. Make Small Changes
Feeling like you’re stuck in a rut can contribute to a negative outlook on life. So, make changes in small ways. Take a new route to work, or order something you haven’t tried before for lunch.
While it might not seem like much, changing small things can make your routine feel less like a treadmill.
4. Exercise
Of all the self-care ideas, taking regular exercise is probably one of the most beneficial. This doesn’t need to mean daily trips to the gym, it can just be going out for a walk at lunchtime.
Exercise not only helps circulation and weight control it also produces dopamine which makes us feel happier. Take your exercise outside to enjoy the health benefits of nature including a vitamin D boost from being out in sunlight.
5. Start Your Day Right
We’re not all morning people, but we do all need to get up at the right time to get to work. Either way, one idea to get your day off to a good start is to incorporate some kind of treat.
That might mean great coffee or eating breakfast with your favorite music on. It could also mean adding a nourishing step to your skin care regime, such as incorporating a Vitamin C anti aging Serum.
6. Social Media Audit
Social media can be a wonderful source of uplifting information. It helps us check in with family and friends no matter where in the world they are, and we can follow people who inspire us to be better.
But it can also be destructive to our self-esteem.
When viewing social media, it’s important to remember that you’re not seeing someone’s reality. They’re sharing with you what they want you to see. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing your actual life with someone else’s showreel.
So take some time to think about who you follow on social media. Do they make you feel good about yourself, or not?
Unfollow, or mute, those who aren’t helping you. If social media is a real cause of unhappiness for you, it might be worth doing a detox.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, but many of us don’t get anywhere near that. If you’re not sure how well you’re sleeping, then an app which will monitor that for you might be worth considering. There are several apps and devices available including Sleepbot, which is free.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, trying to find a way to tweak your routine so you get more. That might be getting to bed earlier, but if you’re a night owl rather than a lark then you might prefer to get up half an hour later instead.
If you struggle to get to sleep at night, it might be worth putting your smartphone to one side. Research shows that the blue light from devices like phones and computers can interfere with your circadian rhythm.
8. Spend Time with Friends
We tend to think of self-care as a solitary activity, but spending time with those we love is nourishing for the spirit. Even the most introverted person needs this kind of interaction at times.
But spending time with just anyone isn’t the key. It’s finding the people who lift you up, not the ones who leave you feeling drained or depressed.
9. Do Something Silly
Have you ever noticed how the moment someone starts blowing bubbles, everyone smiles? Blowing a dandelion fuzz or kicking the autumn leaves can have the same effect.
While these things might seem childish, sometimes reconnecting with our inner mischief is exactly what’s needed. If it’s raining, why not jump in a puddle?
10. Say No
One of the most fundamental pieces of self-care advice you can get is to learn how to say no. It’s easy to get swept up into working longer hours or taking on social commitments that we don’t want or need.
If you struggle with finding the right words for a polite refusal, try a pre-scripted response.
What Works for You?
Self-care can’t be prescriptive. These self-care tips might not work for you. If they don’t, just adapt them or try something else.
You’ll know when you have the right mixture for you because you’ll feel so much better for it.
And if improving your skincare routine might help you, you can browse our online store. We have lots of great products in stock to help you look fantastic, no matter how you’re feeling.