A day at the spa or a night in a hotel may not be in our near futures, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make time for treating ourselves. We know self-care is good for our well-being, but finding time for it can be tricky. The thing is, people are stressed these days, so self-care is even more important and needed.
Holistic life coach and wellness specialist Nichola Henderson recommends self-care to help us “feel calmer, more in control and capable of dealing with anything. She also says it’s easier than you think to fit it in, thanks to micro self-care. These little pick-me-ups take 30 minutes or less, so nearly everyone can find time for them.
If you have … 30 minutes:
- Soak in the bathtub for half an hour and use some de-stressing bath salts.
- Read a book - Research shows reading a real book can reduce stress by 68%.
- Exercise - Do a quick workout to get the endorphins flowing and relieve stress.
If you have … 20 minutes
- Brain traffic lights - Jot down bullet points of what’s on your mind and mark them green, yellow or red, depending on how important they are. Focus on the reds first, the ones you can control, and try to let go of the ones you can’t control.
- Creativity walk - Get moving outside to boost happy hormones and increase relaxation.
You have … 10 minutes
- Have a mindful cup of tea, focusing on how you’re feeling. No phones allowed.
- Do a facial - It’s relaxing and makes you look and feel better, even if you only spend 10 minutes.
You have … five minutes
- Nail it - Massage cuticle oil and hand cream into your hands and nails.
- Stretch - Do some yoga or Pilates stretches on the fly.
You have … one minute
- Breathe deep - And apply a calming scent, like lavender, to your wrists and temples.
- Four-word mantra - Create one that works for you, like “Calm begins right now.” Then recite it as you touch each finger with your thumb.
- Ice cube facial - Rub an ice cube across your face after cleansing and the coldness will help clear your mind and reduce swelling and redness.
Source: Mirror
Scott's Thoughts:
- Rolling an ice cube on my face is the closest I’m getting to a spa day!
- I have looked for self care to replace over-eating.
- If you had a full day to devote to self-care, what would it include?