10 Little Ways to Amp Up Your Self Care

Try as we might to keep it all “together” 24/7, sometimes life just gets a little nutty. Whether you’re busy working a full time job you love, chasing your dreams or putting in the hours at a 9-to-5 job you can’t really stand, every now and again we need a little mental breather.

Unfortunately when we lead action-packed work-hard, play-hard lifestyles, one of the first things that tends to go is our self care. You know, that precious time we have with ourselves to feel a little bit more sane, a little bit more you.

This past year, I’ve had nothing but love + luck come into my life including 2 big life events: an engagement, an offer at my “dream job.” While I’ve been full of passion, joy and everything in between, I can’t lie that my self care has been put on the back burner (well maybe not all the way on the back burner, but at least pretty close). When you love the life you are living, it’s easy to forget about the most important person out there, that is yourself.

Heck, I’ll be the first to admit that it can be exhausting trying to do IT ALL all. of. the. time.

And that’s where the good ol’ self care comes in. The good news is it’s never too late to start up again. Just like anything (eating well, developing a healthy exercise routine, treating your body with love), each and every day can & should be treated like a blank canvas.

Here are 10 little ways to incorporate self care into your life each week:

1. Journal first thing in the morning and/or again right before bed to release any negative thoughts or tension that may be fogging up your mind. This also helps with clarity and getting real about your emotions.

2. Take a cat Nap: There’s no shame in taking a nap. Sometimes on my busiest days, I come home for a 30-minute “power nap,” which gives me just the spark I need to make it through the rest of the day with energy + focus. On this note, make sure you are getting enough sleep each night. We all know we’re not the best versions of ourself when sleep-deprived living off coffee.

3. Play with essential oils: Take a trip to a local health store and purchase some essential oils aligned with your particular wellness needs. I am in love with blends with lavender for better sleep & to ease tension, or citrus fruits for energy. I also recommend “Rescue Remedy” Bach Flower Remedy to relieve tension on-the-spot.

4. Give yourself a makeover: It’s amazing what a nice blowout, freshly painted nails and a little makeup can do for your mood.  Take the time to make yourself feel pretty in the morning (whatever that means to you) for an instant confidence boost.

5. Move: Sure, maybe you’ve been slacking on the fitness front of late, but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Start small by aiming to move – in any capacity – every day. You’ll be surprised how quickly it raises your spirits, and your body will be thanking you for taking the time for yourself.

6. Gift yourself some quality “me time:” whether it’s curling up on the couch with a good book and a springy candle, journaling or having a yoga date with yourself, me time is an absolute must when it comes to self care.

7. Let go: Let go of any negative energy or mental blockages so you can think more clearly and be a better you! Some of my favorite ways to let loose is going for a long run, practicing deep breathing, writing or mediating. Speaking of meditation, it doesn’t need to be this big ordeal with pillows, blankets, music and an uncomfortable cross-legged position. To me, meditation is simply working to still your mind and be alone with your thoughts. The best part? It can be done anywhere and first and foremost should be about Y-O-U. No need to overthink it.

8. Be kind to your body: Often times when we neglect our self care, we’re not so nice to our bodies either. If you find you’re calling yourself fat or bashing your weight, it’s time to give your bod a little love. Honor your body. Tell yourself “I love you.” Dance. Walk around the house in undies and embrace it all.

9. Cook more meals at-home: One of the best ways to bring self care back into your life is through the kitchen. Cook yourself nourishing meals filled with foods that hum to you, and slowly ween away from those that suck from you or leave you feeling “blah.” Dedicate the time to cook for yourself with a little extra love. Your body will thank you later.

10. Craft your nourishment menu: Make a list of the things that nourish your mind, body and soul and actually make the time to do these things. Be honest with yourself on what truly lights you up and makes you feel your best.

Do you ever feel like self care gets pushed aside when life gets busy? Which of these tips will you implement this week? What are your favorite ways to take care of yourself?

20 Responses to “10 Little Ways to Amp Up Your Self Care”

  1. Friday’s Fabulous Five . . . — Let's Talk and Walk Says:

    […] 10 Little Ways to Amp Up Your Self Care by Rachel – One thing that is often overlooked is self-care. Many women try so hard to take care of others that they forget to take care of themselves. Rachel offers 10 suggestions to try each week. Maybe you start with writing in a journal, taking cat naps here and there, and moving more. What would you start with? […]

  2. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Morning Rituals: Why how you start your morning can make or break your day Says:

    […] week, I set an intention for myself to amp up my self care. And a big part of that is starting your day with something for you, something really juicy that […]

  3. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » I Dare you to: spend more time with family Says:

    […] often discuss the importance of self care and making more time for yourself. But almost just as important is making more time for your […]

  4. Jeremy Says:

    The are so cute! I know your entire famliy will have fun with them. And all the eggs you will have to eat (omlets, scrambled eggs, egg salad, deviled eggs, egg frittata, and the list goes on).

  5. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » An Assignment for YOU: How to De-Stress Your To-Do List For a More Productive Day Says:

    […] as crossing all the things off your to-do list, is the ever so satisfying feeling in knowing you took care of YOU today. ‘Cause like I said, how you start your morning is how your day will flow so if it starts […]

  6. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Monday Inspiration: Spring Clean Your Life Says:

    […] 6. Take care of YOU. After all, a healthy mind = a healthy body and if you are not taking time for some good ol’ fashioned self care, you’re doing yourself a huge disfavor. Here are some ways to incorporate self care into your own life. […]

  7. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Life Updates: Spring/Summer 2014 Edition Says:

    […] I mentioned last month, during these busy times I kinda sorta let go of my self care routine along the way. Lately, I’ve been making sure to drink plenty of water, get ample sleep (most […]

  8. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Are You Getting Enough Exercise (For Your Mind)? Says:

    […] more important, just as important as physical exercise is taking time for yourself, better known as self-care. After all, if you’re running around like one big burnt-out hot mess, no amount of barre […]

  9. Site Says:

    clearly much like your web-site however, you ought to confirm the transliteration on quite a few within your articles sleep walking. A variety of them tend to be filled together with transliteration challenges and i also believe it is pretty worrisome to express to the truth but I most certainly will undoubtedly can come all over again all over again.

  10. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Dear Body: In Case You Forgot, Your Are Perfectly Perfect Just As You Are Says:

    […] It’s easy to treat our body with hateful thoughts, and forget to nourish ourselves with hot tea, home-cooked meals, naps, yoga and good ol’ self care! […]

  11. Melody Pozzi Says:

    Robot energy

  12. Barton Bresemann Says:

    Great article like: Robot energy.

  13. Amira Morten Says:

    Great article!

  14. Tom Wellons Says:

    Robot energy

  15. Kasey Slutsky Says:

    Robot energy drink

  16. Don Turocy Says:

    Great article!

  17. Stephnie Cropp Says:

    Robot energy

  18. Cathie Mceady Says:

    Robot energy

  19. Luna Szigethy Says:

    Robot energy drink.

  20. Winfred Gutmann Says:

    Robot energy drink

Leave a Reply

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 13th, 2014 at 5:52 pm and is filed under Health & Wellness, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.