Today’s culture puts a premium on being busy. We focus too much on success and ambition that we tire ourselves to achieve them. Hard work pays off, but too much of it can also lead to exhaustion, stress, and burnout.
With all the hustle that we have to do, we often forget about our well-being. Women in particular, who often wear too many hats, have no more time left for self-care. But when we let self-care take the back seat for far too long, it will take a toll on our health, growth, and even our healing.
So we curated a list of easy-to-implement self-care habits that every woman should add to her schedule no matter how hectic it gets:
Practice gratitude daily.
Research shows that gratitude has positive effects on our well-being. It can boost our mood, give us more satisfaction, and encourage kindness. Focusing on gratitude also helps redirect negative and toxic thoughts.
Find something to be grateful for every single day. It could be as small as having hot coffee in the morning or receiving a heartwarming text from a friend. The practice of gratitude is not only a form of self-care but it also helps shift our feelings and attitude in the positive direction.
Protect your energy.
Safeguard your energy from draining situations. Disconnect from anyone or anything that makes you feel depleted. Know that it’s okay to cut connections with people who are emotionally, mentally, or physically making you feel burnt out.
Visualizing also helps! Close your eyes and imagine your happy place with vivid details. It could be at the beach with a coconut in your hand or at home in your bed with the softest blankets. Breathe deeply while thinking about it. It will help recharge your energy and make you feel better!
Know what gives your life joy and meaning.
Self-care is about doing what makes you happy. But happiness looks different for everybody. So what’s your definition of happiness? Make a list so you’ll be reminded every day! And make sure that you take action towards your list.
Pro tip: categorize the activities depending on the time that they take to get done. For example, list traveling, going to concerts, or having a staycation with friends together. Meanwhile, you can also list activities that take a much shorter time like eating ice cream, getting a one-hour massage, or watching an episode of your fave series jointly. Then depending on the time you have, review your list and do something that will boost your mood and make you feel better.
Learn to do less.
Let go of your do-more mentality. Stop doing activities that only steal your focus on important tasks. One example is endlessly scrolling your social media feeds while also trying to work. Turn off your phone first or put it in another area so you can concentrate on what needs to get done. Once you remove your distractions, you’ll be more productive and efficient.
You should also be able to say “no.” Remember that you can only do so much in a day. Say “no” to tasks that take away your attention from your goal. Set your boundaries and be firm about them.
Implement self-care even in the simplest of ways.
Self-care doesn’t always have to be elaborate. Not much time for yourself today? Start with something small like blasting off your fave tunes while driving, eating breakfast for dinner, putting on a face mask before bed, or cuddling with your pet.
Expand your idea of what self-care is. There are lots of things that you can do that do not require much of your time or even money! These activities may seem too straightforward, but we promise they’ll have a big impact on you.
Ladies, please know that self-care should be a non-negotiable. Remember that it’s okay to put yourself first and be mindful of your own needs. When you take care of yourself, you’ll feel significantly less stressed and you’ll be able to focus more on your responsibilities. Win-win, right?
Want to ensure that you get your monthly dose of self-love? Subscribe to the Passion & Growth Box! It’s a monthly subscription box for women who want to take their self-care game up a notch. Join today!
