Self-care hacks

Self-care is a term that we are seeing everywhere these days, especially on social media, but what does this actually mean and why is it so important?
Oxford dictionary defines self-care as “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health” and/or “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”
Self-care is a way of life, an awareness in our thinking that we can put into practice in the form of small daily tasks that can help us to prioritise our overall health and well-being. It is through the process of setting time aside in our busy schedules to focus on ourselves. It is time where we get to
introspect, checking in on our needs so that we can identify what tasks we can do to recharge our batteries. Once our batteries feel recharged, we can give more of ourselves to our work and especially to the people who we love.

How do I know that I need time for self-care:

• You may feel it emotionally – sad, worried, anxious, more easily frustrated (as a few examples)
• You may feel it physically – bodily aches and pains, headaches, always feeling tired
• You may feel it mentally – feeling unmotivated, missing deadlines, feeling a lack of concentration
• You may feel is spiritually – feeling out of tune with who you are, feeling like you need connection
and meaning

Here are 6 ways prioritising self-care this week can help:

1. to destress
2. to be more present, mindful and intentional with your time
3. To prioritise people that mean a lot to you
4. improve mood
5. to feel more energised and motivated
6. to identify and understand your feelings/emotional experiences

10 self-care hacks to try:

1. Drink water
2. Exercise/stretch for 30 minutes
3. Do a 24 hour social media detox
4. Plan an amazing outfit that will boost your self-esteem
5. Write out a gratitude list of 3 things you feel grateful for that day
6. Read 5 pages of a book
7. Call a friend/family member
8. Take a walk where you can pick up seashells on the beach/ flowers from a garden or park with a loved one
9. Make something – be creative!
10. Tidy your work space and/or room