10 Self Care ideas that have nothing to do with face masks or exercise

 Self care is a daily affair not just on Sundays or special days

I know you’re thinking that despite the title, this is yet another post on massages and face masks or chocolates. I’m not knocking on them at all! They definitely aid in providing relaxation and if you have an extreme sweet tooth like me, then chocolates will temporarily solve all the world’s problems! And exercise or movement of any sort in my opinion is one of the best activities one can do for their physical and mental health. However this post isn’t about all that. This is about all the other elements of self care that we’re not paying attention to.

Waiting for burnout and then fixing the problem is more difficult than taking preventive measures. 

Here are 10 easy self care ideas to get you feeling your best every day:

1. Ask for help

While the mindset around this is changing particularly for women, there needs to be more awareness around asking for help. Asking for help is a sign of strength and not weakness. It means you’re prioritizing your wellbeing and those benefits flow into other areas of your life. Whether it’s asking family members to pitch in at home, enlisting help from a teammate or manager at work or talking to a health or life coach, use your environment, tools and the people available to you to navigate different situations.

2. Listen to your body/physical needs

This is SO important. Our body often signals its needs but we sometimes ignore or pretend not to hear until it gets so loud that we need to pay attention. So listen to what your body is telling you. Schedule your annual health examination, take care of your vision and dental health. Plan to rest if you’re overworking or overexercising.

3. Take care of your skin

It’s our largest organ so let’s show it some love. Hydrate, hydrate not only in the summer but in the colder months as well. This is something I’m working on constantly. And protect yourself from the sun. Sunblock is a must even indoors if you’re working near a window. 

4. Get some sun

Yep I know. But timing matters and you only need a few minutes to reap the benefits. Early morning sun preferably before 8am. Those few minutes first thing in the morning helps regulate your circadian rhythm and prepares your body for a good night’s sleep.

5. Be kinder to yourself

We are usually our own worst critic. Language matters. Words, thoughts, feelings all make a difference to our mental wellbeing and happiness. I’ve been actively working on this the last few years and seeing huge benefits in how I view myself and that’s trickled into everything I do. 

6. Practice gratitude

The effects of gratitude are subtle but mighty in the long run. Research has shown that gratitude helps people be more resilient, boost happiness, good health and deal with challenges better. I’ve been actively working on this especially through challenging times and it’s brought me both hope and comfort.

7. Do one thing every day that makes you happy

Spend 10 mins doing something that brings you joy! For me – that’s reading a book while eating a meal! Not ideal I know but it’s something I used to do as a child over summer vacations and doing that now as an adult while having breakfast makes me very happy!

8. Don’t fit in, stand out

Own your uniqueness, there is no one else like you! Your talents, ideas and thoughts are unlike anyone else’s. Nurture them to thrive and be successful in whatever you do. 

9. Progress over Perfection

As a recovering perfectionist, I say this with love. It’s OK to let go and let things be. Perfection doesn’t exist yet we are always chasing it and end up stressed and overwhelmed. 

10. Volunteer

I know this post is about self care but volunteering is a great way to boost your self confidence, self esteem, discovering your own interests, purpose and meaning to life as well as giving back to the community.  

I hope this post gave you a few different ways to practice self care. Hit reply and let me know if you’re going to give any of them a try. I always reply to every email! If you found this post useful, consider signing up for my weekly newsletter where I send occasional science backed research and tips and hacks to deal with life’s challenges and curve balls. 

Before you go: If you would like to dig deeper to come up with a game plan for your specific goal or work on a challenge and would love 1:1 guidance – let’s talk! Email me at adivakar@livingwellwithanjana.com to schedule a free 30 min call to discover if we would be a good fit! 

Xo,

Anjana