No matter what this year has thrown at you, and with every day seemingly bringing along something new to worry about, now more than ever it is important to be able to have a few moments in the day where you can hit pause and be able to take of yourself.
Having the opportunity to let your mind get some rest, and give you some focus, can be the difference between waking up to seize the day, and hitting that snooze button on your alarm more times than you would care to admit.
Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. I’m not talking about turning your bathroom into a personal spa (I could only dream of it) or buying all sorts of moisturizers and scrubs but finding practical ways to give your body and mind the time to chill out and reconfigure after a hard day.
Here are some ways you can start taking care of yourself at home.
Self-care alarms
When has an alarm ever been something to look forward to? When it’s your self-care alarm going off. The idea behind this is simple; you set aside a dedicated block of time every time and make that the 5/10/15 minutes no one in the house is allowed to ask you for anything or come knocking on the door.
Living in a house where everyone is constantly on the move and asking you for things, this simple little action essentially acts as a re-set, especially if you arrange it to happen just after dinner to ensure that someone else has to wash the dishes.
Control screen-time
With so many of us now working from home, there is a lot of time being spent staring at screens while working, when catching up with friends, watching Netflix, and then in bed when we’re all guilty of doing that final check before going to sleep.
I did try putting phones outside of the bedroom for everyone at night, but it ended up being more annoying than I imagined with phones buzzing throughout the night. Staring at our screens can be a massive brain drain and disrupt the signs that tell your brain it’s time to go to bed. That’s why I recommend doing some research on Kanturo blue light glasses. They are non-prescription light blocking glasses you can wear indoors to reduce the effects of blue light exposure.
You’ll be surprised the difference they can make, especially if you have to spend most evenings on Zoom catch ups and get that jittery/excited feeling afterwards from having to be so attentive on screen.
Check You’re Actually Doing Things Right
We all have bad habits we don’t realize, especially when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Case in point; brushing your teeth. Can you confidently say, without a shadow of a doubt, that everyone in your home is really taking the recommended two minutes to brush your teeth?
I’ll hedge my bets and almost guarantee everyone is entirely off the mark. Simple self-care can involve looking at your daily habits and routine and ensuring that you’re following through. Look at some of the following activities:
- Brushing your teeth
- Flossing
- Rinsing with mouthwash
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Separating recyclables
- Stretching before and after sleeping
They’re all little things, which when done correctly and as a routine, can make you feel a million times better. It’s even easier if you make a game out of it with the family. You’ll be surprised how competitive everyone gets when it’s time to start brushing teeth and you put a two-minute timer on.
Pick A Toy
Self-care doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Talking with others is one of the easiest ways to feel better, especially if you’re able to show or teach someone something new. A fun way of doing so is through showing your kids or younger relatives everything you can remember about something about your childhood, like your favourite toy, movies, or food.
The internet, especially YouTube, is just a treasure trove of being able to awaken your nostalgia and show kids what the likes of Disney, McDonald’s and candy was like when you were their age. It’s the kind of thing which can spark a million questions in a child’s head and have them wanting to know more, and stay off their touchscreens for a change.
Taking care of your home too!
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