Experts say self-care is a mental health must, but how do you make time when you're crazy busy?
Sometimes spending time alone / me time or doing nothing makes one feel guilty as if you are wasting time that you could have spent doing something more constructive or finished something more important. You are also important and to function to your full capacity you need time for yourself to recoup. You know you suppose, but when it comes to getting round to do it, some are more successful than other. If you have a serious busy schedule it might even seem impossible to squeeze in self-care, like practicing mindfulness or going to gym. But the busier you are the more important self-care becomes. OR you might go CRAZY!!!!
Some of these might seem so insignificant but can make a huge difference in your life.
Tips on how to make time for yourself and self-care
When you get home, set the tone. Put on your gown (this is one of my best friends’ chill/comfort mode and makes her feel good), pour a glass of wine, put on your comfy clothes or play your favorite song while cooking.
Exercise – no energy or time for this. There are ways to do this, some people literally do squats while they are on the phone or lean against the wall in a squat position. In the shower do a quick stretch. While walking to the car walk at a faster pace. Before you shower do 10 push ups. Do one downward dog for 2 minutes or a 2 minutes plank this does not need to be done all at once, it can literally be anytime of the day.
While driving to work, stuck in traffic listen to your favorite music or podcast to set the tone for the day. If you want to expand your knowledge or learn a new skill, but never get the time to do just that, listen to an educational podcast and you get to tick another box of self-care by keeping the brain active.
Busy family-life/household with a husband that never knows what is going on use the APP Todoist, instead of him calling you asking what is happening or what needs to be done, tell him check your app everything is on there, you do not need to remember for his part anymore. WIN WIN situation for you - this is a life changer.
Plan your life – put it in your diary. The rule is if it is in your diary it is legit and must be done. If you need to prioritize stuff and find yourself spending 1 hour overthinking which one to do first, schedule one a day in your diary, by the end of the week all will be done without you still worrying when you going to do it. All does not need to be done in one day. Plan Plan Plan!!! Being organized saves time.
Plan your weekly meals ahead and go do shopping once a week instead of rushing home every night deciding what to make for dinner and still stop at the shop to get ingredients – this is minimum 1 hour you can save a day to spend on yourself. Put a list in the kitchen for everyone in the household to write down whatever it is they need, if you used the last peanut butter put it on the list – this way you do not need to go through the cupboards to see what is needed.
Put that phone away on a Sunday afternoon – you do not need to answer everyone as soon as they send a text. It is ok they can wait. Save yourself the pain or feelings of FOMO, and tuck your phone out of sight.
Take 1 hour off social media every day – our addiction to social media takes away from our ability to engage with people and things that are actually present in the moment.
Learn how to say no - stay in more if you do not feel like going to the birthday party don’t go you do not need to explain yourself or pop in show your face and leave if you feel like that is not what you are in the mood for. Don’t feel guilty. Enjoy ultimate relaxation. While there's nothing wrong with running around and doing things for others, it is necessary to occasionally cancel plans, kick back at home, and really pamper yourself. The moment you climb into that bubble batch is the moment you forget why you are feeling guilty for saying no. Make a list of family and friends and consider what energy they bring into your life. If you notice relationships that drain you, don’t spend as much time with them or feel guilty for not doing so. Great group of girls can help you feel more confident and get you through any situation – spend your social time with them.
Practice daily gratitude – We focus most of our time on what is wrong – which makes us feel worse and less productive as opposed to what is going well which makes you feel happier and gives you that extra energy. Giving gratitude daily is one of the most common pieces of advice we hear from happiness researchers. You can write down a list of 3 things a day or just think about them while you are drying your hair. Think of what you appreciate in life and what you were grateful for during that day from a great cup of coffee to a nice chat, no matter how small there will always be something.
Meditate for 10 minutes every morning – no time just set the alarm for 10 minutes earlier and before you get out of bed meditate, this helps every aspect of your life, from making you more fit to helping you earn more money. Regular mindfulness makes you understand your thoughts, feeling and behavior better.
Not only is alone time often an excellent experience, it's also an essential life skill that everyone should have tucked away. So cancel your plans, put down your phone, and get to hanging out with yourself.
By spending time with yourself and gaining a better understanding of who you are and what you desire in life, you're more likely to make better choices, be less indecisive and more productive. With not being so mentally exhausted you get stuff done quicker with less procrastination it is definitely worth it. So, do yourself a favour and make that time for self-care.
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