When we talk about self-care practices, quite often it's assumed that self-care is just for women. This assumption is generally made because images in magazine articles and podcasts show women engaged in self-care activities. While it's true that many women have demanding roles with many facets, such as balancing secular work, family, and household responsibilities, the need for self-care applies to both women and men. Men increasingly assume similar responsibilities, especially as more people find themselves part of the “sandwich generation” caring for children and aging parents.
"Self-care is the practice of taking care of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life to promote health and wellness. While many people may view self-care as a form of selfish indulgence, the act of caring for oneself is an important part of a person's overall well-being." ~ VeryWellealth
In our 21st-century world, regardless of gender, self-care is essential for everyone to maintain a healthy, balanced life.
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Simple Self-Care Practices to Improve Your Daily Routine
The following seven tips are simple, yet effective, but may take some effort and commitment to implement. I speak from experience because I was focused on taking care of everyone and everything else in my life, and neglected proper self-care until a health scare landed me in the hospital for 21 days.
I had time to think, and that experience changed my perspective. Now I regularly include self-care in working with clients and help them build their own self-care routines. Whether you're self-employed like me, or work for someone else, remember that you cannot give your best if you don't feel your best.
Self-Care Habits
These are some self-care practices that have helped me over the years:
- Meditation and Prayer: I spend a minimum of 15 minutes each morning on meditation and prayer. My routine includes reading my Daily Bible Text or a chapter from the Bible then meditating or reflecting on how I can apply it in my life or ways I can use it during the day. This is followed by prayer, all of which gets me grounded for the day ahead.
- Exercise: My routine is short but effective. Just 10 minutes of power walking and stretching in the mornings. To those who are serious about exercising, it may seem that my routine is not valuable, but it works for me. I've found that stretching really makes a difference.
- Connecting with Family and Friends: Almost every morning I send a quick text to my children, grandchildren, or a few friends. Reaching out and letting someone know you're thinking of them brings joy to you and to the recipients. This also strengthens your support network.
- Gratitude Practice: Frankly, most times I don't write these down in a journal as I recommend that you do, but I make it a habit to mentally review things I'm grateful for each day. Writing down these thoughts can make them more tangible and impactful, and I highly recommend it if you want to truly deepen this practice.
- Pay Attention to How You Dress: Even though I work from home, I make a conscious decision to dress as if I'm going into a casual office. This does not mean wearing a suit but rather something that makes me feel put together and professional. Working in my pajamas all day has never appealed to me. Dressing well, even at home, is a confidence booster and helps me stay productive.
- Decluttering Your Space: I used to collect beautiful vases and oriental blue decor from around the world. As I downsized and had less space, I realized that having too many things made my home look cluttered so I gave away several of those collectibles. It's lovely to have the things you enjoy looking at in your home, but clutter can detract from the beauty. If you have a home office or a desk in a shared area, strive to keep it uncluttered so it's more welcoming.
- Bringing Plants and Flowers Indoors: I love surrounding myself with plants and flowers. If you have a well-lit space, try adding a few indoor plants. My current home office doesn't get much light, so I'm researching low-light plants that might work. If you have a "brown thumb" as many claim, consider high-quality artificial plants for a similar effect. A little greenery can brighten up any space.
Start Building Your Personalized Self-Care Routine Today
These are just some of the tips and strategies, you can implement, if you have not done so already to create a self-care routine. I will be sharing more tips in Part 2 in a few days. In the meantime, I would love to hear what self-care practices work for you and any thoughts on the ones I've shared so far.
