Self-Care Habits for Overall Well-Being
Do you practice healthy self-care habits? If you find yourself needing to reboot, unwind, rediscover yourself, boost your productivity, get fit, or enhance relationships with your loved ones, this is for you.
Most people tend to think that taking care of yourself starts and ends with consuming well-balanced meals and having a workout regimen. There’s nothing wrong with that – in fact, if you have incorporated the two into your everyday life, you’re off to a good start.
But there is more to practicing self-care because it entails taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
You already know that I believe that self-awareness is super important. So when was the last time you sat in a quiet room just to be with your thoughts and contemplate the day? When was the last time you took five minutes out to calm yourself when fuming? When was the last time you took a walk to simply enjoy your surroundings?
You must be thinking, “When does someone even get time to do all these things?” Because truth be told, finding the time or space to have your “me” time is nearly impossible with all the distractions we have surrounding us.
Related Reading: 7 Must-Read Homemaking Tips For Beginners
Why Is Self Care Important?
It’s not hard to find moms who feel guilty about taking some time away from their busy lives just to have a breather simply because they have placed self-care habits on the back-burner. But this is why there are millions of stressed-out women who have been stretched to their limits. I believe this contributes to falling into a depression or turning into a white-knuckled, angry and stressed out mom. These things also help you stay fit, live a stress-free life, and have a good relationship with food.
Self-Care Habits Out The Window?
One more question – what is the first thing to go out the window when you are stressed out? For me it’s a proper diet and good exercise! It’s okay if that sounds like you, too! Taking care of yourself as a mom and having your own self-care routine contributes not only to your own well-being, but that of your family.
Self-Care Routine Ideas
Every parent needs an emotional release, especially if you want to create a healthy family environment. This is just one of many self-care benefits, and there are many ways you can start practicing self-care habits regardless of time, money, or lack thereof.
Consider the following tips & examples of self-care:
Develop one new self-care habit each month
This makes it easier to stick to your new self-care routine. Whether you need to quit smoking, drinking alcohol, or even soda – whatever it may be – simply choose one habit to replace with a different, healthier habit.
Fuel your physical self
Do something physical each day to be active – whether it’s going for a walk, doing yoga (learn the basics of yoga for stay at home moms), or the physical activity of your choice. Additionally, eat to fuel your best self and drink water, etc.
Don’t forget to take your supplements
B-Vitamins, Calcium, Omega-3s, Folate, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin D, Lutein, etc. are some of the most recommended supplements for women, but always consult with your physician first before you start taking them. Personally, a women’s multi-vitamin works great. (This is one of the easiest ways to practice self-care!)
De-stress
One of the simplest and best ways to form healthy self-care habits is to reduce your stress by clearing your life of distraction. The goal is to focuse on doing one thing at a time. This will take a bit of practice and self-discipline, especially if you are a mom who is currently engulfed in a chaotic family and career life. Learn to say no to the noise and things that aren’t beneficial to you. Start by eliminating just one unnecessary activity or commitment from your life, and spend that time doing something for yourself instead.
Start practicing 10 minutes of meditation daily
This will help you maintain a mind, better emotions, and mental health. At the end of every session, you will feel less stressed or anxious because you will have entered a more relaxed and clear state-of-mind. You don’t need to do any weird stuff to meditate – simply find some quiet time to reflect on your day and any positive moments you had throughout it. Need some help? Grab this book on meditation for relaxation. (Affiliate link.)
Organize your life
Nothing is worse than living a life full of clutter. Be it in your home, your mind, the company you keep, etc. Doing away with “things” you don’t use or need. Things can truly steal your joy and add to stress and anxiety. I believe that tidying up can even help with weight loss.
Let go of other people’s issues
Do not become an enabler by always taking on or trying to solve everyone’s problems. Yes, there is a sense of gratification when you help someone, but it’s not always the best thing for you. Do yourself a favor by setting boundaries. You can still help empower others by encouraging them to take responsibility for their lives.
Wake up early
Easier said than done, right? Overworked moms out are probably rolling their eyes, but waking up earlier than your kids can have many benefits. Most importantly, it can give you some much-needed “me” time that sets the tone for the rest of the day. Do what you want so that you don’t have to try to squeeze it in later.
Pencil it in
People who have truly formed self-care habits make their “me time” non-negotiable. Whether it’s five minutes or an hour, they know that this time is super important. You need to schedule some self-care time to help form these habits until they are engrained into your daily routine.
PRO TIP: Hire a certified personal trainer or nutrition coach to help you with mindset and accountability!
Your life will probably never be stress-free. But don’t be afraid to reclaim yourself! Practicing self-care can involve making drastic but positive changes. But they will help you simplify your life and build a healthy family unit. So empower yourself by trying least a few of the mentioned self-care tips.
With time, you will reap the benefits in your personal and family life.
Looking for more self-care habits to try out? Check out this list of self care habits by Forbes’!
