Self Care Practices that you can include in your daily routine

When was the last time you practised self-care?

From the minute your alarm goes off in the morning, are you all about doing things for others?

When we live lives filled with activity, noise, and hurry, finding self-care time can be challenging. But without self-care practices, it won’t be long before you’re stressed and exhausted to care about anything or anyone, let alone for yourself.

 

The Importance of Self-Care

Self-care isn’t selfish. It is about giving yourself the support you need by paying attention to your body and mind.   

Self-care doesn’t have to take a lot of time. If you’re not sure how to practice self-care or where to even start, we gathered the best self-care practices that you can quickly build into your day.

 

5 Self-Care Practices to Build Into Your Daily Routine

 

Schedule in Five Minutes of “Play”

Playing is an integral part of childhood, but it’s a critical component of adulthood as well. A sense of playfulness can keep you healthier and happier.

Here are some ideas to invite childlike playfulness into your daily routine as a self-care practice.

  • Appreciate playtime – whether it’s alone or with other adults or children, or your pets
  • Dance or sing  
  • Cultivate a happy attitude, full of gratitude for the smallest, everyday things
  • Play a game
  • Start drawing or painting

Scheduling in five minutes of “play” will support you in staying young-at-heart and free-spirited.

 

Unplug for an Hour

Are you guilty of rarely switching everything off and freeing yourself from the constant bings of social media?

What will happen if you take an hour-long digital detox and instead opt for reading a book, taking a long bath, or dozing off on a couch?

It might help you relax a little bit more. It can help you to prioritise more personal forms of interaction. Long-term, unplugging for at least an hour a day might help you sleep better.

 

Give Your Body and Mind Ten Minutes of Mindful Attention

Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and body-scan, have several mental and physical benefits. Your focus is primarily on your breath in meditation, whereas during the body-scan practise, you focus on your body's sensations.

Experts have found evidence to suggest meditation can promote physical and emotional wellness in multiple ways, such as:

  • Improved sleep
  • Anxiety and stress relief
  • Greater self-awareness
  • Increased self-compassion
  • Reduced pain

If ten minutes of a guided meditation or a mindful body-scan practice can provide instant anxiety and stress relief, isn’t it worth trying?

 

Make One Small Change to Your Diet

What we eat becomes who we are and influences our physical, mental and emotional well-being.

 

Want to eat better?

Make small changes one meal at a time. Here are some ideas of easy changes that can make a big difference to your diet and your overall health:

  • Drink green tea instead of coffee
  • Eat fruits instead of drinking them
  • Enjoy fruit for snacks instead of sweet treats
  • Don’t shop without a list
  • Eat wholegrain bread instead of white bread
  • Increase your plant-based protein intake; think of lentils, tofu, beans, spirulina, quinoa, oats, and wild rice
  • Bake or roast instead of grilling or frying
  • Consider taking a supplement*
  • Choose healthy oils for cooking, such as coconut, olive, or avocado oil

 

Indulge

Self-care should include a little luxury every once in a while. Treat yourself to some pampering beauty products, or take time for your favourite spa treatment.

Get that book you’ve been eyeing for a while now. Reward yourself for your hard work. Delight in small pleasures and nothing will seem quite as difficult as it did before.

As a result, you will become more motivated to face everyday challenges with a positive attitude.  

 

Permit yourself to step back from your crazy day. Create your calm with these easy self-care practices.   

Which one will you try first?

*Consult your pharmacist before taking any dietary supplements

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