When we talk about self-care, we often think about grand gestures like weekend spa getaways, luxury skincare routines, or hours spent meditating in gorgeously peaceful locations. But the thing is, self-care doesn’t have to be something that’s massively elaborate, and in fact, it’s the small, perhaps even insignificant things that can make the biggest difference in how we feel day to day.
Sometimes it’s the little things that keep us going even when life gets too much, so let’s take a look at a few easy self-care ideas that don’t need a lot of effort but that can make a massively positive impact on your wellbeing - read through the list and there’s sure to be at least one thing that catches your attention, and you might even want to start right away.
Declutter Your Space
It’s no secret that your environment has a massive effect on your mental state - a clutter home often leads to a cluttered mind, and you don’t need to know all about Marie Kondo (although she can’t be inspiring to many, so if you want to read what she has to say, go ahead!), but you could spend just five minutes a day tidying up, and you’ll find it works wonders.
It’s a good idea to start with your workspace - clear off your desk, organize your papers, and generally make it a space where you feel ready to work and tackle all the tasks for the day. You might be surprised at how de-stressed and refreshed it makes you feel, and it’s really just a question of tidying the physical space around you. Plus, there’s something wonderful about decluttering, and you’ll probably get a hit of instant gratification which will make you feel good and more likely to do more decluttering in the future. And, at just a few minutes each day rather than one huge overhaul all at once, it won’t feel overwhelming or too much of a chore. Remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about making a space where you can think clearly and be less stressed, so starting small and working your way up one drawer at a time is absolutely fine.
Hydrate Properly
How many times have you been told to drink more water? Probably more times than you can remember, but no matter when you’re being told it or who’s telling you, the truth is that it’s always good advice - it’s highly likely that you do need to drink more water, and staying hydrated is a small act of self-care that one hundred percent makes a huge difference.
Drinking water and hydrating is one of the easiest but still most overlooked forms of self-care, so it’s definitely something to add to your list of things to do during the day. When you drink enough water, you’ll avoid nasty headaches and your skin will look so much better, but those aren’t the only perks (although you’ll love them) - water actually makes sure your body works in the way it’s meant to, so it stops you getting sick and ensures your organs are doing their bit to keep you healthy.
Why not take up a challenge that will help you drink more (and you might also realize how little you were drinking in the first place at the same time - it could shock you!)? For the next week, keep a water bottle close to you at all times and make sure you’re sipping all through the day - you should feel a lot more energized and focused when you’re properly hydrated. And of course, if you don’t like the taste (or lack of taste) of water, you can always throw in some fruit like lemon, lime, or perhaps some cucumber slices to give it a bit more flavor. Once you see how different you feel when you drink enough, it’ll be an easy self-care habit to get into overall.
Get A Sustainable Treat
It’s the small acts of treating yourself that can turn a normal day into a fantastic one where you feel happy and content, but treating yourself all the time can mean that the treats become less special and more expected, so they don’t have the same effect. That’s why you need to limit your treats for times when they’re really going to be beneficial, and not only will you spend less money (and saving money can give you a big boost of happiness, especially when you see how much you’ve put away) but you’ll also appreciate the treat a lot more, so it will feel more special and do more for your health and happiness as a result.
Plus, it’s always a good idea to make sure that whatever treat you’re giving yourself, it’s sustainable wherever possible. It could be organic skincare, ethical clothing, environmentally friendly hygiene products such as the products from Tampon Tribe, and so on - in other words, you can indulge in something nice without the guilt.
Have A Stretch
Although you might like the idea of really getting into yoga, sometimes finding the time for a class that could be an hour or more long just isn’t possible - it could end up being more stressful to try to fit it in every week than not to do it at all, and even if you feel good during the class, you’ll start to feel bad again when it comes to ensuring you can get to it each week with all your other commitments in the way as well.
The good news is that you can compromise a little here because just five minutes of stretching can have a huge impact, and even if an hour is a hard thing to find, five minutes really shouldn’t be. You could do a quick stretch in the morning to wake up your muscles or some gentle movement at your desk when you’re at work, for example, but whatever you do the fact is that stretching increases blood flow, reduces stress, and makes you feel good, so why not try it?
Start A Gratitude Journal
Gratitude is one of the simplest and best ways to make yourself feel better when you’re feeling down or stressed, and it doesn’t even have to take very long - just writing down three things you’re grateful for before you get into bed each night can be enough as long as you focus on the positives (in fact, before bed is ideal because it can help you wind down and also means you should sleep better because you’re feeling more positive).
Your gratitude list doesn’t have to contain huge things, so don’t worry if nothing big happened during the day that you should be grateful for - the things you write down can be very small indeed. They could include things like being grateful for fresh sheets, seeing the sun during the day, a text from a friend, and so on. The point isn’t to boast about how great your life is, it’s to change your perspective from negative (which is where we tend to be most of the time - it’s our default state, more than likely because it means we’re ready for any kind of fight or flight situation; it’s a survival mechanism, but it’s one we don’t really need anymore) to positive and remind yourself that there’s good stuff happening, even when things feel hard.
One Hour Of No Screens
We’re all guilty to some extent or another of spending too much time glued to our screens, and that can be a combination of all kinds of things, from work emails to scrolling through social media to binge-watching Netflix (possibly while checking work emails or scrolling through social media at the same time - it’s a bad habit to get into). So what about trying a small digital detox each day to re-set you and make you feel better?
Could you manage just one hour a day without looking at any form of screen? Even if it sounds impossible at first, most people can do it, and the more you try, the easier it will become - you might even decide that you don’t need your screens at all after a certain point in the day. Instead of looking at a screen or screens of various sizes, you could take a walk in nature, read a book, chat to a friend, cook a brand new recipe, or even just sit quietly and meditate. You’ll be amazed at how recharged and focused you feel after you put the screens away and you’re not constantly bombarded with notifications. It’s great, and in the end you’ll notice a trend - you won’t have missed out on anything because everything you were notified about can wait, or it wasn’t important in the first place. It’s only an hour, after all.
Indulge In Your Favorite Hobby
Self-care doesn’t have to be all about relaxation - sometimes the best way to recharge is to dive into a hobby you love, and there are so many to choose from, including creative hobbies, active ones, brain-teasing ones, and so on, that this time doing something you enjoy can really be beneficial.
Hobbies are a fantastic chance to be creative or active (or both), and they’ll reduce stress and give you a sense of achievement too. And, perhaps most importantly, they’re fun! So make some time for your hobby once a week to begin with, and schedule it in like any other important appointment - as time goes on you can do it more often, but starting small is a great way to stop yourself getting overwhelmed and enjoy the moment.
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