Self-care is my lifestyle. Being myself and nurturing the way I am is refreshing work. Add single parenting, which is demanding and often overwhelming. The best time to practice self-care is every time and here is how I do it.
Balancing the responsibilities of raising children, managing a household, and maintaining a job can leave little time for luxury care. By luxury, read spa or similar time gulping treatments. Don’t get me wrong, I do those every now and then, but I integrate daily basic and crucial self-care throughout the day. This ensures my well-being and my ability to care for my children.
These are some practical and manageable self-care tips tailored from me to you.
Prioritize Your Health
Physical Health Self-Care:
Regular Exercise: Every morning, I wake up and lounge for 15 minutes. In bed, I stretch, I breathe, I read a daily thought and I pray. Then I go for a walk. Could be 30 minutes, could be an hour. Sometimes I add a sprint or jog. Ultimate boost to my mood and energy levels.
Top tip: Try incorporating exercises that can be done at home or during a break at work. Pilates, yoga, stretching, or a quick walk around the block can make a significant difference.
The Diet: I eat a bowl of fruit and have an infusion for breakfast. Every day is cheat day, so you will catch me having a pecan dark chocolate bar or even ice-cream every so often. Cheat in moderation.
Generally, a simple, healthy meal that doesn’t require extensive preparation keeps me feeling full all day and reduces my cheat portions.
Top Tip: Healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, and yogurt help to avoid the temptation of fast food. I said help, doesn’t eliminate.
Mental Health Self Care:
Mindfulness and Meditation: Incorporate mindful practices into your daily routine. Five minutes of meditation, self awareness or deep breathing exercises can reduce stress and improve your mental clarity.
Top Tip: When you’re feeling stressed, upset, frustrated, confused or even the opposite of all those things, take a pause. Try to identify the trigger of those feelings and strive either to avoid them or embrace them.
Seek Professional Help: I’m the ultimate DIY professional and planning and strategizing life solo can heighten anxiety. I’d rather do everything myself and expect nothing from anyone. I have trust issues. Duh. I’m divorced.
Defiance to opening up, relying on or trusting others with our needs and vulnerabilities can be triggered by any traumatic life experience. If you’re like me, don’t hesitate to reach out to a therapist or counsellor if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Talking to a professional can provide valuable coping strategies and emotional support.
Final Thoughts
In today’s fast paced world, you cannot afford to set a few minutes aside for selfcare. You have to incorporate it in your daily routine, making it an integral part of your lifestyle.
Put yourself first. If your physical and mental health are on track, most other aspects of your life including social, work and family will almost always fall in place.
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