Tag: Self Care Tips

Start Incorporating Self-Care Into Your Life With These 5 Tips!

elf-care is the practice of taking care of oneself, both physically and mentally. It can be something as simple as getting enough sleep or eating a balanced diet, or it can be more involved, such as therapy or exercise. The important thing is that you find what works for you and stick to it.

5 Simple Things You Can Do To Take Care Of Yourself

The idea of having to take better care of yourself might seem a little alien to you. It’s natural to want to take care of others and make sure that they are fit and healthy. But at the same time, in order for us to do a good job at that, we have to be fit and healthy ourselves. It’s the same idea as putting your own life jacket first.

Self Care Tips We Forget About

Self-care is a big thing in the modern world, considering how much stress and tension is going around, and how the news rarely has good things to say to us. Because of this, more and more people are having to take a step back to recollect themselves, which is quite a healthy thing to do, when you actually know how to.

Self-care can be done in many different ways, and it’s something everyone has their own opinions on. But sometimes we can forget what activities are truly relaxing, or we can forget how much time we should truly dedicate to taking care of ourselves. And honestly? We could all do with a reintroduction on what we should do for ourselves! So here’s a couple of ideas to hopefully inspire you.

Even just taking a few deep breaths can relax you in moments. (Source)

You’re Allowed to Live in the Moment

A lot of people hear the term ‘mindfulness’ and immediately turn up their nose; it’s something quite a few don’t put stock in or don’t let themselves properly try or enjoy, and as a result, they can miss out on a lot of benefits. So if you’re trying to give yourself a break from very serious things like negotiating with debt collectors or dealing with the loss of a beloved pet, be sure to let yourself breathe and feel in the moment.

It really can knock the stress and tension of life away, and let you feel like nothing exists outside of this little bubble you’ve created for yourself. And that’s something that could work for everyone – if you live a fast-paced, high demanding job, or you haven’t had any free time this week and next week is shaping up to be the same way, use this as your sign to try out some mindfulness techniques.

There Are Good Things in the World

And you can and should indulge in them! If what other people think means a lot to you, now’s your chance to shed their influence in a little way that still matters! So no matter what a critic said about a recent movie, or what your friends think of that reality TV show you like to binge on – if you enjoy something in media, no matter how ‘trash’ it seems to other people, you’re allowed to indulge in it.

Never let yourself feel guilty for having fun in harmless ways like this. As humans, we like to think of ourselves as people of the world, who are very cultured and intelligent, and we trick ourselves into turning away from harmless pursuits we can very much enjoy. Don’t let yourself fall into this kind of trap!

Self-care is something we take for granted, or we push aside as a silly thing that won’t do anything real for us. But it can do a lot for both your mind and body, so be sure to give it a try if you’ve had a bad day.

The Key To Helping Others: Taking Care Of Yourself First

Everyone knows that they need to be taking care of themselves, but sometimes, that’s much easier said than done. If you’re one of those people who is always looking after other people, then you might find that your own needs aren’t being met. And while that would be just fine for a while, if it carries on unchecked then, sooner or later, you will find that it’s something you should have corrected much earlier. Here are a few ideas to ensure all your needs are met.

Source: Pexels.com

The Essential Ingredients

While it’s nice to daydream of going on a long travel trip, or taking a couple of months just to do whatever you want to do, sometimes simply just taking care of the essentials in life is enough to give us a solid platform on which to be our best. Before you’ve even begun thinking about the needs of others, make sure you’re eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, and that your health is in check. You’ll find it much easier to be there for others if you’ve been there for yourself first.

Getting Help From Others

It might sometimes feel like that, but you’re really not in this all on your own. You will have people who are willing to help you, and if you don’t – or they’re not available – then there will be professional options. If you’re overworking yourself trying to take care of an elderly relative who needs support, then look at getting some respite care in the home. It’ll give you a break, during which you can refresh and re-energise. For things like children, then you’ll have siblings, parents, and other friends with their own children to give you a break for the evening.

Indulging

If you’re a person who always thinks of the needs of others first, then you probably can’t even remember the last time that you treated yourself to something nice. Moving forward, make a promise to yourself to do something that’s only for your benefit will help ease the burden of looking after others.

It could be buying a new dress, taking a day to do something that you love doing, catching up with your new favorite reality game show like Biggest Liar in Ghana, or simply spending the evening with relaxing music and a good book.

Be Wary of Overdoing It

Some people don’t know how to say no. Whenever something is asked of them, they’ll volunteer their time and move it straight to the top of the priority list. While this may, on the face of it, look like a good characteristic, it can only be considered as such if it’s not negatively impacting the person’s life. If you find yourself overwhelmed with tasks, then learn to say no. It might just help people understand that you’re doing a lot for them without asking anything in return.

Learn to Laugh

Finally, remember that our attitude is everything. If we’re positive, then the battle has already been half-won. Learn to laugh at life, and you’ll prevent too much stress from building up. Positivity will take you a long way!

Look Your Best This Party Season: Your Nine Step Plan

The holiday season is upon us, so it is natural to want to look our best. From an office party to family reunions, there will be a lot of people that we will be seeing, some not for a while. So it is only natural to want to look our best and wow them as much as we can. Being able to dance the night away in your little black dress and feel comfortable is what it is all about. So what and you do to prepare and make sure that you’re looking good? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you, as well as the areas that you should be focusing on.

One of the first things to look at is your skin. Winter can cause problems for your skin, as it can really dry it out. When you’re constantly exposing your skin to vary temperatures (the cold from outside and the warmth from indoors), it can sap some of the natural oils from your skin. So focusing on your skin first and foremost is a good way to go. Here are some of the things you can do to make sure skin is looking its best.

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  • Prepare

Skin peels have been around for a long time, and they are still here. Why? Because they have been able to stand the test of time and show just how good they are, as well as how versatile. So it could be worth looking at getting having one done. It can peel away the dead skin to reveal glowing and fresh lovely skin. This can make your look instantly better, as well as reduce the number of spots that you get.

  • Reduce Blemishes

Speaking of which, blemishes can be on the rise when you aren’t taking good enough care of yourself and your skin. But it is important to not get confused as to what is a spot or a blackhead and what isn’t. If you start to squeeze a sebaceous filament, for example, it can lead to swelling, which is never a good look before a party. They aren’t spots, but can often get confused as blackheads. So sebaceous filaments vs blackheads: what is the difference? To make sure that you’re not trying to squeeze the wrong thing on your face, you need to know what they look like.

A sebaceous filament is typically light grey or a hue of tan in color. They feel smooth to the touch and are naturally on our faces. Blackheads, however, are the result of a clogged pore from things like dead skin cells, dirt or impurities. They are slightly raised and are darker in color. So before you squeeze, double check what you’re looking at; don’t end up with a lumpy face from putting pressure on the wrong thing!

  • Protect

Winter is a time when your skin needs a lot of protection. If you think that sunscreen, for example, is only needed when it is sunny, then it is time to think again. Use a sunscreen all year round to reduce sun damage to your skin. Many brands are upping their game when it comes to sunscreen too. There are brands out there that help to fight against free-radicals, and ones that can give your skin an antioxidant boost.

  • Hydrate

For your skin and your body, you need to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water, and avoiding too much caffeine is a great way to make sure that your body is taken care of. Drinking plenty of water can help to flush toxins out of your body, which will help to rejuvenate you, as well a reduce things like dark circles under your eyes. Our bodies are made up of a lot of water, so when they have enough, it helps them to work as they should.

  • Reduce Salt Intake

There is no getting away from some salt in our diets. But if you’re wanting to get into your little party dress and want to reduce the bloated feeling, then reducing your salt intake is a good idea. Don’t get me wrong, some salt on a steak can go a long way and transform the flavor. So just avoid a big bag of salty chips or fries the day before an event, for example. Stick to whole foods, rather than processed foods as a rule, and you’ll be able to control your salt intake much more easily as you will know what you’re adding, rather than what is hidden.

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  • Exercise and Move More

We are getting into the full swing of party season. But there is no time like the present to move more and exercise more. Even if you’re not looking to lose weight, it can be a good way to help you to feel happier over winter, as well as firm and tone up your body. If you have a gym to get to, then great. If not, there are many apps that you can download to help you. A yoga routine could help to firm up your arms for your party dress, for instance, or a six-pack abs workout could help you to feel more comfortable in your chosen outfit. You don’t have to exercise for hours on end; even walking more regularly can make a difference.

  • Avoid Fizz

If you want to avoid being bloated, then as has been described, salt is a good thing to avoid. Another great thing to watch out for are fizzy drinks. If you regularly have soda pop, then looking to reduce your intake can reduce the bloat. Even when you’re out at your parties or events, stick to alternatives like red or white wine, rather than champagne or prosecco. The bubbles can fill you up, which is why many people drink them. But they can lead to you feeling bloated, and that probably isn’t how you want to feel in party season.

  • Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is important at any time of year. But it is even more important when you want to stay up later some nights and enjoy yourself. You’re not going to get very far if you’re exhausted and can hardly keep your eyes open. Instead of reaching for an unnatural solution like energy drinks, energy pills, or caffeine, simply make sure that you are getting enough sleep each night. Most adults know what sleep they need to get and what works best for them. But around seven or eight each night is a good guide.

  • Juice Cleanse

After all of the partying has been and gone, then you might want to consider something like a juice cleanse. It can restore your system and give it a bit of tender loving care that it might need. A juice cleanse will fill you with vitamins and minerals to help your body feel at it’s best, as well as give it a boost to help repair and restore. There are plenty of recipes online that you could aim to replicate, as well as buying some from stores. Just look for ones that are cold-pressed, rather than pasteurized. Then you know that no heat has been added and all of their goodness is still in there.

 

What have you got planned this party and festive season? Would love to hear about your plans and what you are planning. Do you have plenty of parties to go to in the coming weeks? Just remember to stay safe, follow these tips, and you’ll be in for a season of fun and frolics, and not sickness and sadness. Happy holidays!