Top 10 Self-Care Tips

Yes, self-care may seem like a luxury. Most people are busy—too busy, they might say, to take time for themselves. However, there are many ways to care for yourself. The ten self-care tips below are our top recommendations.

Self-Care Tips Whether you have a lot or a little time for self-care, you can find tips below that will work for you. Try all ten, or just the ones that sound interesting. You will be amazed at how much a little self-care reduces stress and increases your enjoyment of life.

1) Talk to a therapist. Our first tip does require a little more time. Often appointments with a therapist last for an hour at least once per week. But, if you have the time speaking with a therapist can be instrumentally important.

Therapists are not just for people with mental health concerns. They provide an objective person for you to talk through any issues with. That makes them essential in today’s fast-paced world. If you find yourself stuck in a mental rut—or if you do have mental health issues that need to be resolved—we highly recommend seeking out an experienced, professional therapist.

2) Reward yourself. Many of the tips later in this list involve making lists of goals or adhering to a schedule. Those things are important, but so is rewarding yourself for following through on them. A reward can be anything you enjoy. Go out to a nice dinner. Buy yourself some new clothes, flower subscriptions, or toys. It doesn’t matter as long as the reward is something you will enjoy and that encourages you to stick to your goals.

3) Get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is one of the most important stress-relieving things we can do for ourselves. Most experts recommend that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. This is interrupted sleep, which can be hard for some people (especially if you have children). Still, the proper amount of sleep can help you stave off disease, experience less stress, and be more productive during your waking hours.

Some strategies for better sleep include stopping the use of digital devices at least an hour before bed, drinking warm, non-caffeinated beverages, and removing distractions like your tablet or tv from your bedroom. Check out this site for more recommendations about how to get more sleep.

4) Exercise. Regular exercise is another extremely important facet of self-care. Exercise can improve mood, confidence, restfulness, and allow you to feel better overall. This does not mean that you have to do intense or long exercise regularly. A brisk walk can be just as good self-care as running or more intense forms of exercise.

5) Use positive self-talk. It is very easy to talk negatively to yourself. It seems that we all have a negative voice in our heads that critiques everything we do. The way we talk to ourselves matters a lot, though. Negative self-talk can cause depression and anxiety. It can also cause self-defeating behaviors.

Try to remain consciously aware of the way you talk to yourself. If you would not say these things to a loved one or friend, don’t say them to yourself. Take the time to practice positive self-talk. You will be amazed at how much more confident and satisfied you feel.

6) Make time for yourself. No matter what your situation, alone time is important. Spending time alone can be a crucial self-care practice. The good news is that small bits of alone time can be extremely healing. You don’t need to go on a month-long vacation. Instead, try to carve out ten to thirty minutes of time regularly for just you.

Your time could many activities. Fill it with things that make you happy. Maybe that is sitting in silence, meditating, doing yoga, or creating beautiful flower arrangements. It is very easy to get caught up in nurturing others. Take the time to nurture yourself, and everyone in your life will thank you for it.

7) Make time for your family and friends. Just because spending time alone is important in self-care, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend time with family and friends. Having lots of family and friends over has been hard since the Covid-19 pandemic began. That is just one of the many reasons why it has been so hard for so many people.

However, as things continue getting better, try to work in visits with friends and family you trust are not sick. This type of visiting will allow you to experience being a part of a community, which can reduce stress and pressure in your life.

8) Set a range of goals. Many people set ambitious long-term goals. Doing this is not a bad thing. However, long-term or stretch goals can feel daunting if you don’t also include smaller, more realistic goals as well. Provide yourself with a range of goals of different types.

Manageable goals may be to get a certain amount of work done by the end of the week or cleaning your home by a certain date. These smaller goals can also act as steps towards a larger goal. By setting a wide variety of goals for yourself, you are less likely to become overwhelmed and stressed.