10 POWERFUL SELF-CARE HABITS TO UPGRADE YOUR LIFE
Self-care and self-care habits are not just a trendy term. It is a fundamental tool that nurtures our mental and emotional well-being.
It helps us stay sane and calm in our busy world.
Adopting self-care habits is essential to keep us ready to tackle any challenge that we may face in our daily lives.
It makes us a more efficient, productive as well as a happy person.
WHY I EMPHASIZE ON SELF-CARE HABITS
Hello dear readers,
My name is Nirupama Basnet, and presently I am employed at the post office with a weekly commitment of 36 hours.
The scenario was quite different in the past. I previously held a teaching position at a school and also provided private tuition.
This barely left me with any time at hand.
I remember how drained and exhausted I used to feel most of the time.
Though I loved teaching, my busy schedule was taking a toll on me and I ended up despising my work.
I noticed the quality of my work deteriorating as days passed by.
I blamed it on my tight schedule and excess workload. But you gotta do the work to earn your living right?
So, I continued to do my work but in a grumpy fashion until I started taking self-care habits seriously.
I used to think that these habits would only take more of my time and add more things to tick off my to-do list
My thought was changed later on and only for the good.
Now, it’s been more than a year since I have inculcated these self-care habits into my routine.
I carry out these self-care habits most of the days if not every day and let me tell you, it leaves me feeling more energetic, strong, and motivated.
“Saying that you do not have time for self-care is like saying that you do not have time to fill gas in your car because you are too busy driving.”
SIMPLE SELF-CARE HABITS THAT WILL HELP YOU UPGRADE YOUR LIFE
Below I have listed some of my self-care habits which I love.
1. Life-changing self-care habit: Stop overusing your phone for social media
I cannot emphasize more on this one, so I have decided to keep it as number one on the list.
You need to stay away from social media as much as possible.
Stop scrolling down reels and feeds in between your work hours.
This will only make you feel more tired instead of making you relaxed.
Allot time for using social media and do not exceed the time you have kept for it. Trust me, it is worth it!
Use your phone to connect to your loved ones instead.
Use internet to stay updated on current affairs and new findings in the world.
Learn about different places and people living in various parts of the world.
2. Waking up early is one of the prime self-care habits you can inculcate
Have you experienced the joy of being awake and fresh as the dawn breaks in?
Have you had the chance to welcome your day in an alert state of mind? Or do you just let the day take over you?
Waking up early gives you a little extra time to prep yourself for the day ahead.
You become mentally as well as physically ready to welcome new opportunities and new possibilities that are in store for you.
So, wake up early and welcome your day with a cup of tea in your hand and a smile on your face.
Let the gratitude in your heart reach out to the universe as it prepares to shower you with more reasons to be grateful.
3. Exercise and move your body
Exercising is one of the best forms of self-care.
We exist in this world inside our bodies.
“Our body is our first home” so, taking care of it is only natural.
But we often take this health for granted unless some serious issue is diagnosed.
Why wait for such an unfortunate fate?
Just like any machine that we use requires maintenance from time to time, similarly, our body needs to be maintained.
Take some time in your day to move your body.
Stretch your muscles and let the clogged energies flow freely in your body.
I understand that all of us do not have the luxury of time to work for 1 hour or 2 hours in a gym to stay fit and that is totally understandable.
you can just carry on some simple stretching exercises at home.
You could go for a stroll on the weekends. You could even visit some places on foot instead of using other means of transportation.
SURYA NAMASKAR is my go-to when I have less time on my hands.
The point is just to keep your body moving.
4. Get a good night’s sleep
A good night’s sleep is the key to your overall well-being.
You should neither overdo nor underdo it.
With less time in hand, I had started to compromise on my sleep just so that I could use my phone a bit more.
I would stay up to do things that I thought were entertaining.
I compromised my sleep to make time to go to every get-together, to watch some series or just to shop online.
It was such a wrong decision. Not getting enough sleep will make you an irritated person.
You will dread your work and your day as a whole.
Getting enough sleep on the other hand will give you enough energy and will also keep your body healthy and happy.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. It will do wonders for your sleep habits.
You will feel much energetic and fresh throughout the day.
5. Practice meditation
Keep time for yourself to wind down. Time for yourself to let go of all the non-trivial issues of the day.
Meditation will help you ground your energy and make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
It will help you change into your best self.
Change always starts from within and meditation does exactly that.
It changes you from the core.
And when you are a different person, you handle situations differently. When you are better you automatically do better in anything you take on.
There are a variety of methods to practice meditation and you can choose any one that resonates with your heart.
For me, I like to turn off my lights and sit in HALF LOTUS POSITION while focusing on my breath.
I do this for ten minutes every day before going to sleep.
Just the repetition of this simple act has made me a stronger, calmer person and gives me more power to handle absurd situations gracefully.
Silence is also a form of medidation.If you are someone who wants to tap into the power of silence you can also check my post, THE POWER OF SPEAKING LESS
6. Practice eating wholesome food for your next self-care habit
The main source of our energy comes from food.
The quality of your energy is a reflection of the quality of food that you put in your body.
Focus on wholesome food rather than munching on fast food.
When you eat proper wholesome meals, you do not crave junk at all.
It is often hunger that causes us to go and reach out for the snack kept in our drawer.
As fast and packed food is easily accessible, we tend to feed on it more than wholesome meals.
To stay high on energy and keep your body healthy eat proper meals and avoid junk.
7. Keep yourself hydrated
Water is the best beverage.
The first thing in the morning that you should do is hydrate yourself.
Your body requires a lot of water so you should be generous with it.
When your body is dehydrated your head feels heavy and you feel lethargic.
Your skin also loses its glow. You may also have chronic kidney diseases because of dehydration.
Keep yourself hydrated and let your mind as well as your skin GLOW.
8. Feed your mind with good stuff
Make it a habit of reading something good every day.
You can read an article, blog post, poem, or current affairs.
You need to feed your brain with something new from time to time to keep it healthy and growing.
There are so many things that we are not aware of. Not everything can be learned in this lifetime.
But you can try to learn new things every day. Reading is one of the best ways to keep yourself updated and increase your knowledge.
It is a habit everyone should adopt.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on treasure island.”
Walt Disney
9. Keep your room clean
Cleaning your room is therapy.
When you physically put in the effort and arrange things in your room, your life seems organized.
A clean room will give you a good feeling and set you in a positive mindset.
More than the result, the process of cleaning itself is enjoyable.
Put on your favorite playlist and start arranging your room.
Arrange your clothes in the closet according to the season. Wipe your table and put away all the things that you are not constantly using.
Take out your laundry. Change your bedcovers.
Open the windows and let the sun and air get in.
But do all of these with much love and grace.
Have gratitude as you clean and arrange each of your belongings in your room.
10. Take slow hot water baths
Hot water baths are perfect if you are looking for a way to de-stress.
It relaxes all your muscles and makes you calm down.
Whenever I am feeling stressed, I find solace in my hot water bath.
Put on soft music and clean your body slowly and mindfully.
Imagine that all your stress and worries are being washed away by the water.
Imagine your entire body relaxing in this heavenly experience.
You will be much at ease after this process is done.
Needless to say, a good night’s sleep will come as a bonus to you on such days.
MY MESSAGE FOR YOU
In life, we all encounter our unique battles, and it’s often said that we are the strongest warriors for the fights we must face.
We all are fighting this battle every day to create a beautiful life for ourselves and our loved ones.
But even the most valiant warriors needs time to recharge and replenish their spirit. Taking care of yourself is so important to become the best version of yourself.
It is so easy for us to get lost in the business of day-to-day tasks.
More than often we forget to take care of ourselves which may lead to BURN OUT.
So, my dear, remember to carve out moments for self-care.
Your journey deserves moments of replenishment, and embracing these self-care techniques could profoundly enhance your path.
I hope you can include at least some of the above self-care techniques in your life.
I wish the best for you.
Thank You.
If you like my work, you can also check some of my previous posts below.
