8 UNEXPECTED WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Self-care

Self-care

Self-care

Self-care 

Most often when we hear that term we think of something along the lines of . . .  

A vacation
A lavish face mask
An overpriced manicure
A carton of ice-cream with a sappy movie 

. . . right? 

While all of those sound incredibly wonderful, I want to dive a bit deeper and explore some other forms of self-care that I believe you will love just as much. 

8 UNEXPECTED WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF 

UNSUBSCRIBE 

From emails, subscriptions, social media accounts, relationships, habits and / or activities that do not serve you. You are in control of the energy that you allow in your space so if your inbox is overflowing with junk mail or you are tangled up in a toxic relationship, utilize the unsubscribe button. I understand that some things take way less emotional energy to “unsubscribe” from than others so prioritize what needs to be set free. Taking the time to weed through whatever it is that no longer brings value or worth to your day to day will leave you feeling lighter.

CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET

 
Speaking of things that no longer serve a purpose – you know those clothing items that you can’t even remember the last time you wore?

Yup, those.

It’s time for them to come off the hanger and put them into the donation pile. Taking pride in the organization of your space reflects directly on your mental health. Start by cleaning out your closet and work your way through the rest of your home. Say goodbye to clutter and say hello to an intentional space. 

PRINT YOUR PHOTOS 

Your photos are not meant to forever live in a jumbled album somewhere floating in a technology cloud. 

I said what I said. 

Print your photos. Make albums. Hang frames in your home. Having those physical printed memories will surely bring a smile to your way and that in itself is one of the best forms of self-care.  

I have been using Chatbooks (use code MILLENNIAL to save) for over a year now and I cannot recommend their services enough. It’s so wildly simple and to get photos off of my phone and into a quality photo book. 

GO TO BED EARLIER 

I’m not sure who needs to hear this but aimlessly scrolling on your phone or watching Netflix into the wee hours of the night is quite literally bringing nothing beneficial into your life. The blue light beaming into your eye balls before you attempt to close your eyes is going to disturb the quality of your sleep. 

What is undeniably beneficial is that you get your sleep and lots of it.

Now I know there are some of you sitting there reading this saying something snarky under your breath like well if I go to bed earlier then who is going to complete all the outstanding tasks on my to do list . . .

If that’s you then it looks like we need to have a bit of a time management chat but we can save that for another day, yeah? 

Back to my point, solid nights of sleep are the pinnacle of self-care. Quality sleep goes hand in hand with stress relief, aids in building your immune system, improves mental function, benefits your fitness journey, etc etc etc. 

That being said, whatever you need to do to make sure your head hits the pillow at a reasonable hour – do that. 

OPEN A BOOK

There is something so delightful about getting lost in the pages of a book. I urge you to find an author(s) who you admire and spend more time with a book in your hand. 

If you are someone who truly does not find joy in turning pages then I suggest giving a book on tape and or podcasts a try. Consuming others stories by reading books – whether fictional or non – improves brain connectivity, aids in sleep readiness, improves your communication skills and most importantly provides enjoyable entertainment. 

SPEND MORE TIME OUTSIDE

Sigh, the magic of fresh air and the sunshine. Being out in nature, daily, is one of the best ways you can take care of yourself. Whether you start your morning off by grounding, use a part of your lunch break to walk around the block or end your night by sitting outside I urge you to incorporate getting outside a part of your daily routine. Your overall wellbeing will greatly benefit from hanging out with Mother Nature. 

DO NOTHING

If you’re like me, “doing nothing” is a hard task to complete. But, I promise once you dedicate yourself to simply being in the moment, tuning into your thoughts and the hum of your own breath – my goodness it’s a game changer. 

So whether you have a sliver of 3 minutes or a whole 30 minutes, put technology aside and simply sit. Tune into the present and surrender your time to be right here, right now.

MEAL PREP 

Ok, nobody panic – I’m not suggesting to make your meals for the next 7 days (btw: if you do that, you’re my hero) but I am suggesting that you find a system that works best for you and your lifestyle to ensure you are making conscious and healthy decisions because after all . . . you are what you eat. 

I am a true believer that you feel good from the inside out therefore what you fuel your body with is a direct reflection of self-care. 

A little meal time prep hack that works like a charm for us is to write out a dinner menu for the week ahead. Each and every Sunday Robby and I flip through cookbooks and choose dinners for the upcoming week. Not only does it cut down on the back and forth of “what should we eat tonight” but it also helps us stay on track with our wellness.  

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. I’d love to know which one of these ideas are you going to indulge in this week. Comment below or send me a message on Instagram :) x

take care of you,
chels

cover image via Unsplash // Maddi Bazzocco