4 ways to self-care without changing your schedule (or leaving your home)

/

I recently came across a quote that stated:
“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”

Self-care doesn’t need to be an extravagant event - well planned in advance, consist of expensive pampering, or even require a babysitter. Let’s vow to incorporate self-care into our daily routine in simple but powerful ways. Because without even leaving our home we can experience moments of calm and happiness that can impact our entire day (or even week). Here are 4 ways to allow for self-care without needing to change your schedule:

  • Read instead of watch TV

    • It’s almost second nature to turn on the TV after a long days work or after you put the kids down for bed. But what if we used that time differently? There is something about opening a book, grabbing your warmest blanket, and taking a moment of silence that’s just plain peaceful. Find a book that motivates you, inspires you, or that takes you to a whole different world just for a while.

  • Make (or buy) a healthy dinner

    • There is definitely something to be said about sitting down to eat a meal that nourishes your body. Have you heard of the gut-brain connection? It’s a real thing. When life gets busy it’s so easy to skip meals, grab whatever you see, or even make whatever you find in the cabinets. Maybe cooking isn’t your thing… that’s fine! Your meal doesn’t have to be extravagant to be nourishing. I have found that taking the time to plan ahead a fast (but healthy alternative) meal in our InstantPot, or spending the extra money on a healthier fast/casual dining to take home makes the world of a difference for our entire family.

  • Diffuse essential oils

    • We diffuse essential oils often in our office and in our home. It’s an easy way to bring a “spa-like” atmosphere to wherever you are. Just the slight change in smell is honestly so refreshing, reminds you to take deep breaths, and brings relaxation. To me, even just reading the name of my oil of choice as drops fall into the diffuser is a great reminder. Some of our favorites include oils from Young Living: Stress Away, Joy, Peace and Calming, Purification and more.

  • Tidy up your home BEFORE bed

    • One evening habit we have incorporated is tidying up our home before unwinding for the night or going to bed. This leads to such a sense of peace over our home, and a sense of peace upon awaking each morning. Everything is in its place (or a place), and dishes are washed to be used for the following day. Even though the tidiness is temporary, it helps calm an anxious mind when live gets chaotic. It allows for you to have the space to be fully present in nightly conversations with your spouse, reading, or even just taking a deep breath with a cup of evening tea.