It’s vitally important to take care of mind and body every day and not just waiting until you feel tired, stressed or rundown. Learning how to reduce stress, eat right and make time for some TLC are the foundations to selfcare which make you feel happy and healthy!

Practising the art of self-care isn’t always easy. We lead busy lives, be it with work and family commitments, stressful jobs and being addicted to our phones, it usually means self-care is bottom of the list.

Reading books, watching youtube videos or listening to podcasts on selfcare is a great way to find what kind of self-care works best for you. Each and everyone one of us will be different but it’s about what makes us feel great at the end of the day.

Below are some simple ways you can get started today:

Make a Good Morning Routine 

Having a steady structure to your morning is important as it sets you up for the day. Something as simple as always sitting down to have breakfast and chatting together with your family before work. Getting up a little earlier to make time for exercise and meditation can help to release stress and get you in the right mindset for the day ahead.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is vital to our health and getting in 8 hours every night has a powerful effect on the body. It helps you to think clearer and perform better in work along with lowering stress levels and improving your mood. Getting a good nights sleep is linked to staying a healthy weight and can lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease -as if we needed any more reasons for a lie-in!

Make Time for Family and Friends 

With most of us working from home, it can be very hard to switch off from work. When you’re overloaded with work sometimes all your fancy doing is crashing on the couch every night but it is important to make time for those closest to our hearts! Although our social lives are hugely restricted right now, there is still plenty that can be done from the comfort of your home. You could make a quiz with your friends and jump on a zoom call or play board games with the kids. Try whipping up a few cocktails and have a good natter over Skype with the girls or simply give your Mammy a catch up phonecall!

Positive Self-Talk 

Learning to control the negative self-talk is so important. The woman in our brains is non-stop chat 24/7 and sometimes we are terrible for listening to her! Negative self-talk sets limitations on what we think we can achieve, stopping us from reaching our truest potential. Leave the phrases like “I am not good enough” well behind in 2020 and focus on positive self-talk. Don’t expect perfection from yourself. Flaws are a normal part of life which once you embrace them with open arms will lead to a happier, more positive and self-confident you!

Pamper Session

If you are anything like me, I know nothing makes me feel better than spending a bit of extra TLC on myself. A little mini facial to give my skin a boost of hydration, a hair mask to tame my frizzy curls and an even layer of golden tan and I emerge from the bathroom feeling like a goddess! Gwan, try it out for yourself 

Reward Yourself

We all deserve a personal treat for ourselves especially after something like completing a big job at work, a hectic week looking after the kids or overcoming a rough patch in your life. They don’t have to break the bank, but little rewards help make us happier and more productive!

Look After Your Gut

Your gut health is so important and contributes hugely to the overall health of your body – The phrase “You are what you eat” is a real thing! Everything you eat has an impact on the microbiome living in your stomach. This bacterium helps control digestion and has benefits for the immune system when we eat healthy. If there is an imbalance, due to not eating right, it can lead to weight gain, high cholesterol, high blood sugar or other disorders. Eating the right foods can help improve memory loss and reduce inflammation which in the long run has a powerful effect on the brain and the rest of the body.

Exercise Daily

There are many forms of great exercise that we can incorporate daily into our routine that doesn’t involve hours on end in the gym (unless that’s your thing, then go girl!). Walking, yoga, team sports, tennis, home workouts or going for a run are all great exercise that can help to improve your overall physical and mental health while reducing anxiety and stress. Exercise also releases endorphins which are great mood boosters!

What are your favourite ways to show yourself some selflove?