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Self-care is the practice of establishing useful behaviors which help you stay healthy, both mentally and physically. This requires you to dedicate a set amount of time daily and make consistent efforts towards establishing said behaviors and tracking your process. While this process can be challenging, it is 100% achievable and will provide a range of health benefits. In this article by Playme Sport, we’ll discuss how to make time for self-care activities and reap its intended benefits.
- Create a Self-Care Schedule
The first step towards achieving your self-care goals will be to carve out time from your daily schedule. Ideally, one should plan to dedicate at least an hour daily towards activities such as exercise, cooking healthy food, meditation, and social activities. This can be broken into 15–20 minute increments spread across the day.
Additionally, depending on your daily routine, create set times for these activities. For instance, if you are an early riser, your best bet will be to exercise and cook in the morning. This will provide the perfect start for the rest of the day. Conversely, if you have more free time in the evening, start meditating and exercising after work, as it will help to wind down after a long day at the office.
- Hold Yourself Accountable
Remaining consistent in your efforts can become challenging if you do not track your efforts. This is because it is normal for things to come up during the day, and if you do not hold yourself accountable for self-care, you’ll quickly find yourself back where you started. Instead of trying to track your efforts manually, leverage technology in the following ways:
- Use a Sleep Tracker: Find a reputed sleep tracking app for your mobile device with which you can stay on top of how much rest you’re getting each night. Your aim should be to sleep at least 7-9 hours each night, as reported by The Sleep Foundation.
- Set Exercise Reminders: Start using a workout app that allows you to set a daily exercise time. As a result, you’ll receive daily reminders to work out, along with a pre-created set of exercises to practice.
Additionally, you can share your self-care plans with others in the household and instruct them to keep you on track. Whether it be going for a daily walk around the neighborhood or not cheating on your diet with junk food, having the support of loved ones will make it easier to remain on the right track.
- Pursue New Career Goals
According to research by The American Institute of Stress, up to 83% of workers report suffering from workplace stress, with 25% of these claiming work-related stress as the prominent stressor in daily life. If you feel the same way, the best option is to make a career switch.
Finding a new job is never easy; however, you can significantly increase your chances of getting hired by furthering your education. For instance, if you want to make a switch to the education field, research the best options and get your bachelor of education online. An online degree will be cost-effective, require a lower time commitment, and provide plenty of time to dedicate to other responsibilities.
- Keep Your Home Clean
A clean home provides many benefits in terms of self-care and overall well-being. Decluttering is known to be an activity that promotes mindfulness which is a great way to disassociate from work-related and other stressors. Additionally, living in a clean home will keep stress levels to a minimum, improve productivity and allow you to maintain a positive state of mind.
Vacuuming the home every other day is a great way to keep the space decluttered. Additionally, this will rid your home of dust and other allergens. This is especially useful for those having kids or pets, as they are more susceptible to allergies than adults.
The key to practicing self-care will be setting time aside daily to focus on activities beyond work that provide you a sense of fulfillment and peace, such as exercise and cleaning. Additionally, if work is your number one stressor, it’s best to further your education and take a leap of faith toward finding a better work environment.