What is self-care?
Self-care is you taking care of yourself. If you want more in-depth information, read this fact sheet from the Fort Gary’s Women’s Resource Center. They describe self-care as care provided “for you, by you.”
In technology driven modern times, we are so over stimulated with information that we rarely take the chance to stop and unwind. We have so many things occupying our mind that we get so overwhelmed with stress that we forget to take care of ourselves. Because we think we are so busy, we never take the chance to give ourselves a moment of relaxation without feeling guilty.
I want to remind everyone to take at least 10 minutes or even up to an hour to spend time on themselves. These are twelves things under $10 that you can buy for self-care. Self-care is in no way selfish, you owe it to yourself to take care of your body and mind. That way you can walk away refreshed and ready to take care of business!
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face maskS
You can get face masks in sheets that you put on your face, like these. Or you can get ones in the form of clay that you wash off, like this fun one (a personal favorite) that bubbles up.
candle
They are a great way to remind yourself to breathe and that everything will be okay. If you want to spurge on a candle, check out this one from Nest.
journal
I was never the type to journal when I was a kid but I have picked it up recently. It is a great way to write down everything that happened during that day or week and let it out.
When you write things down, it releases the tension that you were feeling. It is also a great way to reflect on the day and feel gratitude. I like to write down one thing that was great about my day. It is easy to lose sight of the good in the day when there are so many things stressing us out. I think journaling is fun because you can come back year from now and read about what happened. Who doesn’t like to reminisce?
meditation app
A meditation app for your phone is probably one of the best things that you can invest in! There are even guided meditation apps out there that you can download for free or a free trial. I personally used Headspace, which you can find on the iTunes or the Play Store, which gives you a free 10 day beginners course. Meditation is definitely at the top of my list when it comes to self-care. When you meditate you are allowing yourself time, even if only 5 minutes, to be with just yourself. When you meditate, you are able to clear your mind. Who doesn’t want to be more focused?
chocolate
Not all chocolate is bad for you. If you find a good dark chocolate bar that you like, you can you can eat it guilt free!
lotion
Another great thing to buy to add to your daily routine for self-care. Similar to face masks, it is good to also take care of your body. When you take care of your body, you are also taking care of your mind. By apply lotion to your body as a daily ritual, you stay mindful of it. When you are applying lotion make sure to take notice of how your body feels. Are you tense in certain areas? Is your skin dry in some places but not in others? Let your mind focus on you!
blanket
Every time you use this blanket it serves as a reminder to yourself and other people that you are taking time for yourself. Make sure it is really comfortable, soft and warm, like this one. Or maybe even buy a fun one, like this blanket that is a mermaid tail!
coloring book
Not only are they a fun thing to do, but they are super relaxing and flex your creative muscles. I really like the series of adult coloring books like the one pictured! Find it here.
tea
Tea not only has amazing health benefits for you, it also has the power to give you peace. At least, it has the power to give me a steady mind. I like to unwind every night with a nice hot cup of tea. The warmth helps my body relax and as I sip on it, the tea helps my mind calm down too before bed. Tea is a nice way to sit with yourself for a minute, or with a good book or TV show. It has a warm cup of goodness. I personally like jasmine tea (like this) the best. It is the kind that they serve you at Chinese restaurants!
bookS
Books are one of the greatest escapes from reality. They have the ability to suck you into another world or teach you something you never knew before. A good book is great self-care because you are allowing yourself to have a moment of pleasure. Reading for pleasure is a great gift to yourself because it allows you to unwind. A book is a good way to give yourself permission to spend time on your own, not stressed out about the millions of things that you have to do.
Anyone can find at least 10-15 minutes in their day to read something. Here are 5 books that I think are great for personal growth. Maybe you can just quickly catch up on the news or on the subway during your rush-hour commute. Maybe you can even sacrifice 20 minutes of sleep to be transported to a dystonia world like in the Divergent Series.
smoothie
Just like with chocolate, a smoothie can be a great way to treat yourself when you need it.You can take the time to make yourself a healthy smoothie or visit a local smoothie shop that can make you one. Not only are smoothies healthy but they are a cheap and quick way to take care of yourself. When you buy yourself a smoothie you are doing something for yourself and this one taste good too.
Flowers
These are a great way to treat yourself to something beautiful. You can buy a bouquet at your local grocery store or maybe even a farmer’s market! Flowers are a cheap way to remind yourself to stop and smell the roses. They can bring a smile to your face immediately. When you look at something beautiful it is an instant way to boost your mood.
Did you like this post? Read about Finding Yourself and What it Really Means // Skincare – What to use, When to use it, and How often
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