Self-care is necessary for helping you maintain a healthy relationship with yourself and also enabling you to better support the needs of others.
Do you ever forget to take care of yourself and your needs? I do. And I do it all the time.
When there are just so many things going on in our lives, so many tasks to finish, so many problems to fix, taking care of ourselves is just not one of our priorities.
It’s just so easy for us to take our needs for granted especially if we are going through tough times without realizing how vital it is to our well-being and happiness.
I learned this lesson the hard way. I was so used to taking myself for granted. Constantly pushing myself until I was burned out.
I wasn’t paying attention to how I was, what I needed, and what I was feeling that it slowly took so much toll on my mental health.
I was so focused on accomplishing things, setting one goal after another, and constantly pushing myself to meet excessive expectations that I lost sight of what was truly happening to me — I was only pretending to be happy.
I was mentally and emotionally exhausted.
So, please don’t make the same mistake as I did.
Right now, I’m definitely doing my best to take some time off for myself. In fact, I have officially made Sunday a day for myself. A day where I can just take a break, slow down and breathe.
Whether you’ve had a bad day, need to lift your spirits and energy, maybe you just need a little me time, or you need to recharge after a long day at work or let go of negativity — taking the time off for self-care is definitely the best way to go.
Doing this does not only help us become more mindful of our emotions but it also helps drastically improve our mental health and well-being — helping us live a happier and healthier life!
And to help you get started, here are 20 self-care Sunday ideas for you…
Meditate – Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! I was not a big believer in meditation before but after trying it, it completely changed my life. Try doing this for at least 10-15 mins a day.
Take a mindful walk – no checking your phone. Focus on what you see and what you hear.
Start your day with self-love affirmations.
Journal — write all the things that are bothering you, your worries, anything that causes you stress, and let all your emotions out.
Do something that you enjoy/love — as simple as this sounds, we often take this for granted and just spend our time mindlessly scrolling through our phones instead.
Create a gratitude list.
Unplug.
Don’t be afraid to say no.
Take a long nap.
Listen to an inspiring or positive podcast.
List 10 things that you love about yourself.
When eating, try to slow down and be mindful and present.
Remember to be gentle with yourself — it’s okay to make mistakes!
Forgive yourself and others, and free yourself from any regrets.
Learn to breathe mindfully.
Talk about your feelings.
Drink chamomile tea and read a book.
Do a small act of kindness every day.
Cry, vent out, and set your emotions free.
Cuddle your pet — this is definitely my favorite.
Please know that self-care is not just a one-time thing. Don’t be afraid to make yourself a priority, take a break, breathe, and just relax.
Repeating these habits every day will not only lift your spirit but also reframes your mind and improve your happiness and mental health.
Do you have any self-care ideas that you would like to add?