If there’s anything 2020 taught the world, it’s about the importance of staying healthy. If you’re trying to live your healthiest life right now, that’s natural. Eating healthy, cleaning your home, exercising and taking preventive measures against illnesses are likely on your to-do list. But do you remember the small things, too?(Small things being seemingly unimportant self-care actions that can impact your physical and mental health)
Small self-care actions – whether it’s grabbing a quick coffee with a friend or using a LED light teeth whitening kit for a brighter smile – aren’t shallow or selfish; these are important in keeping up a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend much or stress over how to pamper yourself. Simple actions can go a long way for your health.
Low-Cost/No-Cost Self-Care Ideas
Take A Shower
It’s common, but it’s easy to take showers for granted. When you’re busy, cleaning yourself becomes the least of your worries.
It makes all the difference to face the day feeling clean and presentable – even if it means sparing 15 minutes of your break time or waking up earlier. Apart from good hygiene, a great shower leaves you looking good and feeling fresh. Also, you can escape all the screens and have some alone time to breathe and think.
Write Your Feelings Down
Sometimes, you need to express your thoughts to let them go. If you’re uncomfortable with talking about your feelings, write them down instead. Express your thoughts into coherent sentences so you can process them effectively.
Apart from giving you a sense of release, journaling encourages creativity. As you write down your feelings, decorate your journal with stickers, quotes or photos of your loved ones.
Say No When You Have To
One of the smallest forms of self-care with the biggest impacts on your well-being is learning to say no. Saying no to the little things that consume your mental energy and time gives you more space for activities that refresh your mind. So, the next time friends ask you out or a colleague overwhelms you with too much work, say no. It’s OK.;
Declutter, Organize and Purge
A cluttered desk can stress you out. Instead of living with too many belongings, free up some space and give yourself peace of mind by organizing or decluttering your space. Most people carry around stuff out of habit, obligation or nostalgia, but these items are just eating up space while stressing you out via disorganization.
Bring back joy by freeing yourself from unnecessary belongings. Sort through your items and categorize them by the frequency of use: always used, rarely used and never used.
Get a Good Hug or Try a Weighted Blanket
There’s a reason Frozen’s Olaf loves hugs; they are good for your health. The firm and constant pressure of a great hug calm down your stress signals. If you’re around loved ones, don’t hesitate to ask for a hug when you feel overwhelmed.
If you’re not a big hugger or are not in a situation where you can get a hug, weighted blankest simulate the benefits of a good hug. Some small studies suggest that weighted blankets can help you enjoy better sleep. You can buy a weighted blanket or DIY a weighted blanket using beads or poly pellets.
Enjoy Your Food
Eating slowly is not just good for your digestive health; it also encourages you to pay attention to savor the flavors and enjoy the experience. Not all of your meals have to be gourmet, but slowing down to enjoy the flavor and eating experience establishes natural breaks within your day. Enjoying your food also promotes mindfulness naturally, which is helpful if you struggle with guided meditation practices and formal mindfulness.
Plus: the food is delicious. Give yourself more time to appreciate the act of eating.
Waste Your Time (Responsibly)
Time is a luxury for people who want to finish their to-do list. For people who are stressed, overwhelmed or busy, however, it’s easy to fall into the productivity trap. Being productive is commendable, but if you don’t give yourself a breather, you’ll feel exhausted.
There is still value in doing nothing.
Consider the following productive time-wasting suggestions:
- Enjoy a hot bath. Add a touch of luxury by making it a bubble bath scented with essential oils.
- Take a quick nap. If you finish a couple of tasks, take a 15 to 30-minute power nap.
- Sit in a coffee shop and enjoy quiet time.
- Binge-watch Disney Christmas movies, Netflix or funny YouTube videos (without checking your social media profile or emails).
Staying healthy requires giving yourself a break now and then. In the middle of a busy day, care for yourself by practicing these simple and affordable self-care acts.
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