Easy Tips on Practising Self-Care

If you are someone who sees the phrase 'self-care' and wonders how to even start or what self-care might look like, this week's column is for you.

You may have been recommended to start looking after yourself more by concerned family, friends or even your G.P.

Many people have spent a lifetime looking after others, always busy and finding it difficult to say no to others.

Their bodies may start to show the signs of always being busy by showing increasing blood pressure, cardiac problems, aches and pains, digestive issues, anxiety and insomnia, for example.

It is like the warning signal comes on the dash of the car with the body showing levels of stress a person has been ignoring or was unaware of for many years.

I like to make self-care really simple to incorporate into every day with some simple steps.

The first step is to prioritise good quality sleep, aiming for 7-8 hours every night.

Good sleep tonight will make tomorrow much easier to deal with psychologically and physically.

If you have ongoing problems with sleep, speak to your G.P about getting some support to get back into a proper sleep routine. It is worth asking in your local health food shop for the best supplements to support sleep (I like to take Magnesium Glycinate an hour before bed to support sleep).

Good sleep tonight also means you are more likely to exercise tomorrow and eat properly without relying on sugar and caffeine for energy.

Take small breaks throughout the day to recharge- five minutes to drink a cup of tea or get outside in the fresh air can help you refocus.

Regular small breaks are easier to incorporate than longer ones. Look after your physical and psychological wellbeing by eating nutritious food.

You would not attempt to drive a car a long distance without fuel so don't expect your body to run on empty either!

Take some exercise you enjoy outdoors every day, even if it means starting with ten minutes around the block.

Walking has been proven to improve our mental health so start with something small like a ten minute walk and see how you feel after.

Engage in activities that genuinely make you happy and bring you joy- meet a friend for coffee or lunch, spend time with pets, join a group activity, get out in your garden and create a place of beauty for yourself in your garden. 

Self-care does not have to be complicated to work!

We don't need days at the spa or trips away as much as we need daily small moments of self-care to keep us feeling well.

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