Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
I’ve been at my new job for almost three months now, and while I really enjoy all the new challenges, I’ve been so exhausted.
A lot of things have been put on the back burner in the mean time, including my self care.
I didn’t do it intentionally, and it took me a while to even realize it had happened.
I stopped washing and exfoliating my face. I just used micellar water to take my makeup off.
I stopped doing face masks, painting my nails, having little solo dance parties, meditating, journaling and more.
Not at all once, though. It was a gradual process that I didn’t even know was happening.
But then once I noticed how burned out I was feeling between my two jobs, planning a wedding, hanging out with friends and more, it became alarmingly apparent how much I had been ignoring my self-care.
Self-care doesn’t have to be something that takes a lot of time or energy. There are plenty of things you can do that only take a few minutes (or longer, if you have the time) and have really great, lasting effects on your overall well-being.
— Take a two-minute mental break, even if you need to go in the bathroom to do it.
Take some deep breaths, play a game on your phone, browse Facebook or whatever you need to do to give your mind and soul a break.
— Listen to some music or podcasts during the day if you can.
Music has had such a huge impact on my life, and the right song can help me out of any funk or get me more focused to power through the day. If podcasts are more your thing, there are now more options than ever on just about every topic known to man. You can even listen to podcasts on Spotify now! Whether your workplace is silent or buzzing with activity, music or podcasts can really help give you at least a little reprieve during your day.
— Drink plenty of water.
No matter what your job is, staying hydrated is very important. It’s especially important if you tend to drink a lot of pop, coffee or even juice during the day. Water has so many benefits for your body, and even though you may have to pee more often, staying hydrated is worth it.
— Wash your face.
I promise this helps. I’ve skipped doing this so many nights, and then I always end up paying the price because I get breakouts and then my makeup doesn’t go on as smoothly. It doesn’t really matter what brand you use or how expensive or not it is. Cleaning the dirt and grime off your face at the end of a long day, or even at the beginning of the next day, can be so relaxing and just refreshing.
— Don’t use your phone in bed.
I know how hard this is, seriously. It’s become such a bad habit for me to check my phone first thing in the morning and the last thing before I go to sleep at night. But that’s not good for your mind or soul! You need some time to recharge before starting a new day or relax before getting a good night’s sleep. Help calm your mind so you can move forward as best you can.
— Change up your scenery.
This may not always be possible during the day, but after work or on your lunch break, go somewhere that’s a bit outside your regular routine, whether that means walking around the mall or browsing books in Barnes & Noble. Even if it’s only for 20 minutes, you never know what kind of inspiration may strike or what you may encounter.
— Do something nice for yourself or others.
This type of self-care will be different for each person, but I think you all have an idea of what would be nice to do for yourself “some day” or “whenever you have the time.” That perfect time will likely never come, so why not do it now? Whether it’s lighting a candle and taking a bath or making a vision board or watching some reality TV, do it. It’ll give you a little boost that could lead into any number of experiences.
What do you do to help perk yourself up and practice self-care, especially when you don’t have a lot of time?
