7 Self-Care Tips For A Healthy & Happier You in 2020!

Hello my lovely friends!! 😀 Are you feeling stressed out? Or perhaps you know someone who’s struggling…? Then you’ll want to keep reading these 7 Self-care tips for a healthier and happier state of being in this season…

 

Honestly speaking, I am writing this post for us- you and me… These are challenging times and it’s easy to buckle under the pressures of stress.

Perhaps you’ve been neglecting yourself because everything else on your plate feels more urgent and important? Well, we can only function for so long before stress shuts us down.

I hope you’ll pause today and think about how to incorporate these self-care tips into your daily or weekly routine… 🙂

 

7 Self-Care Tips To Manage Stress & Live a Happier Life In 2020!

 

Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world. ~Pema Chodron

 

Practice Relaxation Techniques

While stress starts in the mind, it can manifest physically, making you feel tense, lose your appetite or cause lack of sleep… Sometimes we hold so much in, that our bodies become tense and rigid.

Practicing relaxation techniques through the day can help…

Try taking a deep, long breath and hold it in as you count backwards from 5 to 1, then breathe out slowly through the mouth, in a loud sigh… Repeat this severally, counting back from 10 to 1.

 

Another strategy that works well for me is tightening & softening my muscles. While lying prostate, breath in and tighten all your muscles, from the face to your toes. Hold for a few seconds, then soften gradually while breathing out slowly.

Doing this a couple of times a day reduces body tension & you may feel more centered & able to think clearly.

 

Speak Your Love Languages… To Yourself!

What is your love language? As you might know, there are 5 Love languages that makes each person feel most loved. 🙂

These are: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Gifts & Acts of Service.

Many times we think about Love languages in regard to our relations with others. However, as Life Coach- Breeny Lee suggests: speaking your love language to yourself is the ultimate form of self-care.

If your love language is gifts for instance, gift yourself with something meaningful to you, like flowers or a candle-lit dinner. Spend quality time in your own company doing whatever makes you happy… Give yourself a foot rub, if physical touch makes you feel loved…

 

Get creative and you may be surprised at how much difference it makes to your overall sense of well-being! 🙂

P.S. You can find free love language determinant tests on Google. 🙂

 

Nourish Your Mind, Body & Soul

I love the idea that we can actively nourish the mind, body and soul by being intentional with what we are taking in…

So take a moment to consider: what are you listening to/watching/reading? Make a change & digest uplifting content instead, then take note of how you feel after…

Incorporate exercise into your daily routine and eat a balanced diet, the best you can.

 

Before, I used to struggle with working out and kept falling off the wagon… Consequently, I’d feel guilty and miss out for weeks or months. Can you relate?

I’d suggest starting small, with an exercise routine that involves something you enjoy- like dancing or walking, for at least 21 days… Once it becomes a habit, add something new and keep building.

Make time to do the things that make your soul come alive… 🙂

 

P.S. Check out my Top Podcasts list here and Quarantine playlist here!

 

Give: Do something good for another…

When you stop to think about it, your life is probably really good. Why- you ask?

Chances are that you have the basic things like a roof over your head, food, clothes, family & good health. For someone else, these are luxuries they can only dream of…

Think about what you can do each day to make another person’s day a little better than before. 🙂 Surprise a friend with an encouraging text/call, or buy a meal for a stranger on the street…

 

Make someone smile and when the day is done, you’ll be feeling better too! Moreover, it will certainly put your problems into perspective.

And sometimes, that’s all we need- a smile and a greater perspective! 🙂

 

Focus on What You Can Control

With the pandemic, a lot is out of our control which can render us feeling helpless.

Thankfully we don’t have to stay in that space, mentally.

Choose to focus on what is within your sphere of control and take little actions that make you feel a level of progress. And sometimes that can be as simple as taking a shower & dressing up in your favourite outfit, or changing the route you take to work, to a more scenic option. 🙂

 

Journal: Write it down & Release it!

Journaling is cathartic. In Psychology, catharsis is defined as the process of releasing strong feelings and emotions from the unconscious mind…

Journaling allows us to work through our thoughts and emotions, and opens up a channel for us to release them in a constructive way, thus leaving us feeling positive and restored.

 

There is really no formula to it. Get a book or open the Notes App on your phone & write freely about what’s on your mind… Doing this will provide the space and clarity to process situations.

When I am feeling especially anxious about life, I stop to pray-journal about every single thing that’s troubling me. While I may not get the answers immediately, I do feel more at peace afterwards Give it a try. 🙂

 

Connect With Others

Now more than ever, the world needs genuine connections. Yes, your experience of life is unique to you, but you are not alone in this…

Connect with others & share your pain, as you listen & share in theirs… There is healing in speaking out, and allowing others to speak out.

Surround yourself with genuine people who care, and be a true friend to someone.

 

A man who has friends, must himself be friendly.

Proverbs 18:24.

 

Bonus: Practice Daily Affirmations

In a world that focuses on mostly the negative, we need some positive messages.

 

Self-talk is key to our self-care… So learn to speak positive affirmations to yourself, and the people in your life.

 

One of my favourite affirmations: I am God’s Child. I am loved. All things are working out for my good. 

 

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Thank you for reading! I hope you found our Self-care tips useful!

I love engaging with you! Do you have any self-care tips to add to our list? Feel free to leave a comment down below with your inputs and or questions/feedback!

 

 

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