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Let's be honest, life can be stressful. Trying to juggle work, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, eating healthily, having a social life, going on date nights... it's a bit much to keep on top of!
That’s why self-care is non-negotiable. And I’m not talking about what the wellness industry calls self-care, often marketing it as luxurious spa days, expensive massages, and pricey green drinks. I’m talking about the small, everyday things you can do at home to take care of yourself that don't require you to put your hand in your pocket.
Start saying "No"
It sounds weird, but one of the most powerful forms of self-care is learning to say "no." This can apply to both your personal and professional life. By setting boundaries and not overcommitting, you can protect your time and energy. Remember, it's okay to decline invitations or projects that don't align with your goals or that you simply don't have the bandwidth for. No is one of the most powerful words you can get comfortable with, and one of the easiest ways to carry out self-care at home.
Get a Work Phone and Turn it Off in the Evenings
One thing I highly recommend to all clients struggling to switch off in the evenings is getting a separate work phone. The world will not end if you turn your work phone off at 5pm and don’t boot it up again until 9am.
By physically turning off your phone, you’re signalling to your brain that it’s time to switch from ‘work’ to ‘home’ mode, something that is crucial if you work from home as you don’t have a commute to help you transition between the two. Turning off your phone in the evenings can help you wind down and relax, creating a clear boundary between your work and personal life, reducing stress and improving your sleep quality.
Take Your Work Emails Off Your Personal Phone
If you're not in a position to have a totally separate work phone, consider taking your work emails and apps like Teams off your personal phone. Doing so can help separate your home and work life, particularly if you work from home. Why? Because blurring the lines between work and personal life can lead to burnout. And that’s pretty hard to recover from. By removing work emails from your personal phone, you create a clearer separation between work hours and personal time. This can help you stay more present in your personal life and reduce the temptation to check emails outside of work hours. Sounds like self-care to me!
Get Out Into Nature
There are numerous studies out there highlighting the benefits of getting into nature. Nature-based interventions can significantly reduce depression and anxiety scores, as well as improving physical health measures such as lowered blood pressure. Which, in normal person speak, means a walk in nature can help clear your mind, reduce stress, and boost your mood. Plus, it's a great way to get some exercise without needing a gym membership. Basically, spending time in nature is good for both your body and mind and one of the easiest ways to carry out a little bit of self-care at home (or near it).
Watch (or Rewatch) Your Favourite Shows
As you’re hopefully starting to understand, self-care doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. It could be as simple as spending the evening (or weekend, I won’t judge) watching or rewatching your favourite shows or films. Whether it's a new series or an old favourite, scheduling some downtime to enjoy entertainment can be incredibly rejuvenating. It's a simple pleasure that can provide a much-needed escape from the daily stresses of life. And yes, before you ask, it definitely counts as self-care.
Read or Listen to a Book or Podcast
So many people say to me “Oh I love reading, I wish I could do it more but I don’t have the time!”. To them I say, make time. Not in the awful, entitled ‘we all have the same 24-hours in the day’ sort of way, but in a ‘make time for yourself’ way. Curling up with a good book or listening to an engaging podcast can be a wonderful form of self-care and can be done in as little as 10-minutes. Pair it with your favourite drink for an added touch of comfort that’s all about you.
Self-Care at Home Can be Simple
The wellness industry tells us self-care is all about massages, spa days, and green drinks, but I believe these small, everyday things can be more effective. Afterall, most of us don’t have the time, energy, or money to schedule regular massages, but we can probably spare 10-minutes to do any of the above. What can you do today for a little bit of self-care at home?
Contact me if you need help starting your journey of self-care.