Our top 10 self-care tips
Now more than ever, the term ‘self-care’ has become a common phrase used by many around the world. If the last two years have taught us anything, self-care is something we all need to prioritise the same as we would anything else of importance in our lives.
The impact of taking part in regular self-care and checking in with yourself is essential to your mental health, and will lead to a more balanced, healthy and happy lifestyle.
Our top 10 tips
1. Light a candle
Of course this one is top of our list. Personally, when we need to unwind after a long day or week, our go-to candle is the relax & reset or grounded candle to put on throughout the day or evening.
2. Go outside and get some fresh air
With the weather starting to warm up and the sun sticking around until much later in the evening, there is no excuse to not get out and go for even just a short walk to get some fresh air, or sit outside on your balcony or backyard. Breathing in fresh air is a great way to give yourself more energy and mental focus, but also to take breaks in between screen time - TV, computer or phone!
3. Read a book
The trick to enjoying reading is to start reading something you are interested in. Reading a good book has the ability to remove yourself from reality and immerse yourself into a good story. When you are reading, you really have to focus on the words in the book and stop any other thoughts coming to your mind. If you don’t enjoy reading, you could also try listening to an audiobook or podcast to help shut yourself out from reality for just a few moments and enjoy some time to yourself.
4. Exercise
This is one our favourite self-care routines that has the ability to change the direction of our day. Find the type of exercise that you enjoy and want to do - even a short walk, playing sport with friends, plugging your headphones in and going to the gym, or pilates or yoga. No one has ever regretted exercising, the hardest part is just to make a start.
5. Meditation
Meditation isn't for everyone but it is something worth giving a go - you know what they say, don't knock it until you try it. It has the power to make you focus and relax your mind, which is something we all forget to do often. There are some great playlists with a mixture of short and long meditations for any mood that you can access. If you are starting out, we recommend trying the shorter and guided ones first.
6. Journal
Ever feel like you have one million and one things running through your mind all at once? We know the feeling. There are so many benefits to journalling especially when you are finding activities for self-care. Even if it is just for five minutes in the morning, afternoon, or before bed, journalling can help you self-reflect, set and achieve goals, record ideas, de-stress, inspire creativity and keep your thoughts organised and in one place. It is also another great excuse to purchase some new stationery.
7. Invest in your skin - enjoy a skincare routine!
A particular saying that we have heard numerous times, especially from those in the beauty industry is - Be good to your skin. You'll wear it every day for the rest of your life. Sometimes when life gets a little too busy it is easy to forget the little things like giving your skin the TLC it needs. Sometimes the best way to indulge in self-care and take time out to yourself is to put a face mask or eye mask on, and enjoy some peace and quiet if you can. The beauty of this is you can enjoy this without the expensive price tag. If you really want to get into a skin treatment at home, look into serums and oils that your skin will love - we can confirm it honestly works a treat to both relax you and achieve glowy results.
8. Nourish your body
Now that you have considered #7 - invest in your skin, let's talk about the inside of your body. Finding balance in what you nourish your body is a healthy habit to get into. Remember to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, but also be kind to yourself and enjoy the treat when you want to. We are a big fan of the deep fried and sugary foods, but there is something enjoyable about finding a healthy balance with food to help with mental clarity.
9. Drink water (and lots of it!)
Especially with the warmer weather, it is important to ensure you stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. You can also add lemon, mint, cucumber or strawberries to make drinking water more enticing. Here are some recipe ideas!
10. Start to say ‘no’
It is so easy to get caught up in saying 'yes' to everything and anything - going out with friends and family, saying yes to all the tasks thrown at you in life and work or just doing things to make others happy. However, it is equally important you think about yourself and what makes you happy. Feel empowered to say 'no' when you need to, it is ok to be selfish sometimes and take that time back for yourself and do the things you want to do.
Everyone is different and has different needs to ‘fill up their cup’. This list is just our top 10 tips, but it is important to do the things that work for you. As long as you are ending the day with a fuller cup than what you started with, you have successfully succeeded in taking part in self-care!