August is National Wellness Month and the perfect time to focus on practicing self-care, managing stress, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Practicing self-care and wellness isn't always easy. Our schedules are busy, our world is stressful, and we often feel guilty for taking time to care for ourselves instead of everything and everyone around us. Me-time usually ends up as last on the agenda or not at all. Some of the more common ways to practice self-care include eating well, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. Other forms of self-care are just as important but not as obvious.
Here are a few additional ways to practice self-care and wellness.
Learn to say NO. Learning to say no is difficult for many people. Stretching ourselves too thin can lead to more stress and burnout. Having the self-awareness of our time and emotional limitations can assist in the having the confidence to turn down taking on another task. Boundaries are a wonderful thing!
Schedule time for yourself. Scheduling "me time" is an important step in ensuring that self-care happens. This can be anywhere from a few minutes each day to engage in a recharging activity or a self-care trip to get away for a weekend. Its often hard to find extra time in the schedule but setting a regular routine can help with making sure your self-care time happens.
Get organized. Getting organized can be a big first step in developing healthy wellness and self-care habits. Keeping a planner or organizer of your appointments and responsibilities can assist in the scheduling process. This allows a more structured opportunity to ensure your own time and keep on top of the daily routine. Maybe the morning dash to work or school can be eased a bit by getting things ready the night before or delegating more to others in the household.
Start a new hobby. Find something new that you've always wanted to try or pick up an old favorite one that has fallen by the wayside. Take those guitar lessons. Buy a coloring book and a box of shiny new colored pencils. Find a yoga class that you've wanted to try. Spread your wings and find a new passion.
Practice self-love. Don't be your harshest critic. Start a gratitude journal and include yourself in it. Be your own best friend. As Oscar Wilde once said, "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
Every day should be a wellness day but with a renewed focus on taking care of you, it can become a life long habit! Be well! |