What About ME?!

So much of our lives we equate doing the “right thing” to doing something for someone else, or we choose to do it because of the impact it will have on someone else. One may never stop to consider that sometimes the most important thing you can do, is to take care of you. There are several things we can do on a weekly, or daily, basis to ensure we are showing up as our best selves, each and every day, allowing us to impact the world around us in a more profound way. You put so much of your day into being the best wife, mom, friend you can be, always looking after everyone around you, it can leave you wanting to yell “What about ME?!”

These are some simple self-care tips and tricks to get the most out of the moments you take for yourself- which should be many!

Exercise

Your body is full of muscles that need to be trained to work optimally. According to the Mayo Clinic, a person should get just over two hours of aerobic activity a week. 30 minutes of running or speed walking should suffice. This not only helps your body by reducing blood pressure, and lowering the risk of health issues such as heart disease and many other diseases but according to a publishing by Harvard Health, regular exercise has shown to have positive effects on your mental health by combating issues such as depression.

Practice Mindfulness

This is a practice that is almost always easier said than done. It can be so easy to become caught up in the day to day stresses and feel overworked and overwhelmed. There are several natural stress remedies you can incorporate into your day to feel more at peace and more centered exactly where you are at. Burning your favorite candle, reading a page from your favorite book; whatever it may be find what brings out the best version of you.

Nutrition

Like all machines, the human body needs fuel to run. What you consume has a significant effect on both our mental and physical health alike. With a seemingly endless amount of options of diet advice, what’s best can easily get lost. Websites and apps such as Myfitnesspal can be a lifesaver here. You track what you eat and how much you eat. These apps are great for keeping track of your caloric intake and caloric output as well as breaking down individual nutrients and pinpointing where you’re lacking.

Prioritize Your Rest

There are so many things to fit into every day. It can quickly start to seem like there are not enough hours in the day to get done everything we need. Sometimes the easiest way to finish up those last few tasks is to sacrifice some of the precious sleep our body so desperately needs. Sleep is the time for our bodies to reset. In order to make sure your sleep is the highest quality, make sure your sleeping space is clean and orderly and keep the temperature to the most comfortable setting for your rest!

Say No

One of the best things you can do for yourself and, believe it or not, for others, is to say no sometimes. It is great to offer assistance to your peers, but when it starts to cause you additional stress and take away from the little time we have left for ourselves it can start to do more harm than good. It’s time to reclaim and celebrate our No’s! Every time you say no to an unnecessary and unwanted request you are saying YES to yourself. You clear out the crap that encumbers your calendar and gifts yourself more time/space to do what you truly want.

Taking care of yourself does not always have to mean being alone. Sometimes being with certain people, or doing certain things that really make you happy and contribute to your well-being. There is no “one size fits all” approach to taking care of yourself, but it does have universal importance.

Author: Piper McIntosh

Piper is a creator, traveler, visionary, and oh- a mom. Keeping up with two boys, Jon, 6, and Raife, 4, keeps her busy trying new recipes they will actually eat and encouraging them to explore all the world has to offer (without getting too dirty).