Introduction:
When we think of self-care, we often think of skincare, lighting candles with a relaxing bath or having a “pamper night”. All of these sound great, however, self-care can be so much more.
Simply put, self-care is the protecting of your wellbeing and happiness and looking after yourself mentally, socially, and physically. It can be something you practice daily, weekly, or something that you turn to whenever life gets you down.
There’s truly no right or wrong answer when it comes to self-care, which is what can sometimes have you asking “well, what exactly can I be doing for self-care?”
So, Here Are Our Top 10 Self-care Ideas for 2024
1 – Get More Active
Exercise truly is one of the best things you can do to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
Not only are we talking about the endorphin release, but the doors it opens for smashing your goals, improving your quality of life, pushing past your boundaries and seeing new places.
Getting more active has a list of benefits so long we’d run out of room to type them all, but here are a few according to Mind UK:
Help managing stress
Improved sleep
Improved mood
Managing symptoms of anxiety and depression
LEARN MORE: 10 Wellbeing Activites for a Healthy 2024
2 – Focus On Your Sleep
We have all heard the saying “I’ll sleep when I’m dead ” – well without sleep you would definitely catch an early grave.
Sleep is extremely important – in fact, not getting enough quality sleep has been proven to increase the risk of getting diseases and disorders .
Sleep affects everything from our mood, our brain power, our reaction times, our ability to solve problems, our immune system – why on earth would you want to compromise all these things at once?
Your sleep should be at the top of your list of priorities, that means a regular 8 hours a night (dependant on your age), a good pillow, a comfy bed and quality, uninterrupted sleep!
3 – Journal
Journaling is becoming more and more popular across the globe as people start to understand the benefits and rewards of keeping a journal.
A journal can include many different aspects such as emotion tracking, goal setting models, habit tracking… or with The Self-Improvement Journal – dedicated exercises specifically designed for mental health and personal improvement.
A journal is a great way to tie in many different self-care activities into one centralised space, making your self-development journey as easy and effective as possible.
LEARN MORE : How To Journal for Mental Health
4- Focus On Your Eating
When they say, “You are what you eat ”, they aren’t lying! – your diet has a direct impact on your mental health and wellbeing.
The sugar crash, the carb coma, the calorie dense foods with practically 0 nutritional value – it’s a recipe for feeling unpleasant both mentally and physically.
Studies show that the risk of depression for those who consume a traditional diet such as Mediterranean is 25% – 35% lower compared to your typical “western” diet which is heavily comprised of sugar and processed foods.
Stick to whole foods as best as you can and limit the amount of refined sugar you consume; we recommend sticking to foods such as:
Lean Meats
Eggs
Nuts
Leafy Green Vegetables
Wholegrains (Oats, brown rice, quinoa)
Berries
Avocado
5 – Make More Time For You
Making time for you is incredibly important, yet it’s something that we easily forget to do, or simply don’t make time for.
Self-care can be as simple as sitting on your own with a book, or taking a relaxing walk or simply doing something that you enjoy and want to do.
Making time for you can be a great way to relax and de-stress, it can also give you time to think and become at one with yourself and your own company.
So put the laptop away, save the chores and sit down and recharge!
6- Practice Meditation
Meditation has been practiced for years by many, many different cultures, and there’s a reason for it.
It is said that meditation dates back to 200,000+ years ago, which helped develop the working memory which was instrumental in our evolution.
Meditation is somewhat a skill, and at first can seem kind of pointless if you don’t know what you’re doing, but this fades away with practise and can be one of the most mindful exercises you can ever do and can be a greatly beneficial part of your self-care routine.
Here’s how to do it if you’re a beginner:
Find somewhere nice and quiet with no distractions or interruptions
Get comfortable in any way that suits you
Start to relax every part of your body working from your toes upwards
Take deep breaths, paying subtle attention to the rhythm of your breathing
Empty your mind completely, still focusing on your breathing
If your mind starts to wander, let it
It’s as simple as that, and with more practice, you’ll eventually be able to see your emotions from an outside perspective and understand what gives you certain emotions and why.
7 – Minimalism
Minimalism is a great way to start fresh and help you understand what’s truly important to you, but what is it exactly? Minimalism is the act of removing unnecessary items that belong to you, such as items in your home or materialistic items you possess, and the benefits can be huge!
According to studies, decluttering can actually reduce cortisol levels and improve focus which can be a great step for your wellbeing.
We see it ourselves – how much better do we feel when we are in a completely tidy space, with no clutter or mess?
Start practicing minimalism and make it the normal living in a clear space with minimal unnecessary items and you’ll soon find that you have a much clearer mind.
8 – Goal Setting
Goal setting can be amazing for your wellbeing and is definitely something to add to your self-care routine. Although on the surface it might not seem like a self-care activity, setting goals gives your mind things to focus on and something to work towards.
By setting yourself weekly, monthly, or yearly goals, you are giving yourself a sense of purpose and motivation which will do wonders for your general wellbeing.
Consider using a journal to keep track of your goals and to make sure you are taking those necessary steps every day to hitting them!
LEARN MORE: The Power of Perseverance – Why You Shouldn’t Give Up On Your Goals
9 – Build Positive Relationships
As well as giving you that emotional support when you need it, building strong relationships in life is actually proven to lower rates of anxiety and depression .
For a self-care activity in 2024 – consider assessing your current relationships and ask yourself, are they having a positive impact on your life, cutting the toxic relationships out of your life is just as important as building new ones.
Prioritise building connections with people who support you and lift you up, spend quality time with the people you care about, be the one to initiate social activities and be grateful for those you have around you.
10 – Create More Memories
Making positive memories to look back on can be a great way to improve your mental health.
It’s easy to get caught up in work and other tasks, especially when you work full time and only have a couple of days to rest, which you’re usually tired for!
But making time to create lasting memories and do things with loved ones and friends is really important. Not only is the act of making the memories enjoyable and a great way to destress, but looking back on good memories is actually proven to disrupt negative thoughts and reduce stress & anxiety !
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to forget about your own mental health and self-care, especially if your life involves looking after others. But these little things that can be implemented into your daily routine can have a huge positive impact on your life.
If there is one thing to take from this article – it’s that there is always time to improve yourself, no matter how small the step.
Here’s how The Improvement Artist can transform your self-care journey:
Cards Beyond Comfort:
Journaling with The Self-Improvement Journal: Anchor your thoughts, track your emotional well-being, and set tangible goals with our dedicated journal. It’s designed to be your companion in weaving self-care seamlessly into the fabric of your daily life.
We hope you enjoyed this read!
The Improvement Artist
