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Writers Corner
Self-Care Techniques for Busy People
Brad Krause
No matter whether you work out regularly, get good sleep each night, or make sure to eat healthy meals every day, you may need to practice some additional self-care. Even if you are already good at incorporating parts of this concept into your daily routine, the only way to truly become healthy in all senses of the word is to regularly practice a well-rounded routine of self-care. Here are some ways you can incorporate different tactics into your everyday life, as well as a few strategies to give yourself a quick and easy mental health boost when you most need it.
Start at home
While it may not always feel like it, we spend more time at home than anywhere else. Since our environment plays such a substantial role in influencing our thoughts and feelings, as well as helping us accomplish our goals in life, it’s important to ensure our living space is designed for our happiness and health in mind. Keeping your home clutter-free can reduce stress and fatigue. Keeping cold, filtered water in the fridge can make it easier to stay hydrated. Creating a meditation space – one with calming colors, with simple design elements and bursting with natural light – can encourage you to engage in solitude, disconnect from others, and connect with your inner self.
There are also ways you can cut down on the amount of time you spend in the kitchen after a long day at work. Although picking up fast food on the way home might seem like a great time-saving method, purchasing useful appliances like electric pressure cookers can allow you to quickly and healthfully create meals while saving you the expense of a drive-thru trip. For example, pressure cookers can make great dishes such as chicken noodle soup, fettuccine alfredo, vegetable coup, and green pepper casserole, to name only a few.
Incorporate regular breaks into your daily routine
The first things you should take particular care to incorporate into your daily routine are regular breaks. It can be extremely tempting to fill your day with a busy morning, packed work day, and an evening full of familial duties; however, it is critical that you take some time several times per day to rest and allow yourself to breathe. While it may seem like a break will lead to you getting less done on your particular set of tasks for the day, it actually will help increase your productivity. Stress and mental exhaustion inhibit your ability to follow through with tasks and complete them successfully.
Stress also compromises your mental health, along with your ability to handle your work under pressure. This does not mean that you need to take full-hour breaks repeatedly throughout the day – instead, breaks as short as five to ten minutes, distributed as you need them, are enough to clear your mind and allow you to focus. If you are not used to taking breaks, it may be difficult to get yourself in the right mental state, particularly when you have many other things to get done in the rest of the day. To make it easier on yourself, turn off the lights, tell your coworkers or family that you would prefer not to be disturbed for a bit, and keep your room or office quiet. You can help yourself relax by practicing breathing exercises that slow your heart rate.
Smile more
An under-utilized aspect of self-care is our own self-presentation. Going through your daily routines with a glum expression will often make you feel gloomy. Smiling can help boost your mood. It can also make your business run much more smoothly. People tend to smile in response to the smiles of others. In turn, they get a mood boost as well, which can make professional and social interactions easier.
Get a full night of sleep
Many of the techniques you use when taking brief breaks or naps throughout the day can also make it easier for you to fall asleep at night. Getting a good night’s sleep is critical for your overall wellness – good sleep hygiene can help you feel more energized and capable during the day, and can provide you with more stamina on even the busiest of days. To ensure you get good sleep, go to bed early enough to get 7-8 hours of shuteye, turn off electronic devices two hours before bed, and don’t have coffee or alcohol at night.
No matter how busy you are, be sure to take the time for self-care practices. Remember, it doesn’t require much time – enough time for sleep, plus a break or two during the day, will be enough to help improve your overall wellness.