As a passionate, loving, and ambitious person (which most of us are), you may have a tendency to overload your days with tasks.
And while keeping busy is a great way to keep moving forward, we have to make sure we don’t forget to focus on the wellbeing of the person at the heart of it all: ourselves.
The beautiful thing is, that true self care is all about simple everyday acts. It’s the small baseline things that end up making the biggest difference when they’re done consistently, and you don’t need to go out of your way to achieve them.
A simple self-care checklist to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself, while accomplishing goals and taking care of others, is a great way to stay on track.
Because, really, taking care of you is just as important.
So how about we start right now?
Am I drinking enough water?
Water is the source of life. While there’s no actual indicator as to exactly how much water we should be drinking, 8 glasses a day is a good minimum to work to. Dehydration affects our brain and our mood, so keeping well-hydrated is the first step to feeling good.
Am I getting enough sleep?
When it comes to taking good care of yourself, getting enough sleep is non-negotiable. If you have trouble getting a full night’s shut-eye, a little lavender oil near your pillow will help you nod off gently.
Am I eating 3 nutritious meals a day (and make room for snacks)
When life gets too frantic, our routines can drop off. Eating wholesome, nutritious food is the best way to keep energy levels up in a natural way. And make sure you always carry around a healthy snack in your handbag – a handful of almonds, cup of blueberries, or a granola bar are great to-go options.
Am I setting boundaries?
It’s ok to say no and decline invites if – especially if saying ‘no’ is going to allow you to rest and improve your wellbeing. You can always be polite and honor the invitation, but it’s important to stand up for your needs.
Am I reviewing my priorities?
Every day, look at your list of priorities and group them into two buckets: ‘urgent’ and ‘nice-to-do’. Get your urgent tasks done first, and if you have the time and energy – you can tackle some from the ‘nice-to-do’ list.
Am I spending any time in nature?
Humans are naturally inclined to feel good when out in nature – and multiple studies have shown that spending time outside improves wellbeing and productivity. Set some time aside to go for a walk, take a hike, or go for a swim in nature every day – even if it’s just 30 minutes. Your body will thank you for it.
Am I feeding my soul?
What is it you really love doing? Is it reading, crocheting, playing soccer, doing yoga, or painting? No matter what your soul-feeding activity is, you need to make it a priority.
Am I spending time with people who ‘get’ me?
Find your tribe. Get your crew of supportive people who want nothing more than to see you thrive. Maybe you already have a strong support system, but if you don’t – create one.
Am I conscious of my self-talk?
Make it a habit to speak kindly to yourself. Negative self-talk and criticism is so easy – being kind takes a little more consciousness and effort, but is so very worth it.
