Simple Self-Care Secrets to Sustain You

Having a weekly self-care routine can help you stay cool, calm and relaxed but yet, women often forget to take care of themselves. When I think of how easy it is to have a nervous breakdown, the more I realize that for the sake of sanity and emotional well-being, it is just so crucial to have a moment or an extended period of time every week when you can unwind and do something that is not work-related i.e. something that does not exert any pressure on the mind. There are many activities one can participate in to stay relaxed and they don’t always have to involve a spa treatment or spending a lot of money. In this post I’m going to share what has worked for me in the hopes that it will also work for you. Below are my top self-care strategies that help me sustain a healthy body, soul and mind.

Eating a healthy meal

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a healthy diet. Nutrition is so important for proper body functioning and yet it often goes ignored. Whenever I feel stressed and if it involves hunger, the first thing I do is take a trip to the grocery store and make myself a nice home cooked meal. If there is not enough time to cook or I am in a rush, I end up going to a restaurant I love for a sit down lunch or dinner. Either way, I am making sure that I eat in order to replenish and refuel.

Take a shower

Mental stress can be difficult to deal with. To ease of the pressure from my brain, taking a shower is my best go-to strategy for de-stressing after a long and stressful day. Warm and hot showers are the best because they increase blood circulation and help treat any muscle pain or inflammation associated with tears and overuse. It is not the same as a deep tissue massage or anything of that sort but the gentle feeling of running water dripping down the body definitely comes close.

Get some sleep

To say that I enjoy sleeping would be a complete understatement. It is one of my favourite activities especially on the weekends when I get to sleep in longer than usual. Even on weekdays, I try to make sure that I am getting the bare minimum of six to seven hours of sleep as is necessary for every individual. Sleeping as an act of self-care can actually help to heal the brain of any injuries and restore energy to the body for normal functioning after one has woken up from sleep.

Engage in physical activity

In other words, exercise can help you relax because it releases endorphins that make you happy which is good for your body. Personally, I love to take long walks. I walk to work at least two to three times a week and that helps to keep my sanity. While on the road, I am able to reflect slowly and clear my mind of any negative thoughts or mental blocks that I might have been dealing with. The momentum that comes along with physical activity is very beneficial. It is walking for me but it could be running or yoga for you. Find what works and stick to it.

Write a journal entry

In the past, I have found keeping a written journal to be a very effective form of self-care when it comes to letting out difficult emotions. What is so good about writing down your thoughts and the way you feel is that it prevents you from bottling up ill feelings. Imagine locking up the feelings of anger, jealousy and resentment within without any healthy outlet for expressing it. It can only be detrimental to your health. Everyone needs a place to unplug and it just might be within the blank pages of a book.

Watch your favourite TV shows

I hate to admit it but sometimes, all it takes is binge-watching your favourite TV shows on Netflix. Many times, your brain doesn’t want to do any thinking and the solution is just to do what I like to call “vegetate” for a period of time until you feel willing to engage in tough mental activity. During this time, my preference for shows usually consists of genres that I consider to be light such as soap operas, dramas and comedy. Avoid movies that involve a lot of analysis and go for ones that are easy to deconstruct and enjoy.

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How do you take care of yourself to prevent the brain drain?

Jamila Kyari

I’m a seasoned communications and marketing consultant with a penchant for all things stylish and chic. Follow me on social media and subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates on industry trends and much more!

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