6 Self Care Habits To Practice For A Happier Mind, Body & Soul

Self-care is described as the conscious actions we take in order to promote health and wellbeing physically, mentally and emotionally. Self care habits come in all shapes and sizes and it probably means something different to each of us. Regardless of what it means to you, it is vital that we take the time for ourselves and our well-being. I am by no means an expert in this area but I have found some great practices that really help me on my journey to better self-care.

It’s really great to see more and more emphasis being placed on the importance of self-care practices. Mental health is a lot more widely spoken about now than it ever has been and I feel it makes it easier to embrace practices that serve us well. As I mentioned, self-care will vary from person to person but make time to figure out what works for you so that you can regularly follow self-care practices.

I have found some great self-care practices that work well for me and I want to share my top 6.

6 Self Care Habits To Practice

Clean Space = Clean Mind – Clutter-Free / Tidy

This is a big one for me and it applies to a lot of areas in my life. I work best when things are organised and clutter-free. The obvious area to keep clutter-free, clean and tidy is the home and I make time to ensure it is kept this way. I really don’t like waking up to dishes from the day before or the cushions on the sofa untidy. Of course, this is to be expected with a lived in house but at the end of the day, I make sure to carry out a few small tasks that make my morning routine better. It might sound trivial but it puts me in better stead for the morning.

I’ve recently had a really good clear out where I forced myself to be as ruthless as possible. It’s such a liberating feeling to get rid of things that no longer serve you. It’s such a soothing thing to do and works wonders for my mental wellbeing. You’re bound to have heard this but if it doesn’t spark joy, you don’t need it. That’s my motto and it works well for me.

Other aspects of a clutter-free life include keeping my phone clutter-free from photos, messages, apps I no longer use, contacts, emails, etc. For me, this is truly one of the most important self-care habits that I practice.

Regenergise With Some Physical Activity

Physical activity is the best way to release natural endorphins which in turn make us feel good. Personally, I prefer to do my daily activity in the morning because it’s such a postive start to my day and it fuels me throughout too. The beauty of physical activity is that it comes in all shapes and sizes so there is something for everyone. Walking, swimming, jogging, gym, yoga or light stretches, take the dog out, whatever it may be it all has the same effect.

Routines – Morning & Evening

As humans, I find we are naturally creatures of habit for the most part and we respond well to routine. I certainly know that I do and I love a good routine. My two main focal areas are my morning and evening routines. Every morning I make sure to get showered, do my skincare and get dressed before heading downstairs. For all it’s just a few simple things, they really make a difference to my day. I find that I am more productive after a good start. Obviously, this isn’t a rigid routine, if I work out or do an activity I shower after. At weekends when it’s my downtime I sometimes have a more relaxed start.

In the evening my routine is pretty simple, I cut out screen time at least an hour before bed. I do my evening skincare routine and I read my kindle in bed to help me get to sleep. Making time to stick to routines really gives me a balanced and settled feeling. I think it’s important for everyone to have some kind of routine that brings us stability and calm.

Limit Screen Time

This one is really important to me as I find endlessly scrolling to be so time-consuming and it really gets in the way of productivity. I place more focus on this in the morning and the evenings so that I can better keep to my routine. If I start browsing social media I suddenly find that I’ve wasted so much time. Time is the most valuable thing we have and I don’t want to feel like I waste mine on my phone. In the evening I put my phone down at least an hour before bedtime. I find the blue light really impacts how well I can fall asleep.

As much as social media has its positive aspects, it also comes with its negatives too. I don’t know about you but when I browse a lot it can lead me to unnecessary spending, comparing myself to others and procrastinating. I find it invaluable to set boundaries on my social media exposure and make sure to focus on my real life rather than online.

Getting Enough Sleep

This one goes without saying. It’s all well and good setting out time for great self-care but without a basic good sleep, it doesn’t amount to much. The recommended amount of sleep needed is 8 hours. How many of us can say we get a good quality 8 hours sleep every or most nights? Setting parameters to get enough sleep is key to how we function and what we can achieve. Implementing a good bedtime routine and getting more sleep is one of the best things I’ve done for myself.

Journal / Planner

Journalling is such a brilliant and powerful tool to promote good mental wellbeing. It’s a great way to organise your thoughts and ideas by writing them down. You can set goals and daily intentions to keep you focused and motivated. Journaling is a great stress reliever by allowing you a safe place to “brain dump” and offload your feelings. Expressing yourself in a journal is a great coping mechanism for anxiety and stress. You can record daily affirmations, what you’re grateful for, positive things that have happened, what makes you happy to name a few. There are so many great journals out there to suit your every need. If you want to be super creative you could always create your very own bespoke bullet journal. The beauty of journaling is that it can be anything you want and need it to be. Make it fit your needs and life perfectly.

Do you have any self-care habits that you try to practice on a regular basis?

You might also enjoy the other similar posts that I’ve shared.

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