Self-Care for Busy Seasons
It seems like summer isn't a busy season just for us but for a lot of you as well! I thought it would’ve calmed down a little since school and childcare started back up, but I think we’re still finding and settling into our new routines for the year, so it’s still pretty much go, go, go.
Something I’ve noticed every year about this busy season is that I have to really fight to maintain some sort of regular self-care. But I do my best to make it a priority because I know that historically, when I let go of my self-care, things usually don’t end well for me, whether it’s my physical health or my mental and emotional state.
But how do you do self-care when you’re in a busy season? As a lot of mums would say, “What self-care? Who’s got time for that?” Not to mention, how do you make sure you do the right type of self-care that will actually fill the right cups? Because, like I wrote in a blog post at the start of the year, you need to make sure that the self-care you do matches the type of rest that you actually need (you can read more about it here), otherwise you won’t feel any different.
Luckily for you, I’ve decided to give you THIRTY things that you can do as self-care, no matter how busy you are! I can promise you that I have personally done every single one, and most of them can be done in under 15 minutes; some even under 5, so you can’t use a lack of time as an excuse! And I’ve even gone a step further and categorised them into physical, mental, and emotional self-care, so it’ll be easier for you to pick an activity that fills the cup that you need in the moment.
Physical Self-Care
Start your day with a full glass of water (add a bit of lemon into it for a refreshing wake up boost).
Take some vitamins/supplements to boost your health and diet.
Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than you usually would – trust me, it’s amazing how much of a difference that makes the next day!
Book an overdue medical/health appointment (I know you’ve got at least one…dentist, eye check, blood test?).
Spend 5-10 minutes in the morning doing some gentle stretches before you start your day – I find this helps me wake my body up and get going faster too!
Do some exercise. You don’t need lots of time – I’ve started skipping on the days I can’t make it for a pilates class or a walk; I only do about 5 minutes, but that alone is amazing cardio!
Make time for a healthy snack eg yoghurt, fruit, a muesli bar (or if your days can get a little crazy like mine, then any snack will do!)
Look after your skin! Apply some face cream or body lotion, and if you have time, maybe do a quick exfoliating scrub.
Sit down for your cuppa and actually drink it while it’s hot.
Actually stopping before your body breaks down – even if it’s just 10 minutes, take a break, lie down and rest your body!
Mental Self-Care
Step outside and enjoy the sun for even just 5-10 minutes, especially in winter to get that Vitamin D!
Read a book – I’ve got a whole storage tub filled with books that I’m slowly making my way through!
No screen time 30 minutes before bed – doom scrolling is NOT self-care, especially with the news these days!!
Write down a to-do list instead of trying to store everything in your head!
And while you’re at it, try some journalling – I used to be sceptical about it, but it really has helped my mental health, so much that I even wrote a blog post about it!
Take 5-10 minutes to do some deep breathing – maybe light a scented candle while you do this.
List 3 things you’re grateful for this day – I have been doing this daily for over a year now and it’s really helped my mental health!
Do something with your hands eg draw, paint/colouring in, cook/bake, gardening, even playing with a sensory tool or fidget toy!
Play a game – whether it's on your phone/gaming device, cards or a board game; it's just something to give your brain a break and have some fun.
Unsubscribe from 3 brands/accounts that are no longer a fit/relevant for you – it’s no wonder your mind is so cluttered when your inbox and feeds are filled with so much information overload!
Emotional Self-Care
Have a crying session – I don’t know why but crying really is a therapy in itself!
Eat some comfort food – tub of ice cream, bar of chocolate…nobody’s judging you!
Write a letter to yourself, or a letter to someone that you’ll never send - pour out your thoughts, vent those feelings!
Listen to some music and sing your heart out! You can even have a little dance party by yourself!
Call someone you trust and have a venting session – sometimes you just need to let it all out so you can let it all go!
List 3 wins or 3 things that you’re proud of yourself for - sometimes you need to be your own cheerleader!
Say “No” or distance yourself from conversations or things that drain you - boundaries are so important to protect your emotional and mental health!
Hug your kids, kiss your partner, and tell your family one thing you love about them – trust me, even though you’re giving rather than receiving, it really does fill your emotional cup!
Go through your photo album and relive some of your memories.
Pray and spend some time meditating or doing a devotional - let go, and let God!
I really hope this helps you become more intentional with your self-care, and that you even start implementing some of these activities daily! Busy seasons aren’t an excuse to stop looking after yourself, because if you break down, the rest of your family will break down too! Remember….
“Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” – Audre Lorde
