Make 2021 the Year of You: 6 Self Care Tips and Ideas to Add to Your Routine

Practicing self care can help bring out the happiest you.

Photo by Mackenzie Gaultier

When’s the last time you’ve taken a moment out of your day to focus on just you? If you’re struggling to remember that time, then you need some serious self-care.

What is self-care? It’s when you do things for yourself that help improve and maintain your health both physically and mentally. It can be simple things like having a daily shower, to more intensive, like meditating for an hour. Self-care looks different for everyone, but it all has the same purpose – it’s about taking care of your needs.

The International Self-Care Foundation breaks down self-care into seven pillars:

1. Health literacy: understanding basic health information

2. Mental Wellbeing: spending time on your internal happiness

3. Physical Activity: getting enough exercise each week

4. Healthy Eating: having a balanced diet

5. Risk Avoidance or Mitigation: watching out for things like smoking and abusing alcohol

6. Good Hygiene: showering, brushing your teeth, and even washing your produce

7. Rational and Responsible Use of Products and Services: less waste

Does your self-care routine hit all seven pillars that lead to your overall well being?

Unfortunately, taking care of yourself can come across as being selfish in some circumstances, making self care less of a priority. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

You’ve likely heard the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Well, it’s true. Try taking a glass out of the cupboard and tip it upside down into another cup. Nothing will happen because there’s literally nothing inside the cup to pour out.

Now, think of that lovely image and shift it to ourselves – how can you expect to be successful and live a fulfilling life when you have nothing left in your system? You can try, but you’ll likely burn yourself out and won’t be truly happy.

Think of what an iceberg looks like. What you see above the water is only a portion of what is underwater (which is why icebergs can be dangerous). They have an incredibly strong base at the bottom to keep the rest of the iceberg supported above the water.

Self-care is like an iceberg. It’s the base of our everyday life. Without self-care to build the foundation, everything that is above the surface will ultimately crumble.

Do I have your attention now on how critical self-care is? Good. Now let’s look at six tips and ideas that you can easily implement into your daily life that focus on you.

Have a Consistent (and long enough) Sleeping Schedule

How much sleep do you get each night? Is it roughly around eight hours? According to the Sleep Foundation, the average adult (ages 18 years to 64 years) should get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Each person is different, but a good goal is to get within the recommended range as often as possible.

If you think sleep isn’t that big of a deal in your life, think again. Sleep deprivation is a serious thing that can affect anyone. Not getting enough sleep can cause you to be irritable, lead to depression and anxiety, negatively impact your blood pressure, and even increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and obesity. How much of an impact can you make when you’re exhausted, groggy and dragging your behind?

So, want to start the day off as best as you can and keep your health in top shape? Get enough sleep and stay consistent with your sleeping schedule. Doing so helps set the internal clock in your body that sends “I’m tired” signals when it’s close to bedtime. Staying consistent can also help you fall asleep and wake up easier.

Stay Active

Look, you’ve probably heard it time and time again, physical exercise is an excellent step to take to improve your physical and mental health. That’s because it’s true. Science has proven this statement numerous times, that there’s not much more to say about it.

Adding movement to your daily routine can do wonders to your mood, give you an energy boost, allow you to sleep better, maintain healthy body weight, prevent or decrease your risk of severe diseases, and can give your sex life a little boost, too (yeah, we went there).

Learn to Say No – Set Boundaries

Now, this is a hard one. It’s easier just to say yes and agree to do something or help someone out, rather than setting boundaries and saying no. I don’t know about you, but saying no to something can often make me feel guilty. However, I also know it’s essential for my well being to set boundaries and have friends and family respect that when I say no, it’s because I need to for me.

Saying no doesn’t have to be a selfish thing. Your plate may be full of other tasks that you have to complete. Maybe you’re tired from a long day or had a bad day in general and need some time to yourself. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay to say no when you need to take care of yourself. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for saying no.

Focus on the Present – Learn Mindfulness Techniques

Living in the past or constantly worrying about the future can lead to stress and anxiety. Since one of the pillars of self-care is your mental health, including mindfulness practices can help bring your attention to the present.

Mindfulness practices are about slowing down and appreciating what is around you at that moment, all intending to find inner peace.

Unplug Regularly

Do you spend countless hours scrolling through social media and feel worse than when you started? As great as social media has been to keep us all connected, it does come with serious consequences. One downside is how easily we compare ourselves to what others post.

At least once a day, unplug yourself from the internet and social media. If you stay consistent with this, you’ll find you want to spend less time on social media and more time doing the things that make you happy.

Work on a Hobby

What are the things you love to do? Maybe it’s reading a book, painting a portrait, or taking photos of items around the house. For me, sitting down and knitting is relaxing and rewarding at the same time.

Hobbies are an excellent self-care idea to include as much as you can. When working on a hobby, consider it your happy place. When you’ve had a stressful day, sit down and unwind with your hobby. Pay attention to how you felt before and how you feel after working on your hobby.

What are some of your favourite self-care tips? The great thing about self-care is that there really isn’t a wrong answer. If it makes you happy and betters your physical and mental health, then keep at it!

Remember, self-care looks different for everyone.