5 Self Care Pick Me Ups When You're Feeling Down
When life starts to get on top of you, taking time for yourself is absolutely vital to be able to continue giving your best effort. But in a world that screams for our attention every waking second, finding time to do anything can feel impossible.
So I've put together 5 tips to help you not only recharge your batteries, but are time saving and minimal cost. Sounds like a win win win!
5 Self Care Pick Me Ups When You're Feeling Down
1. Get Outside
Ok I know it's miserable right now BUT! As someone who is out in this questionable British weather every day for hours at a time and who has a true and deep loathing for being cold and wet I can tell you it is actually better than you think out there!
The weather is getting warmer, the rain is holding off and the nights are getting lighter. Start going out for a post dinner walk with your families, round up some girlfriends for a weekend walk with coffee or (best of all) find somewhere quiet and take a stroll by yourself.
Numerous studies have shown that spending more time outdoors is good for your health - from getting in more exercise to boosting your immune system and we're lucky in the UK to have endless beautiful outdoor spaces to explore. And you don't even need to be out for long - just a quick 30 minute walk will have you feeling like a new person.
2. Get Creative
Photography, painting, jewellery making, pottery, book binding, sewing, dancing, writing, flower arranging, origami, up-cycling, wreath making, map art, singing, wall hangings, card making, creating sculptures, journalling, candle making...
I could go on forever listing potential creative pursuits. Maybe you have something that you love to do but haven't made time for in a while or maybe you'd like to try something new but have been putting it off. Stop it!
Getting creative protects neuron growth by promoting the production of new neurons, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy central nervous system. On top of that it can relieve stress, improve your mood, boost your confidence and improve your social life. Worth making time for right?
3. Do Something You Love
This ties in nicely with the above discussion on getting creative! Making time for activities you love is critical; depending on the activity it can boost your self esteem, get you fitter and stronger (if it's a physical pursuit obviously), engage your brain in critical thinking and problem solving - all of which are vital for keeping you happy and healthy.
4. Cook Something New
I think cooking is one of the easiest things to get into a rut with. It's easy to cook the same things week in and week out but after a while it just gets boring. And that really can bring you down!
Years ago I set myself a challenge to cook one new recipe a month for a year. It had to be a relatively challenging recipe and as a Uni student it had to be done on the cheap.
A challenge like this could be a really good way to bring some life back into your cooking and get you started with researching recipes ahead of time and creating a shopping list (which is key if you're also trying to lose weight!). You never know, you might discover you have a talent for creating exceptional curries or reinvent your average roast dinners!
5. Take Time For Yourself
It's easy to let work and family obligations take over and you could go weeks without getting a moment of peace.
Giving yourself time to be alone is a perfect way to relax and bring yourself some piece. You could do any of the above activities or have a bath, read a book, go for a coffee - anything. Switch off your phone, focus on one thing at a time and just enjoy your time. I guarantee you'll feel so much better afterwards!
So there you go, my 5 quick and easy self care tips. I'd love to know what you like to do to unwind and look after yourself so please leave me a comment with your ideas!
And if you've enjoyed this post please share it; you never know who else might benefit from it.