Self Care 101: Top 10 Tips for the Self Care in the New Year!

We all need to take care of ourselves. And for some of us it is harder to take true care of ourselves than others. For some self care makes us feel selfish, or self-centered, when really it’s an essential part of taking proper care of ourselves.

In this day and age, Self Care is preached over, but rarely is it actually one. So in this new year lets all take better care of ourselves. Set a self care guideline and stick to it!

Here’s some tips and tricks to provide yourselves with better SELF CARE IN THE NEW YEAR.

#1 STAY HYDRATED!

One of the most important aspects of health is hydration. We take water and hydration for granted all the time. Drinking diuretics like coffee, tea, and energy drinks to make it through any of our busy schedules. But what we really need to focus on is our water intake!

According to the Mayo Clinic, as a woman I should be drinking 2.7L per day on average. Where as a man should drink 3.7L. I have come across many individuals that hate water and struggle at getting their daily water intake in. I struggle at getting my daily water intake in… So we can all work on this together.

#2 GET SLEEP!

While the amount of sleep each individual requires is different, we should all strive for a restful night sleep. The basic recommendation is for a full 8 hours of sleep. For those of us with super busy schedules that might mean going straight to bed when you get home. I definitely need a bit of time to wind down and get ready for sleep… but I try to get as much sleep as possible.

Setting the same time for bed each night is a great way to form a habit and stick to sleeping a full nights sleep.

#3 CLEAN EATS!

Part of taking care of yourself, your body, mind and spirit is putting in the right nutrients. Sorry folks, your fast food eats aren’t going to cut it for this one! The grease, fats, and sugars are really not designed to give you anything more that indigestion.

For some clean eating comes natural. For others its a struggle bus. When I started meal prepping I struggled. A lot. In time I’ve learned how to make meal prepping easier, quicker, and more satisfying.

May recommendations for you is to plan 1-2 meals for the week. Once you’ve cook them, or otherwise prepared them, then I typically weigh out each of the food groups with my scale to ensure proper portions. This may seem tedious, however it’s actually pretty easy. Plus if you separate your meals into the containers when you make it then you are much more likely to stick to your prep.

*On a side note: A friend of mine recommended that I freeze my meal prep to allow the food to last longer, and nix the soggy texture at the end of the week. I have to say it’s much better! PLUS if I don’t want to eat the meals I prepped, I just keep them in the freezer for next time!

#4 GET SOME FRESH AIR!

One of the things that helps me the most is to get outside and breathe in fresh air. If you’re always inside then you forget to take advantage of the sunshine, open air breezes, and stretching your legs.

Even if the break is only for a few minutes then still do it! Self Care is SO IMPORTANT.

#5 EXERCISE

Exercise is a great way to not only get in shape, but also to boost your mood. It’s no secret that exercise releases endorphins in our body that play a vital role in our mood. I personally love the endorphin release I get from working out. But it can take a bit to truly feel them. For me it’s about 2 miles in.

Even if you don’t get to the endorphin release; working out, going for a walk, or taking a class is a great way to take care of not only your body, but mind and soul alike.

#6 MEDITATION

Meditation is meant to calm the mind, body and soul. With proper meditation one can silence the mind in order to calm it. There are several apps that can help one get started on meditation. I for one like Relax Meditation. However, I’ve also used headspace, and calm. I personally like the white noise aspect of Relax Meditation. I often use it to help me sleep on nights when sleep is hard to come by.

#7 STAY (Or GET) ORGANIZED

Organization is really a great way to stay focused, stay on track, and keep at it.There are plenty of ways to get organized. Check out the plentiful apps on iTunes if you’re interested in using apple products to get organized. There’s also journals, and paper based planners to help keep track for those that prefer to be unplugged while they track their lives.

#8 GET SOCIAL

One of the most important things to remember is to also get outside of your own headspace and get out with friends. This past weekend I took the time to spend it with my dog, and my friends. We made it a night out in Boston to enjoy the birthday festivities. For you, try trivia night, game night, wine night, or movie night. Stay in with friends, or go out for a much needed night on the town. Whatever you do make sure to take your friend(s) with you! Self Care is easier to do when you have others working towards it with you…

#9 STAY IN

Just as it’s important to be social, it’s also important to take care of yourself in other ways. Sometimes what the soul needs is a night to yourself, with a glass of wine, and either a good book or a movie. Maybe it’s even a nap in the afternoon. Whatever speaks to your soul make sure you do it and take care!

#10 RELAXATION

Don’t forget to RELAX. The world moves at an ungodly pace these days. Take a moment to enjoy life before you passes you by…