Listen, if there’s something I need now more than ever, it’s healthy habits.
Not to say I don’t have any! I eat pretty well, I aim to drink my water, and I take the stairs in my apartment every once in a while.
But I think where I personally get stuck with developing more healthy habits comes from the notion that healthy habits are just extra WORK. It can certainly feel that way.
However, there are healthy habits that ALSO count as self-care, meaning they’re not only good for you, but they can help you recharge.
Here are some that I think are pretty dope.
Set boundaries with your technology
I work remotely as a writer, meaning that by the time I “clock in” at 9 a.m., I am fully connected to everyone and everything online. Gmail, chats, video calls, social media, maybe I have YouTube playing in the background – I am FULLY CONNECTED all day.
Then, when the end of the day comes, it’s time to log off… right? Or, maybe I’ll just answer one more email. Or maybe I’ll just answer a question about a task I got last minute. Or maybe I’ll cue up my next project…
Nothing wrong with being committed to your work or loving social media for that matter. But it begins to get mentally exhausting being connected all the time.
When I’m done work, I try to make a conscious effort to stop checking emails. I log out, put my phone down, and begin unwinding. I putter around the apartment, I begin prepping dinner, maybe have a snack – I just make sure I’m not stuck in cyberspace.
Moving your body
I don’t have the energy to exercise every day. There, I said it. Crucify me. However, what I try to avoid even more is just being STAGNANT.
Like I said – I work from home. I sit, a lot. When the day is over, despite my lack of movement, I find myself mentally drained once work, housework and dinner are done.
I don’t always have the motivation to do an intense HIIT workout, I admit. However, exercise is important, so I get it where I can.
As I said, I might take the stairs if I run an errand, pop in my Air Pods and walk around the apartment, or take the time to stretch my muscles. It makes it easy to keep things consistent without feeling the pressure to do more than what I can feel on each given day. What’s great, is that consistency can inspire you to do more!
Want to know how else you can keep up with self-care? Check out this self care list. That’s right, if you don’t know where to start on your self-care journey, Flowjo’s Self-Care Bucket List has 100 ways you can put yourself first.
Sleeping MORE!
Prioritizing sleep is extremely beneficial to your mental and physical health. If you don’t sleep enough, you can get genuinely sick, and without adequate sleep, you’re not going to have the energy to be as productive in your daily life. Making a conscious effort to sleep more is a great way to take better care of yourself. To help promote better sleep, you can:
- Limit caffeine
- Make your sleep space comfortable
- Exercise early
- Take naps early or don’t nap at all
- Don’t eat too heavily too late at night
I hope you found these tips helpful friends, I enjoyed sharing them with you, so I hope you enjoyed it.
With peace and love,
Jackie
