Various studies show that
many of us suffer from stress
and anxiety, and more so
during difficult times. Taking
care of ourselves should be
our number one priority,
but somehow it often gets
relegated further down our
personal priority lists.
Here is how to build a self-care
strategy that focuses on your
mental and physical well-being,
and also fits into the busiest
schedules.
1. Choose rituals and practices
that are realistic for you. It’s all very well choosing the
most stress-relieving practice
there is, but if you can’t see
yourself doing it, it won’t be
something you keep up with.
Before committing to any selfcare activity, think about how
realistic it is and if you would
actually enjoy it and DO it. Plan
from there.
2. Plan out self-care. It is easier to stick to a self-care plan if you
block out time in your schedule
for a self-care or de-stressing
activity. You don’t need 90
minutes for a yoga class; try
starting small first. Block out20 minutes to stretch at lunch
time, or 15 minutes to practice
a meditation first thing in the
morning before work.
3. Be organized. While you can and should be flexible with
your schedule as things change
throughout your week, being
organized about self-care can
help you stay on track. Practice
doing a certain activity on a
certain day, or at a certain time
during your day. Repeating that
each week will encourage the
practice to become a habit.
4. Prioritize sleep. This self-care
activity is a no-brainer, but it
is often the one most underutilized. Adults need 7–9 hours of
sleep per night. Prioritizing sleep
will help manage stress levels
and can even help you maintain a
healthier weight.
5. Aim to exercise. Exercise
improves sleep, reduces stress
levels, and helps to keep you
on track with your health goals.
Experts advise getting around
150 minutes of exercise a week,
which may feel like a lot, but it’s
only around 20 minutes per day!
Start with a walk around the
block before bedtime and see
how your sleep improves.
