Work, family, food and sleep can feel like the only things we have time for in our daily lives. At a go-go-go pace, it’s hard to leave time for self-care. If you’re short on time, these easy self-care strategies will leave you feeling balanced and relaxed.
Self care extends beyond simply making time to do something for yourself. Each of us has physical, psychological and emotional needs, few of which are being met when we’re constantly busy. Consider which needs hold the highest priority and choose an activity like these to satisfy them:
- Physical - Practice yoga to support your physical fitness, enjoy a healthy snack
- Psychological - Read a chapter or two of your new favorite book, write in a journal to declutter your mind.
- Emotional - Chat with a friend to promote emotional connection, spend time in prayer if you’re religious.
“You-time” is meant to be personally fulfilling, so be mindful to take time to do things that are important to you. After all, you could clean the kitchen any day.
Have a demanding job or busy family life? Schedule time to unwind if you have to.. If you need more “you time,” pencil in time to indulge in a massage or get your hair done. To make self care part of your routine, schedule these breaks on the same days and times so the people around you learn to understand your needs.
Seize the opportunity to reclaim time during each day. A 10-minute gap before a client call or before the school bus returns in the afternoon might be your opportunity on some days. While it’s not ideal, you should make an effort to grab hold of any free time available and use it wisely. Brief self-care activities meet a variety of needs and make it easier to recharge:
- Meditate for a few minutes
- Go for a walk
- Have a cup of tea or coffee
It’s tempting to look at small gaps in your schedule and say, “That’s not enough time!” But you’d be surprised what just a few minutes of downtime can do for your mindset.
It’s hard to put your foot down when someone wants something from you, especially because you don’t want to disappoint anyone. Finding balance is essential to your mental wellness, however. Practice saying, ‘No,’ when you’re overwhelmed, so long as doing so does not mean outright shirking your duties. Setting boundaries give you a little wiggle room to enjoy life, and doing so may earn you some respect.
You don’t have to take an entire afternoon off to take care of yourself. In as little as 25 minutes (for a back massage), our skilled technicians will melt your worries away. Can you put aside a longer period of time for self-care activities? Try a spa pedicure or relaxing facial. At Sewickley Spa, there’s no shortage of easy self-care strategies for when you're short on time. Call today or
book online.