Whether you are busy with work, family or other obligations, a busy lifestyle can leave very little room for self-care. When you have a number of pressing responsibilities, self-care can appear to be unimportant. While the effects of self-care might not be immediately felt, it can be invaluable in helping you to maintain mental health, deal with stress and even to boost performance at work.
This guide is here to help anyone with a busy lifestyle learn how they can incorporate more self-care into their regular routine.
1. Reflect On What You Need
Self-care is not all about pampering and bubble baths; self-care can often be less glamorous and more practical. When incorporating more self-care into your lifestyle, you should take some time to consider what it is you really need. Taking the time to work out what type of self-care you would benefit from the most is essential for anyone with a busy lifestyle, as it helps you use the little time you have to gain the most benefit.
2. Set Time Aside
No matter how good your intentions might be, unless you set aside a set period of time for self-care, then you will likely not practice it as much as you intend to. You don’t have to set aside a long period of time, just a 10-minute break in your schedule can be all you need for a bit of self-care. Setting this time aside and making sure you use it for self-care can be hugely effective.
3. Treat Yourself
When you are trying to incorporate more self-care into your busy lifestyle, it can be tempting to try and focus on the most efficient forms of self-care. While this is very useful, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t treat yourself from time to time. You should encourage treating yourself to help you to feel more relaxed and to show yourself some love and appreciation.
4. Stick To a Routine
When it comes to self-care, whether you are meditating, reading or spending time in nature, regular practice is much more effective than long, irregular periods. You should try to be disciplined with yourself and make sure to give yourself the required time every day to practice some form of self-care.
5. Stop Overthinking
When it comes to certain forms of self-care, like meditation or journaling, it can be easy to assume that there is a “right” way of practicing. When it comes to performing self-care, you should try to avoid overthinking. There is no right or wrong way of practicing self-care, as long as you are achieving your personal aims, such as reducing your stress levels, then you are doing well.
6. Make Self-Care a Habit
Studies have found that it takes, on average, two weeks to make something a habit. You should be mindful to practice your scheduled self-care regularly until it comes to a habit. Staying focused on making self-care a habit might take a little bit of discipline in the short term, but it can be hugely effective in the long run, as it will soon become an unconscious part of your daily routine.
