Making Self-Care a Priority

Practicing self-care is not always an easy task when we have everything else going on in the world and our daily lives. Between school, work, and every other thing we must do in a day, it’s easy to look past taking care of ourselves. 

You should never feel guilty when you do choose to take time for yourself. A large part of self-care is learning how to say no. The ability to say no when someone asks something of you is not rude or selfish, it is showing you have boundaries and self-confidence. If you are a natural people pleaser, you know this feeling is hard and you often say yes to things even if you’re not interested. If you are burning yourself out by saying yes to everything that comes your way, throw in a few “no thank you’s”  to stand up and be confident with yourself and the ability to choose how you want to spend your time. Saying no is a big step for self-care and refreshing self-confidence if you are a known people pleaser. Take a seat, get comfy and relax before you feel those burnout effects. Here are a few more simple self-care tips to start focusing on YOU.

1. Make Sleep #1
   1. You don’t realize how tired you were until you go to bed and wake up the next morning sleeping much longer than you anticipated and finally feeling rested. The amount and quality of sleep you get will affect you physically and emotionally. Try to reduce your stress level especially before you go to sleep, make your bedroom a relaxing sanctuary to sleep in, and maybe even get some room darkening curtains to keep the sun out in the mornings. 
2. Nutrition
   1. Keeping your stomach and gut healthy impacts your well-being and emotions. Keeping up with your gut health while practicing self-care will positively affect your mood and motivation and will make you overall healthy in the end.
3. Exercise Daily
   1. Daily exercise can help you physically and mentally, reduce anxiety & stress, boost your mood, all while losing weight. Make a routine that works for you and finding at least 30-60 min in your hectic day to go to the gym, take a walk, hike, or play tennis or basketball with friends!
4. Get Outside!
   1. It is still beautiful weather here in Wisconsin and as it colder we can all admit it’s harder to want to get outside. Spending time outdoors can help reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. While it’s still warm out, do some physical activity outside to help your sleep, and reduce symptoms of depression and burnout. 
5.  Make Organization Your First Step
   1. Start by organizing what you want and what you need to do to take better care of yourself. Make small changes like a wall calendar or planner that can help you organize what you need to do in a day as well as other responsibilities and appointments. 

Remember to take care of yourself first because you deserve it and you owe it to your health and wellness!

Strive for progress not perfection!

Kayla Withrow