These days, people are more stressed than ever.
With cell phones, email, and social media you’re always connected to work. Gone are the days when going home for the night meant leaving work behind.
That’s why you must consciously give yourself permission to relax and practice self care. It’s easy to get lost in your work. But, eventually, it will catch up with you.
Not making time for yourself will affect your health and relationships. Even giving yourself 20 minutes of peace a day will make big changes in your life.
You’re busy 24/7, but you still need to be prioritizing your own emotional health. Click here for the top self care ideas for network marketers.
What is Self Care?
Self care is a term coined by health professionals. It describes the act of taking the time to maintain or regain your mental and physical health.
What are acts of self care? That’s a rather broad concept. Practically anything you do for yourself could be considered self care.
These acts can be both large and small. Self care is doing anything that’s good for your emotional or physical health.
Some days, what’s good for your physical health is to go to the gym. Other times, allowing yourself to have a cupcake is what’s good for your emotional wellbeing.
How can you tell the difference between the two? It’s all about making conscious decisions and being in touch with your needs.
Not sold on the concept of self care yet? Lots of people are resistant to it. Some find it unproductive or selfish, but you’ll find that’s not the case.
Is Self Care Selfish?
No!
Sometimes the least selfish thing you can do is to take care of yourself. As you hear on an airplane, put the oxygen mask on yourself before you help put one on someone else.
If you run out of air, then you can’t be of service to the people who need you.
That’s true if you have clients, kids, or spouses to take care of. The people who rely on you want you to be happy and healthy.
When you’re in good health, that’s when you can be the most productive for your clients. At home, a happy parent raises happy children.
If you’re having trouble allowing yourself relaxation and personal time, ask yourself why. Do you not feel you deserve it?
Remember, just taking out 20 minutes a day for yourself is beneficial. It’s hard to rationalize that you can’t allow yourself a measly 20 minutes.
There are lots of self care ideas you can try right away. Take the leap this week by scheduling a daily appointment with yourself.
Develop Your Daily Schedule with Intention
A small act of self care that makes a big impact? Be conscious and careful when scheduling your time.
Remember that you don’t have to say yes to every meeting and opportunity. You can only accomplish so much in a day. You also don’t have to accomplish the absolute maximum every day.
Sure, you can take back to back appointments all day and eat lunch at your desk. But, do you really need to? Chances are that you could schedule those meetings over the course of a few days with no repercussions.
That’s not to say that you can’t have busy days. You just need to remember when you are needlessly putting extra stress on yourself.
When making your next schedule, see where you can pencil in a little self care. Not seeing any free time? Go over your to-do list and see where you can delegate a task or two so you can make time.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
It’s time to do away with the idea that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.
Do you have a leadership role in your marketing company? Ask yourself why you don’t feel comfortable delegating certain tasks.
The answer is either you’re too controlling or you don’t have competent help. Be honest about which is true. Either way, you can fix the problem!
An act of self care is to let go of your tight grasp on the reins by letting someone help you. Even taking one item off your plate can take a huge load off your shoulders. Suddenly, you’ll feel like you can finally breathe!
Learn to Breathe
Wait, breathing is self care? You do that all the time without even thinking about it!
Exactly.
Start breathing with intention to help yourself relax.
Of all of these self care ideas, breathing is the easiest to implement. When you’re feeling stressed and anxious, stop. Take a 10 long, slow deep breathes.
Even better, try getting into meditation!
Meditation might sound intimidating or boring. But, like exercise, meditation gets easier with time. Start by just sitting in stillness for 5 minutes a day. Soon, you’ll be able to meditate for 20 minutes with no problem.
Get Sleep
You can try some self care ideas in your sleep!
Good sleep will do wonders for your mental and physical health. Instead of staying up an extra hour to catch up on your TV, go to bed.
Get in a solid 8 hours of sleep. You’ll be amazed at how productive you can be after a good night’s sleep.
Over time, you might notice your mood and body changing for the better. Bad sleep patterns are tied to weight gain, heart attacks, depression and more.
Remember, the show will still be on your DVR this weekend. Schedule in TV and other hobbies for times when they don’t interfere with bedtime.
Enjoy Hobbies Outside of Work
It’s great to try self care ideas that remind you of the things you love outside of work. No matter how much you love your job, hobbies can enrich your life in other ways.
Don’t be afraid to carve out some designated time to enjoy your other interests.
Have you been working so hard for so long that you don’t have any hobbies?
Find some! What were your favorite things to do as a kid? Did you love playing softball?
You could start a company team!
Was art class your favorite subject in school? Invest in an easel and paints. At the very least buy an adult coloring book and box of crayons.
When you’re done with your picture, you can hang it above your desk.
Don’t Neglect the Appearance of Your Space
Try implementing some self care ideas that involve creating spaces that inspire you.
When you’re busy with work it’s easy to neglect the appearance of your office or home.
Maybe you let the whole house get messy. Your car is filled with empty water bottles. Your cubicle has no pictures or personal touches.
Take the time to remedy these situations. When your space looks good, you’ll feel good. The same goes for your personal appearance.
Your Outer Beauty Will Influence Inner Beauty
Of course, outer beauty isn’t what matters. But, taking care of your appearance is still good for your soul.
You know how you feel after you get a haircut. You’re more confident, there’s an extra skip in your step.
It’s not about impressing anyone else, it’s about looking in the mirror and feeling good for you.
Some self care ideas are to buy yourself a new shirt to wear to a big meeting. Find the time to get that haircut instead of putting it off for six months. Eat healthy and exercise instead of stress eating and gaining weight.
Let the inner you reflect the outer you. You deserve to take care of your appearance, it doesn’t have to be a reward.
Reward Yourself
Though maintaining your appearance shouldn’t be a reward, you can reward yourself in other ways.
After closing a deal or finishing a project, don’t be afraid to treat yourself.
Some reward-based self care ideas could be buying that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing. Get a massage after a stressful week.
Saving money is great. But, when the timing is right, don’t be afraid to splurge on something.
Remember, if you’re going to do it, do it without guilt!
The same goes for if you’ve been eating healthy all week. If you really want it, let yourself have a slice of pizza. Enjoy it and then forget about it!
Try Out One of These Self Care Ideas Today
Self care is all about being gentle with yourself. Remember that you deserve to be happy and in good health. Using these self care ideas and making them a priority in your life is never selfish.
When you show up for yourself, you’ll be able to show up for your clients, friends, and family.
Are you interested in learning more about how to be a productive marketing professional? Check out our blog for more tips, tricks, and strategies.