Quick Self-Care for the Working Woman
By: Lauren Marsicano
Insta: @networkingmaverick
Quick Self-Care for the Working Woman
Let’s be honest, Queen. It is hard to do self-care. We work at work, we work at home, and that might make setting time aside for self-care seem like work too. But no worries, Queen, I got you. I have scoured the internet to find you the top 11 ways to make self-care a daily, quick, and easy thing so you can treat yourself like the royalty you truly are.
1. Take a quiet moment.
Whether that means waking up early to sip some tea and write in your journal. Or yoga. Or meditation. Or setting an intention for your day. Take some time to enjoy a moment and reconnect with yourself.
2. Write down 5 things you’re grateful for.
Queen, be grateful for your life, love, and sanity. Whatever it is you’re grateful for, write it down, and take a moment to contemplate all the things in your life that you love and are thankful for. It can change your entire mood, so you go out into the world a much better version of yourself. Find or buy yourself a pretty journal, and start writing about all the awesome things in your life you are grateful for.
3. Hydrate.
Did you know that water can help keep your skin glowy? And it helps eliminate toxins that cause muscle pain and fatigue? Staying hydrated has many health benefits, and plays a big role in keeping you healthy. So buy yourself a nice water bottle, and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
4. Try something new.
Our mind is one of our most precious assets, and like any other muscle, it needs to work out. Your mind loves it when you try something new. Take a new route to work. Learn a new language. Study something you’ve always wanted to learn. Do crossword puzzles. However you train your brain, take some time each day to give it that exercise it needs to stay healthy.
5. Move your body.
Exercise helps keep your body healthy, and your brain too! A study found that a regular exercise routine helped elderly patients with dementia perform better in cognitive tests. Do you like to dance? Are you more of a runner? Or would you rather take a nice brisk walk? Whatever form of exercise you enjoy, do it for 30 minutes a day to keep your body and mind in tip-top shape.
6. Get some shut-eye.
Lack of sleep can cause some very real health issues, including mood disturbance, cognitive impairment, high blood pressure, increased risk of diabetes, and weight gain. So, give yourself those 8 to 10 hours you need to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
7. Breathe.
You can look up a guided meditation video on YouTube that focuses on your breathing, or you can sit in your office chair with your eyes closed focusing on your breathing. It has a phenomenal way of decreasing anxiety, and improving mood. So whenever you can, take a moment to disconnect and just breathe.
8. Shut down that negative self-talk.
We might not even notice that how we speak to ourselves is actually causing us to feel bad about ourselves. Learning to identify and shut down that little voice in our head that puts us down can do wonders for our mental health. Click here to read an article about how to identify negative self-talk, and how to tell it to hush up! Or do some self-care by taking time to see a therapist who can help you identify that negative self-talk and show you how to best deal with it.
9. Slow down.
Ever heard the old cliche, “Stop and smell the roses”? Well, believe it or not, it actually does help you enjoy things more. Practicing mindfulness entails slowing everything down to truly be in the moment and take everything in. Like taking a bite of a soda cracker, for example. Close your eyes and identify the different tastes. The sensation of it in your mouth. How does it smell? Slowing down, and being in the moment helps you enjoy the simplest things (like eating a cracker) so much more.
10. Spend time with family.
Sitting and watching a movie with them is great. But talking to them about how their day went, what they want to accomplish, or what their interests are, is what spending quality time with them really looks like. If those types of conversations don’t come easy, set up a routine where you eat dinner together and you each take turns talking about one win and one loss for the day, or play a board game that helps you get to know one another better. This kind of quality time is what will really create strong family bonds.
11. Socialize.
Call a friend you’ve been meaning to talk to for a while. Set up a virtual happy hour with a friend or group of friends. Attend networking events to meet new people. Check up on your aunt who you haven’t spoken to in a while. Because spending time with family and friends can help you recharge and take on anything life throws at you.
Alright Queen, now that you have some ways to quickly and easily fit some self-care into your day, you can use them to stay happy and healthy.