Self-care has been a buzz word lately, especially during Covid19 many of us have found ourselves working from home, and somehow we are putting in more hours these days than ever before. Our daily commute is now a few steps away from our bedroom. Our make-shift office consists of anything from the sofa to the kitchen table or our balconies. Many of us don’t require changing from our pyjamas until the afternoon unless a Zoom meeting is needed, and at that point, we are business from the waist up. 
Some of us are more productive, while others are feeling the squeeze of working and living in the same space with no end in sight. When we leave our homes, it’s not only about remembering our keys and wallets. Now we need to make sure we have a mask to wear is all public places, which in of itself can be stressful. 
I say all of this because, in everything you have read to this point, there hasn’t been a moment where we stop and take care of us. It’s just too much!

“Doing your best does not mean working yourself to the point of burnout.”
 – Unknown

How can we make Self-Care an essential staple in our daily lives? Well, it looks different for everyone, and for many of us, it’s the last item on the list of things to do, when for the sake of our mental health, it should come first. 
I am a man who doesn’t often think about self-care, and the fact that I don’t think about it means I don’t do it, so trust when I say I am writing this for myself as much as I am writing it to help others. Here are a few ways we can take care of us, Mind, Body and Soul!

  1. Go on a social media diet, limit your screen time
  2. Make sleep a priority
  3. Practice Mindful Meditation
  4. Get moving (walk, dance, yoga, run)
  5. Read a book
  6. Invest in a weighted blanket (it will change the way you sleep)
  7. Practice positive thinking
  8. Less Caffeine more H20
  9. Visit a new city – Raod trip anyone?
  10. Hang out with Friends

Let’s take the time to care for ourselves as much as we care for others. Lets put our mental health at the forefront and understand that Self-care is necessary for everyone and isn’t’ just about our bodies; but also our minds.

“Self-Care means giving yourself permission to pause.” 
– Cecilia Tran