I’m sharing some of my favorite self care ideas in today’s post.
If you’re feeling as stressed and anxious as I am these days, you’ll know how important self care is. With so much unknown and how much things have changed, it’s so important for me to be kind to myself. I find that it’s a lot easier to have compassion for other people than it is to show that same compassion to myself. That’s where self care comes in.
Taking the time to do something good for myself always makes me feel better. In today’s post I’m sharing some self care ideas that work for me. Hopefully you’ll find something that can work for you too. Let me know in the comments below how you practice self care.
Workout
You know that this had to be one of my self care ideas, right? Workouts always make me feel better, whether that’s taking a Group Power class at the gym (I’m really missing them right now, BTW) or a walk in my favorite park by the river. There’s something about working out and knowing that I’m doing something good for my body as well as some stress relief that makes me feel better afterwards.
What works for someone else may not work for you. Make sure you find the workout that’s right for you. I don’t think I’ll ever be a runner, but take me to a strength training group fitness class and I’m in my element. It’s okay if it takes some time to find the right fit. It’ll be so worth it when you find the physical activity that feels the best for you.
Read
Being a big reader, I can’t say enough about how much reading relaxes me and gives me a break from my everyday life. There’s something so magical for me to be able to sit down with a book and be transported off to a time, place, or life that’s so different from mine. Whether it’s getting lost in a historical fiction novel or reading about someone who has a life completely different from mine, I really enjoy getting to experience something different.
If you’re interested in the books that I’ve enjoyed lately, you can find my favorite books on my books page. Lately I’ve really been enjoying books by Tatiana de Rosnay and Elin Hilderbrand.
I know it can be tough to get out to a bookstore right now (they’re not even open right now where I live), but there are other options. Check to see if your library has ebooks. I’ve been using Libby for years now and absolutely love it. I can borrow all the ebooks I want with my library card. If you have a Prime membership you can also read some Kindle books Prime Reading. I’ve also used Scribd (which is paid) to read ebooks and I’ve really liked it as well.
Yoga
I’ve found yoga to be another thing that I enjoyed a lot before social distancing and now has become even more important to me. I think just about everyone is feeling extra stressed out, worried, and anxious right now. Yoga has been a huge stress reliever for me. It’s tough for me to be present and in the moment when there’s so much unknown in the world. It’s hard to know what things will look like in a few weeks let alone in a few months. Yoga is one of those things that forces me to slow down, be present, breathe, and just be.
Lots of my local yoga studios are offering virtual options. If you’re able to, I’m sure that they would really appreciate your support right now. I’ve done some classes with a few of my favorite teachers. It’s so nice to be able to practice with them. So much from the sound of their voice to their cheesy jokes are so reassuring right now. A little piece of “normal” in this strange and uncertain time.
There are also lots and lots of online yoga options, including on YouTube and various yoga streaming sites. There’s so much variety that you can find exactly what you’re looking for, whether that’s a fast paced sweaty vinyasa class, a mindful yin class, or even a yoga nidra class with lots of props.
Make a favorite meal
If you’re able to get the ingredients to make your favorite meal, I highly recommend you do it. So much is different right now compared to “normal”. Anytime I can get some normalcy back into my days it feels good. That includes in the kitchen with what I’m eating.
A few of my favorite things to eat are reuben sandwiches, pasta and meatballs, and curry. Making those meals and eating them feels so good right now. I feel like there’s so much that’s out of my control. Being able to decide what I eat right now is comforting. Even more so when it’s something that I love.
Meditate
Lately I’ve been listening to meditations on Insight Timer when I fall asleep at night. Nighttime is when I tend to struggle with anxiety the most. It’s tough to fall asleep when all I can think about is what I’m worried about. That’s where meditation comes in.
If I put on a meditation then I’m able to focus on something that’s relaxing and holds my attention. At the same time it’s not interesting to keep myself awake like a podcast. It’s a find line between being a distraction but not too exciting.
If you’re looking for some more detailed information on meditation, I’ve written a few posts about it that you can find here, here, and here.
How do you take care of yourself? Leave some of your self care ideas in the comments below.