A new year often brings with it new resolutions and new plans to getting things back on track for many people. But while we can often go head first into big plans for the year ahead, one thing we can often forget about is ourselves!
It’s in your power to change your habits and switch your focus so that you’re attending to your needs regularly. Quality me-time and self-care are essential for you to be able to function to the best of your ability and be there for others. Here are six things to consider to help you look after yourself better in 2020.
1. Visit the Doctor & Dentist
You can take better care of yourself by visiting your doctor and dentist more regularly across the year. Get your appointments in the calendar early on, so there are no excuses as to why you can’t attend. These visits are the perfect time to bring up and address any issues that are bothering you or on your mind.
For example, maybe your teeth are giving you discomfort, or you’re embarrassed that they’re not straight. In this case, you might want to look into low cost clear braces options so you can fix the problem and have more self-confidence.
2. Get Enough Sleep
Another way to take better care of yourself includes getting enough rest and sleep. It can be challenging when you’re a busy parent with a full-time job. However, it would help if you got your sleep so that you can perform well at work and have the energy to be there for your kids and spouse at home.
Spend time configuring your bedroom for optimal sleep, such as getting a comfortable mattress and making sure it’s dark enough. Furthermore, come up with a relaxing and soothing bedtime routine that helps to calm your mind instead of stimulating it by playing on your electronics.
3. Learn to Say No
Free up your schedule so that you have more time for you by learning to say no to others. Not only get in the habit of declining requests for your time but do so without feeling any guilt. When you say no more frequently, you’ll find that you can make more room in your schedule for doing activities that bring you joy.
It’s all about knowing your limits and not taking on so much that you become overwhelmed and crabby. You’ll discover it’s not as hard to find time for what you love when you remove yourself from the requests that are draining your energy.
4. Drink More Water
If you want to feel your best each day, then be sure to drink more water. Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day as a reminder to stay hydrated. It’s good for your skin and is a natural way to feel more energy.
Try your best to limit your intake of sugary drinks and alcohol and focus on consuming more water to help you live a healthy lifestyle. It’s also an excellent way to curb hunger and cravings that you feel during the day. It could be that you’re actually thirsty and dehydrated instead of hungry.
5. Exercise & Eat Right
Take better care of yourself by making it a point to exercise daily and eat right. Breaking a sweat is a beneficial way to reduce and manage your stress and drop unwanted pounds. Find workouts that you believe are fun and entertaining, so you’re likely to do them more often.
You might also want to pinpoint a workout buddy so that you two can help each other stay on track with your exercise goals. Furthermore, get in the habit of cooking for yourself more at home so that you know how many calories you’re eating and have control over the ingredients.
One thing we find works well is regular days out as a family and making time to fit in some walks. Not only is this a good way to keep active, it’s also a good way to clear your mind and look after your mental health as well.
6. Look After Your Mental Health
On the topic of mental health, taking time to attend to your mental health is extremely vital when you’re looking for ways to take better care of yourself. Too much stress and anxiety can be detrimental to your well-being and cause you additional health problems.
Focus on improving and nurturing your mental health by learning how to meditate or practicing yoga. Give yourself breaks away from your responsibilities and work so that you can clear your mind and regroup.
It may also help you to keep a journal and write down your worries and what you’re grateful for as a way to get these emotions and thoughts out in the open. Be kind to yourself, and try hard to keep a positive attitude so you can maintain good mental health.
If you are struggling, use https://emdrhealing.com/betterhelp-promo-code/ to access therapists to talk about the things that are bothering you.
It can also be good to break away from electronic devices like mobile phones and tablets, and taking some time away from social media. Although, these devices can be useful with lots of useful mindfulness apps and games to help stimulate you in the right way.
And a bonus…
Also, take the time to self-preserve. Taking breaks from mobile devices will benefit you, but take the opportunity to continue your development in other ways, through self-education and discovery. Reading a few pages before bed isn’t just a great way to unwind, but as this is the last information that will hit your mind before you sleep, your subconscious will process it better.
If you ever want to learn something new, they say you should do it before you sleep. Take the time to learn new things, and get yourself in the right frame of mind and comfortable space to learn. Even if you need a new pair of glasses to get you started, sites like https://www.eyeglasses.com can provide a wide variety of reading glasses. Part of looking after your mental health is about regaining control, and there is no better way to do this than to self-educate.
Got Something to Add?
What do you do to look after yourself? Share your tips in the comments section below.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Helen, Nial and Lewis.
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
