We all need ways to destress during the week. Stress impacts the majority of us either because of work, family issues, finances or even just the news. Having a routine to help you relax, is one of the foundational steps to living a better lifestyle. However, this routine needs to be easy to implement and not accidentally add more stress into your life.
Try to keep your self-care routine simple. Incorporate only 3 - 5 steps in your self-care routine and prioritise the things that work best for you.
To create a stress-free self-care routine for relaxation, consider incorporating the following activities:
Meditation: Start the day with a short meditation session to calm the mind and set a positive tone for the day.
Yoga: Practice gentle yoga poses to stretch the body, release tension, and promote relaxation.
Aromatherapy: Use essential oils like lavender or chamomile in a diffuser or during a relaxing bath to create a soothing atmosphere.
Reading: Set aside time to read a book or magazine that you enjoy, allowing your mind to escape and unwind.
Nature Walk: Spend time outdoors in nature, whether it's a walk in the park or simply sitting in your backyard to connect with the natural world.
Journaling: Write down your thoughts, feelings, or things you are grateful for to help process emotions and gain perspective.
Digital Detox: Take a break from screens and technology to reduce mental clutter and focus on being present in the moment.
Self-Massage: Treat yourself to a gentle self-massage using oils or lotions to relax muscles and promote a sense of well-being. You can use certain tools like a foot bath massager, or a massage gun as well as using certain reflexology points on your feet or hands to help promote relaxation.
Breathing Exercises: Practice deep breathing exercises to calm the nervous system and reduce stress levels.
Listening to Music: Create a calming playlist or listen to nature sounds to help you unwind and relax.
These suggestions can either be incorporatedinto a daily or weekly routine to help promote relaxation and reduce stress levels. As we do with other tasks in our life, we can give them a different level of importance. For example, every day you prepare meals to eat but once a week, you would do the food shopping. The same can be said for self-care. You can have a simple daily routine of one or two steps but have one day a week where you dedicate a few hours.
My ideal self-care routine:
Every morning, spend a few minutes stretching.
In the evening, spend some time writing down my to-do list for the following day, do a scalp massage and then a relaxing skincare routine before bed.
In the week, take time out for reading a book, going for a longer walk outiside, playing an instrument, having a pamper session (either paid for like a facial, or at home by doing a face mask, bubble bath, etc.)
Be free to try and test different things and be honest with yourself about what works. There are numerous things you can do that class as self-care and those things can change. Some days you may need to completely switch off from the outside world and other days, you may find socialising is the exact form of self-care you need.
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