Take Better Care Of Yourself

When someone tells you to ‘take care’ or ‘try to relax’, what do they mean? Well, I guess the simple answer at best could be, ‘I care about you’, or ‘I’m worried about you’. Your nearest and dearest, will pick up on your vibe and if you aren’t doing well, then you know deep down that you probably need to do a bit of self-care.

The golden rule is to carve out some time for yourself, even if it’s only 10 minutes. You simply cannot take care of anyone else in your life, if you do not take care of yourself first. Remember, you need it, you deserve it.

Get Fresh Air and Sunshine

Get out into the daylight or if you’re lucky enough, into the sunlight! If you don’t have an outside space, stick your head out of the window, face the sky and breath. Do some slow breathing, and take note of what you’re doing. Even if you feel a bit daft at first, give it a try, it will help in improving your mood.

Write Positive Affirmations

Write out some positive self-affirmations on sticky notes. It will take some getting used to but keep practicing. Always start the sentence with ‘I’. Say “I am strong”, “I am beautiful”, “I am amazing”, “I can do this”, “I am organised”. It is ok if you feel you don’t fully believe it. The brain will register it as information. Your mind is really powerful and when you fill it with positive thoughts, things begin to change.

Get Stress Relievers

Get a stress ball/reliever, they do help, but try not to throw it at anyone!!

Keep A Journal

Begin a journal, it can be therapeutic for the mind, body and soul. It allows for some self-reflection and is known to relieve stress and anxiety.  If nothing, it can act as a “to do list”, helping you organise your day better and take that extra stress of having to remember everything, off your mind. You will begin to feel better when you feel organised.

Treat Yourself!

Go ahead and paint your nails, have a luxurious soak in the bath, take time to blow dry your hair, have a foot soak, do a face pack, just something that is all about you.

There are a myriad of ways to look after yourself and to help you relax. You just have to be prepared to commit to doing something just for you and nobody else. Even if it feels a bit daft and you’re not sure you deserve it, just do it! Enlist the help of your family, partner, neighbour or friend and get practising.

Yvonne Charalambous

PlayWise is working in partnership with Uplift to bring you a range of free workshops to learn about self-care, stress relief and assertiveness and confidence.  To register your interest, please email info@playwise.org.uk