7 Satisfying Self-Care Activities to Try Today

By Susan Dickson

7 Satisfying Self-Care Activities to Try Today thegearhunt.com

Do you take care of yourself the way you should? We live in a society that pretty much teaches us that self-care and prioritizing ourselves over others and our obligations, whether they are social obligations, work obligations, or family obligations. Whether it’s your physical or your mental well-being, taking care of yourself should be a top priority, or let’s face it, you’re not going to be able to take care of your other obligations at all. That’s why it’s so important to participate in some type of self-care activities every day or at least every couple of days.

There are also quite a few signs out there that you aren’t taking care of yourself the way that you should. Remember, living a healthy life isn’t just about what you cook and put on your plate or how much time you spend at the gym. It’s about how well you take care of yourself also. While we’re often glorified for working 80 hours a week, being able to keep up with a hectic social life, and take care of a family and a home, all on only three hours a sleep a day, what is there really to be proud of in that fact? You have a niggling headache all of the time and can’t sit down somewhere without nodding off.

Are you one of these people? Probably. While you should be commended for being a super mom/dad, employee, and wife/husband, in the end, all you’re doing is hurting yourself mentally and physically. That’s why it’s so important to take care of yourself because it’s the only way you can truly do and take care of the important things in your life.

In this blog, we will delve into some of the top signs that you aren’t taking good enough care of yourself and then delve into a few self-care activities that you can try today. Choose the ones that work for you and trash the rest, but do choose a few, because your mental and physical health depends on it. So, grab a chair, put up your feet, sip your coffee and let’s get started, shall we?

Signs that You Aren’t Taking Care of Yourself Properly

If you’re bad about putting yourself at the bottom of your priority list, especially if that list is long and never-ending, then it’s very possible that you need to be looking for the signs and symptoms on this list. Follow us into this section on the signs that you aren’t taking care of yourself the way you should.

You’re Constantly Getting Sick

If you’re prone to catch every cold, flu, and virus that circulates through your office or your kid’s playgroups, then it’s highly possible that you aren’t taking care of yourself the way you should. This is often because you’re not getting enough rest, which means your immune system is low and you’re the perfect prey for every germ out there to pounce upon. On top of that, a low immune system doesn’t just mean you’ll catch every bug out there, it also means that you’ll have a harder time fighting the illness off and it will take you longer to get better as well.

You’re Constantly Tired

If you are constantly on the go, day and night, aren’t getting a full seven or eight hours of sleep a night or you’re suffering from insomnia, then it’s no wonder you’re always tired. It’s important to note that not getting enough sleep affects your body and your mental state. It can also lead to you being forgetful, having heart problems, being depressed, and even your judgment is impaired. Getting enough sleep should be the number one thing on your list of self-care items. It not only helps you but the ones you love as well because sleepy people are grouchy people, didn’t you know?

You Never Really Feel Great, Even When You Aren’t Sick

If you don’t have a fever or a virus or a cold, but still constantly have a headache, stomachache, joint pain, or some other type of discomfort, then you aren’t taking care of yourself the way that you should. It’s important to note that stress and anxiety can batter your body’s defenses and make you feel horrible even when you aren’t sick.

You Haven’t Been to the Doctor in You can’t Remember How Long

If you can’t even begin to remember when the last time was you went to the doctor, then it’s no wonder you feel bad and that’s a clear indication that self-care isn’t your strong suit. When life gets hectic, it’s easy to put off those appointments for ourselves and the next thing you know it’s been years since you’ve darkened your dentist’s door.

You’re Irritable, Anxious, and On Edge

If you’re constantly feeling on edge, anxious, and irritable with everyone around you, then it’s way past time for you to take some time to pamper yourself. After all, you’re not much good to the people around you, if you hate being around them. Of course, it’s only human to feel anxious, irritable and on edge at times, but when you find yourself feeling that way day in and day out, it’s time to step back and reevaluate your own needs.

You Don’t Ever Put Yourself First

It goes without saying that being a good partner, mother, employee, and friend takes sacrifices on your part. However, if you never, ever put yourself first, then you have a self-care problem. There is nothing wrong with telling someone that you’re putting yourself first for a day. As a matter of fact, it will make you a better friend and family member in the long run.

Coffee is Your Lifeline

If you need an IV drip of coffee to get through the day, then it’s time to take a look at why that’s so. Remember, coffee is supposed to be a drink we enjoy, not one that we absolutely have to have to make it from dawn to dark.

If you’re experiencing any of the signs and symptoms above, then you need to visit your doctor to make sure there is no underlying problem that is causing some of these symptoms. If there isn’t, then it’s truly time for you to check into self-care activities that will get you back on track and going strong. In our next section, we will go into some of the best self-care activities out there today for you to try.

A Few Self-Care Activities to Try Today

Self-Care is defined as the art of looking after yourself, something most of us forget to do on a regular basis in today’s busy, busy world. While you don’t have time to take hours upon hours out of your day to take care of yourself, there are activities that don’t take that long, and some that do, that you can try to take care of yourself. We, ourselves, have tried most of these, so in our next section, we’ll go into the ones we think you will enjoy and should try too.

Plan Yourself an at Home Spa Night

You don’t have to go out and pay for an expensive spa and be away from your family to have a spa night. You can do it right in the comfort of your own home. Light some candles, fill your tub with scented oils and bask in some alone time. Don’t forget to unplug from social media and leave the phone in the other room. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel when you’re done.

Meal Plan and Meal Prep

Plan and prep, you might say. “What is relaxing about that?” it might not seem like it, but planning and prepping your meals for the week ahead is an extreme time saver and gives you the time to participate in the rest of the self-care activities on our list. Not only does this stop you from fixing foods that are easy, quick, and horrible for you, there is something relaxing about preparing home cooked meals for yourself and your family ahead of time, don’t you think?

Detox from the Cell Phone

Everywhere you look these days, people are on their cell phones. We, ourselves, are checking ours every other minute, whether at work, watching TV, out to dinner with the family. Social media and cell phones can be a big distraction and cause more stress than you realize. Try setting your phone on silent for just 15 minutes. Turn off all alerts, that means all alerts, lay the phone face down and try doing something totally unrelated to the digital world for just 15 minutes a day and you’ll come back feeling better about yourself and life in general, trust us.

Take a Walk and Enjoy a Bit of Nature

It’s a proven fact that all of us spend way too much time cooped up in the house, the office, the gym, or even in the car. Take a break from your hustle and bustle life and get outside. Take a walk and enjoy a few of the things that nature has to offer. We do and always come back feeling inspired, clear-headed, and in a much better mood than we were when we left the house. Also, even though you, of course, need to take your cell phone with you for safety’s sake, turn it on silent and don’t check the messages and alerts until you’re back home.

Take the Time to Meditate for 10 Short Minutes

You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel by just taking the time out of your day to meditate for 10 short minutes. Start with 10, then work your way up to however many minutes you think will work to help you relax and unwind every day. Meditation and yoga both have been proven to be great sources of relaxation and exercise for not only the body but the mind and spirit as well.

Read a Book and have a Cup of Herbal Tea

There is nothing like curling up in a hammock or even on your couch with a good book and a cup of herbal tea at hand. Escaping into another world with a novel you’ve been wanting to read for ages is a great way to relax and have some much-needed me time.

Keep A Journal and Go to Bed Early for a Change

If you find yourself, like most of us do, scrolling through Facebook and Instagram after you’re in bed for the night, it’s a habit you need to get out of. Instead, try jotting down in a journal a few thoughts about the day you just had. It’s the perfect way to relieve some stress. Don’t write until the wee hours of the morning however, instead put away the journal, turn off the light and get the sleep you need to face the next day refreshed and full of life.

This concludes our blog on self-care activities that you can try today. None of them are expensive, most are even free, and you’ll feel so much better about your life and yourself after you do. Remember, taking care of yourself isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s something to be proud of and your family and friends will benefit from it as well. Until next time, remember self-care is important to, everyone!