Over the last few years, “self-care” has become an essential topic. With the pandemic happening unexpectedly, many of us struggled to find motivation and purpose in life. Since then, many people online have started advocating the importance of looking after ourselves.
Today, you’ll see various meanings of what self-care should be. Others advocate taking time off social media, while others recommend reading self-help books to get to know ourselves better. It’s nice to know that we can consider many suggestions and options online. However, it’s also overwhelming to see hundreds of options telling us what we should do.
With all of the “picture-perfect” photographs and videos we see online, it’s easy to assume that we’re being left behind and not doing anything worthwhile. We often forget that most people only share their life’s highlights. Seeing picture-perfect posts online makes us forget that many imperfections also happen behind the scenes.
If you aim to take better care of yourself this 2023, you can start with simple but helpful habits. Habits that don’t pressure you to compete or compare your progress with other people’s level 100. Sit back and relax, and let’s look at some simple habits you can practise this year.
1 - Add a fruit or vegetable to your diet at least once a day
Today, most of the food we consume is prepared instantly and is full of preservatives. Many young adults also prefer buying food delivery instead of cooking their meals at home. Since most people’s schedules have become packed with responsibilities, people are after getting things done instantly.
If you can’t recall the last time you had a fruit or vegetable in your meal, this is your sign to practise including it in your diet. If you’re not a fan of eating fruits, you can also consider buying detox drinks as alternatives. Drinking fruit and vegetable juices are a great alternative, especially if you’re always on the go.
But if you also can, try to include at least one fresh fruit or vegetable in your meal, even once a week, aside from healthy juices. Consuming fresh produce won’t only give you nutrients but also prevent diseases.
2 - Make it a non-negotiable to move your body for at least 30 minutes or more daily
Today, many people are now working from home. Since the pandemic showed us that it’s possible to do corporate tasks remotely, many companies have now embraced remote jobs. If you have a work-from-home setup, you know how hard it is to force yourself to move around. Since your body is now familiar with sitting in front of the computer all day, you only tend to move when you need to do some chores.
Working from home has made it hard for people to stay fit and active. And if you haven’t worked out in years, it’s even harder to force your body to get moving. But not being active could only lead to harmful effects in the long run. With that, it’s time to make it a non-negotiable to move your body for at least 30 minutes or more daily.
You don’t have to start with strenuous exercises right away. You can start with body stretches, 500-1000 step runs, or a 15-minute skip rope. It’s important to remember that not every workout could work for you. You’ll likely have at least five routine trials and errors before you stick to one that works with your body. Take it slow, and don’t push yourself too hard.
3 - Declutter your mind by listing down your thoughts and to-do-lists
If your social media algorithm is full of self-help content, you likely have seen the importance of writing down your ideas. Today, consuming unnecessary content has become part of our lives. Even though we don’t want to know about the latest news or update, we instantly discover them without warning.
As a result, our brains are full of information that we don’t even need, overpowering the thoughts that matter. To avoid storing unnecessary information in your head and keep track of the things that matter, practise listing your thoughts and ideas. You don’t need a pad and pen with you all the time. You can simply use your smartphone’s notes app or any application that works for you.
4 - Create a routine and plan your schedule to practise better time management
Many self-help advocates online recommend following a daily routine. They say that having a daily routine helps you to kickstart the day better and set a tune to your body’s rhythm. They say that without one, we tend to feel lost, distracted, and unsure of what to accomplish for the day.
Your routine does not have to be grand or packed with activities. It can be as simple as waking up at the same time daily, finishing your work at a specific time, and spending limited time on social media. Try this, and you’ll see how much you can accomplish and how much you can do with the time you've got.
5 - Read at least one article or study about any topic once a day
Many professionals say that one of the best ways to educate yourself is by reading. When people say that learning does not end in school, they’re not lying. As we move through different phases in life, we’ll have experiences that humble us. Those experiences will teach us that there’s so much we don’t know and are still yet to learn.
Also, reading about topics we don’t know about will help us broaden our perspective. If you’re not much of a reader, you can start reading about topics that interest you. But as time progresses, try reading different topics to challenge yourself.
6 - Organise your surroundings
Many people don’t realise the importance of having an organised surrounding to their mental state. Having organised surroundings does not mean you should have a well-curated and well-designed home. Even if your home does not look like it came out of a home design magazine, you can still organise it for the better.
When your surroundings are free from clutter, you’ll feel better. You are also likely to be more productive and less likely to wander mentally. Organising your home will also help you dispose of the items you no longer need and make room for those that matter.
7 - Be kind and mindful of how you communicate with yourself
Many people say that the longest relationship we’ll ever have is with ourselves. Unfortunately, most of the time, we don’t have healthy communication with ourselves. We might not notice or realise it, but even the tiniest dismissive remarks we say to ourselves could affect our subconscious thoughts.
Psychologists say that we become what we think. Of course, we won’t always be correct. There will be many instances when we’ll act or say things inappropriately in the heat of the moment. But as we make mistakes, we must learn to recognise and admit that we’re wrong. That means having the courage to improve and learn better ways to handle uncomfortable situations and problems that arise. You can start by being kind and mindful of how you communicate with yourself.
Practising self-care habits is not linear and perfect, and that’s okay.
As you move and grow through this year, remember that building self-care habits is not linear and will never be perfect. But that does not mean you’re no longer progressing. You just have to try and practise them consistently and let time and experience help you discover better habits for self-improvement. Here’s to making our future selves better and prouder!
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for Wednesday Cleanse Day, an inclusive Australian brand that offers nutrient-rich cleansing and digestion products. The brand sources the finest ingredients available to create a solution that supports and improves the body’s natural restoration process.
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