The older I get and as my responsibilities increase, the more I realise how important it is to practice self care. There are periods when trying to maintain my version of balance and be kind to myself becomes a struggle. With the demands of a young family, being a mama and running a business, finding the time to look after just me can seem impossible.
It’s incredibly frustrating when you desperately feel that you need some time for yourself, but every attempt is an epic fail. I’ve been there and got the t-shirt many times before and felt utterly exhausted because of it. We’re accountable for so many things and people rely on us to get stuff done. Each life role that we play is important and that makes it essential that we don’t become so distracted and forget to take care of ourselves.
Becoming intentional around self care will come with ease to some and others will find it difficult to strike the perfect balance. Checking in on ourselves when we’ve forgotten to practice self care is just as important as practicing self care because it’s at these times that we tend to need it the most.
With all the overwhelm of everyday life, it can be hard to find some space for self care, but let me show you how with these 5 easy steps.
Schedule a time in your day just for you
What I find helps me no end is writing things down and scheduling things in a planner, even down to my workouts. I rely so heavily on my planner since becoming a parent for clarity and keeping me organised. Writing a time for my 10 minutes of ‘me’ time every day really helps me stay intentional with it and makes it easier to fit in.
If you have a young family, this could be during nap time or before everyone wakes up. Similarly, if you’re heading to work you could use your commuting time to meditate, listen to your favourite playlist or read to practice self care. It’s all about finding a time in your day that works best for you and making the best use of that time.
Dial Down the Digital Noise
How often do you find yourself aimlessly scrolling through your phone? I recently blogged about how to turn your screen time for ‘me’ time because if you’ve got time to scroll, then you’ve definitely got time for self care, it doesn’t have to take that long. Whenever you find yourself scrolling mindlessly, turn off your phone or put it in a drawer and use this time to practice some self care instead. Although, I for one know how easily this can be said than done.
Be Flexible
Honestly, I know it sounds like a cliché, but life really does get in the way. If your self care practice doesn’t happen for whatever reason, don’t be too hard on yourself. In all instances of wellness, it’s important to be flexible and accommodating for your own sanity if nothing else. What you had planned for your morning self care practice can be done in the evening or the next day.
Remember it’s OK to say ‘no’
We live in a society, where we feel that we have to give everything for the sake of our own health. While it’s lovely that you’re showing love and appreciation to others, you also have to make yourself a priority. Learning to say ‘no’ isn’t selfish, but a selfless act that can enhance your wellbeing, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Clear out the negative influences in your life
Sometimes a massive clear out can be like therapy and can have a positive effect on our wellbeing. Every so often, I like to have a declutter to clear out the negative influences in my life and unwanted items to make more space for things that bring me joy, which is a massive dose of self care in itself.
Great post Jemma. I turned to photography last year to try and get some me time. I signed up to Instagram to share my photos and this turned into a nightmare so I recently left.I guess you covered both of these points in this article, more me time and less social media time. Works for me anyway!
Great! So happy that you’ve found a balance that works for you. Social media can be a great space, but it can have a negative effect too.
I do struggle to make time for me, although I am lucky to have people around me who insist i take some time for ,myself, it is important and something we can easily forget to do x
How great that you have people around that insist that you look after yourself. We all need more people like that in our lives.
Learning to block negative influences and blocking out digital noise has helped me as well. Glad it did for you as well !
Yay! I’m so glad that you’ve seen some improvement after doing this.
such a great post, I always try and make me time whenever possible. It’s not always easy to say no for though
Definitely a tough one to say no, but so worth it when it happens.
I really like your idea of turning your “scroll time” into time for self-care. It’s so true that we often spend so much time scrolling without realizing how much time we are spending. We would be so better off using that time for something that is beneficial to our self-care.
YES! If you’ve got time to scroll you’ve got time for self care.
I do struggle with making time for myself. I really should schedule in some more time. This is a great post!
Thank you! Scheduling it in really helps.
I really struggle to find me time. Gonna try a few of these and hopefully manage some
I hope you found this post helpful and you find some time in your day. 🙂
I always try to schedule in an evening where I have nothing on my to-do list so I can do whatever I want. Usually it includes a nice dinner and a bath along with some TV/ film watching x
I love that and it sounds so blissful!
Removing those negative people in your life for me is a must. hahaha! And yes, its really okay to say NO, we must learn that. Always remember that we cannot please everyone.
Trying to please everyone is just one big headache, just be yourself and own it I say. 🙂
These are great tips and I like the one with having time for yourself. – that for me is so so so important. People often don’t have time for each other. xx
Yes, it’s so sad that we don’t make enough time for ourselves.
Great tips! My problem is switching off from social media at night. Need to put the phone down!
I’m the same, it’s so easy to get sucked in and then you find that you’ve wasted so much time.
For me I like to practice self care first thing in the morning x
I think it’s great that you’ve found a time in your day that works for you.
before, i didnt have much time for self care. i was always busy but have learnt to dedicate some me time even if it’s half an hour. i always feel good afterwards
That’s brilliant! It doesn’t have to be long, just some time solely for you.
Some fab tips, I need to switch off more and take care of myself I am always on the go and I don’t think it’s doing me any good.
Please find some time for YOU! It makes such a difference.
I need to make time to remove the negative influences from my life because I seem to have loads! x
I hope you find this time. Negative influences can make us feel awful, bit once you strip them out it can be such a relief.
I’ve made learning to say no a priority in my life and it’s amazing how much better I feel overall. Doing things out of guilt is the worst.
So true. I think being intentional about saying no and making yourself a priority is a lesson we all need to learn.
Great to see that you’ve included some me time in this. I actually put at least 1 hour a day in my calendar as me time and go out with my friends or pamper myself! xxx
That’s amazing! I love that you’ve made me time a priority.
I have to work on being flexible! It’s so hard when I have expectations. I will live and learn!
We do put these high expectations on ourselves. Sometimes we have to be kinder and gentler with ourselves, which is also a dose of self care.
Self care is so important but it’s so hard to find the time for it. I’m a single working mama which does make it tricky but I make sure I schedule in at least twice a week a little bit of me time.
It is so important to take time for yourself but can easily be missed with busy lives
I do struggle to make space for self care. I think I should do a schedule in each day because I always forget what to do even I have free time. It’s hard to clear negative influences, but I’ll try. Thanks for your useful tips.
Some of these tips are just great. I’m guilty of not allowing myself enough me time, although I have been trying harder to fit more of it in this year. I’ll definitely be giving some of your tips a go!
Straight up agree with the digital detox! It is so so important! I know our livelihood depends more on social media as bloggers but its sometimes really important to take a break from it!
Love these tips I am terrible at self care I have to admit and feeli need to think about relaxing more ?
I absolutely believe in self care and try to do it as much as possible x