25 Ways to Take Time for You
I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to call myself "lazy" before I give myself permission to ever really rest. I think that if you're a really productive person, it can be hard to ever give yourself permission to mentally let go of the things "you could be doing." It's so much easier to call yourself lazy than be kind to yourself.
I just wanted to give a reminder that if you lay there and feel like shit about yourself for being on your phone or watching Netflix for a minute, then you're not really actually giving yourself any permission to let your brain rest.
So if you're feeling burnt out, take the time to actually be kind to yourself and let yourself rest. Otherwise, you're just dragging yourself deeper and deeper to a place where you won't be able to do anything productive or creative at all. Remember: "If you don't make time for your wellness, you'll be forced to make time for your illness."
So take that break and watch a show without feeling guilty (easier said than done... I know), go on a walk, take a hot bath, read a book, cuddle your dog, or even just scroll on your phone. I think the biggest key is to do it intentionally. Label that time by saying "This is my time that I'm loving myself and letting myself rest."
Here’s a list of ways to take time for you:
Do a yoga routine
Take a hot shower or bath
Cuddle with your dogs or cats
Watch a TV show or movie
Actually get ready for the day
Lotion your body
Organize that part of your house that’s been driving you crazy
Take a walk outside
Schedule a spa treatment
Call a friend or family member
Write a list of gratitude
Journal
Create something you’ve been wanting to experiment with
Clean/pick up your space
Give yourself an hour to veg on social media
Buy a plant
Support a local business
Drink a full bottle of water before doing anything else
Take 15 minutes to stretch
Write someone you miss a nice letter
Make a to-do list for yourself to sort out your thoughts
Bake something fun
Play a video game for an hour
Meditate
Schedule a date with your spouse/a friend/a family member
That TLC is soooo important if we want to feel nourished and fulfilled in our work. This has been something I've been learning really heavily this year, and I know it's something that I struggle with a ton as an artist that also works and attends school full time. I figured that other people might need to hear that too.
Let me know of any other ways you practice self-care in the comments! I’d love to hear! Or you can always pipe into the conversation on my Instagram post that talks about self-care here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEZuxcHn_Bx/
