8 Ways to Practice Self-Care

The second month of 2016 is just getting started. How are you doing so far on your goals for the New Year? Are you making sure to have YOU as a top priority? Taking excellent care of yourself should be #1 on your to-do list each day.

Here are 8 ideas to help you practice self-care

1. Recognize Your Successes

So many of us focus on our failures and forget to truly celebrate ourselves when we accomplish a goal. Take some time to reflect each day and pat yourself on the back for what you have accomplished. Even something as simple as getting the laundry done deserves to be celebrated.

2. Practice Healthy and Mindful Eating

Eating on-the-go or while multitasking can, in some ways, lead to overeating and minimize the satisfaction of a meal. Take some time to allow yourself to indulge all of your senses during at least one meal a day. Observe the colors, flavors and smells of your food to create a more mindful experience.

3. Be Thankful

In addition to celebrating your own accomplishments, be thankful for what you have and what others may have done for you. Consider keeping a gratitude journal. Take note from time to time about the things you feel lucky to have.

4. Create a Personal Space

Create a special place that is just for you. Perhaps it’s your bedroom or a nook in another room of your home. Create a place that provides you with comfort. It can be a place where you go to find inner peace when times are tough, or where you go to just reflect upon a good day.

5. Be Silly Sometimes

It is so important to allow yourself to be silly and childlike from time to time. If you have children, do something they love like coloring, playing tag or using building blocks. Letting your inner child out can be a refreshing way to recharge when life seems to be getting too serious.

6. Keep Moving

Exercise is absolutely essential for self-care. Even a brisk walk helps your body release happy hormones to lighten your mood. Plus, the health benefits for your body are wonderful for your overall wellbeing.

7. Unplug

In this world where electronic stimulation and virtual sharing surround us, it’s important to take some time to unplug and just “be”. It feels so good to take some time away from social media, where you may spend too much time comparing yourself to the “online” version of someone else. Appreciate what is natural and beautiful around you and within you.

8. Help Someone

Helping someone else can do wonders for how you feel about yourself. Help out at a soup kitchen or donate your time to an eldercare facility. Or perhaps you have a friend or family member who needs a little help with something. If you know someone who needs assistance with an addiction, you can help him or her consider what support options are out there.

Calling Seasons in Malibu, a luxury dual-diagnosis addiction treatment center in Malibu, CA could be a great place to start. They have counselors on call 24/7 to help your loved one start the process of seeking help.

Thanks to Seasons in Malibu for sponsoring this post about self-care. For more information, please visit their website or pass it along to a friend or family member. Helping even one person change his or her life will change yours as well.

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