6 Critical Self-Care Habits

Currently, I am reading “Welcome to the United States of Anxiety”. If you are a Gen-Xer, then this book is for you. Finally, someone is talking about Gen X and their issues! So much media attention goes to Baby Boomers and Millennials and their financial woes that we Gen Xers are left out. Frustrating! We Gen-X women are internalizing, perfectionists who need some love. I would be hard-pressed to name a friend without anxiety issues. Currently, we are in the “sandwich years” which means still raising kids, but also caring for parents. Both jobs are much more involved these days. But this is not the topic today. Today we are talking about self-care habits. I say habits because they should be habits. Not just Gen Xers, but all women need to remind themselves that self-care is not a sin. It is okay to take some down time and you should.

So many women I know are chronically stressed. It pulls on my heart every time I hear someone pour out their woes because we have all been there! It all adds up to doing too much and not taking time for self-care habits. Self-care is not just going to a spa for a mud bath although that is lovely. Self-care is about taking time to do things that rejuvenate your body and spirit. You are taking time to restore your mind and body. And these are things that benefit everyone. When a woman is at her best then she can better help those around her. A woman who practices regular self-care is not likely to have a melt-down in the middle of the day. Yes, I know people this has happened to including myself, and it is not pretty. We can do better to promote our own mental well-being.

Here a list of items that should be top priority in any self-care routine! Leave your guilt at the door and begin.

6 Critical Self-Care habits

Spend quality quiet time. Having a time of solitude is highly beneficial to mental well-being. Being alone with yourself can be highly beneficial to organizing thoughts, thinking things through, processing emotions, making decisions, evaluating your life, and so much more. Additionally, it allows you to unwind and be at peace with yourself. And while you are doing that enjoy a nourishing and beneficial drink. More than a year ago I wrote this popular post for a calming drink. Here is another mood-boosting drink post as well. I am a big believer in enjoying beverages as a social practice and self-care practice. My morning coffee moments are huge in my daily self-care. Try having a cup of tea with rose petals and chamomile and spend some quiet time reflecting in a comfy chair.

Take the time to eat well. With all the home cooking going on this year it is a good reminder of watching what we put in our bodies and eating more whole foods with simpler ingredients. That is not to say all processed or frozen foods are bad. It just means we should be looking at ingredient labels more and avoiding “high fructose corn syrup” and other highly non-nutritious ingredients. It is also beneficial to learn what the ingredients are and why they are there as opposed to assuming they are bad because we cannot pronounce them. However, eating foods with simple ingredients is the goal. Simple foods will benefit your health and mindset. When properly nourished you will feel your best.

A good example of why eating well is important is what happens when I eat too much salt. By the next day I want to yell at everyone for no good reason. I want to yell just to yell. I feel like a hangry grizzly bear on the loose. Food does affect us in spite of ourselves. Last year I ordered a cookbook by Gwyneth Paltrow called, “It’s All Good”. The recipes were simple with simple ingredients but amazing, flavorful, and fun to cook, and they didn’t have too much salt. My cousin also gifted me with a “Love and Lemons” cookbook which is fabulous for vegetarian alternatives.

Get your rest. This is critical folks. If you don’t realize how critical this is then you need to read this book here. I also discuss this book in this post here. It will open up your eyes just how important sleep is- life saving even. And if you are a Gen X woman who is wondering why you can’t sleep then I suggest this book here. Additionally, here are some tips on how to get better quality rest.

Fitness. Exercise should not be about losing weight. Exercise should be about being healthy and promoting good mental health. Running is my mode of exercise and it is a lifesaver. Here is a post on why I run (hint: it is not just to keep in shape). There are loads of ways to exercise, so if running is not your thing you have a plethora of other activities to choose from. Exercise improves sleep, mood, mental alertness, and cognitive function (your brain). It also increases energy, stamina, and endurance. Exercise helps depression, anxiety, negativity, and stress (all of it). There are too many reasons not to exercise.

Hydrate. Getting the water your body needs as well as paying attention to signs it needs water is important for optimal health to keep our systems running smoothly and clean. According to the CDC water rids our bodies of wastes and toxins, lubricates our joints, and keep body temperatures normal. Additionally, water helps normalize body functions and helps stabilize heart function. If water drinking isn’t your favorite thing and you need some help in that area then read these posts for ideas here and here.

Good skincare. Finding the right skincare products to keep your skin looking its best is key to avoid looking sluggish, uneven, or sallow. Additionally, your lymph system lies beneath your skin, so routine massaging of skin helps keep toxins moving along and out of your body. This is a good reason to use a jade roller or a gold beauty bar. I talk more about why jade rollers are beneficial here and gold beauty bars here.

Skincare products themselves are an area I keep simple as I do not like things too complicated. For example, for my normal to dry skin at night I use this simple and gentle rose balm along with a good serum. vitamin C serums are awesome for brightening up skin and the balm helps gently moisturize skin with rosehip oil which is also known for being high in vitamin C. I have used a few vitamin C serums and this one packs a punch. Everyone’s skin is different though, so find what works for you.

Have a beautiful and peaceful day!

SomeTyme Place receives no monies from affiliates. All opinions are my own.

Sources used:

www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/nutrition/index.html

www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink

/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470658/#:~:text=Exercise%20improves%20mental%20health%20by,self-esteem%20and%20cognitive%20function.&text=Exercise%20has%20also%20been%20found,self-esteem%20and%20social%20withdrawal.