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7 Self Care Tips for a Happier Life

Your mental health matters.

By LWAPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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For some reason, discussing mental health has always had a negative stigma. Whether it be talking about the “ugly” sides of mental health like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc., or even discussing taking regular “me time” to heal and recharge your mind, people oftentimes bunch mental illnesses together and don’t understand that most people try to not be defined by their mental illness or their symptoms. On that same note, a lot of people think “me time” is selfish. I disagree fully. I think everybody needs time to themselves away from their kids and even away from their spouse if need be, to simply remember who they are!

I’ve put together a list of my favorite self care tips.. These help me daily to remember to put myself first every once in a while and recharge a little. Your family needs you to be healthy and happy! I’ll be the first to tell you that good mental health is the key to your own happiness. Here are some super simple ways to remind yourself that you matter and ways to keep you sane!

1. Drink more water!

No, seriously. Did you know that when you start to feel thirsty you’re already dehydrated? Being dehydrated is much more than being thirsty for a lot of people. For me, being dehydrated, even a little bit, gives me headaches and makes me feel “foggy.” Drinking more water is also good for your skin, so it’s basically a win/win! ;)

2. Take a shower/bath.

As a mother, I know how hard it is to get a good, full, relaxing shower in. But trust me, make time for it! If your spouse has to watch your child for the length of your shower, they’ll just have to grumble about it, because you deserve a good shower or bath! It’s truly therapeutic and good for your soul.

3. Get enough rest.

I cannot stress this one enough. For moms, especially new moms, this one is a little harder to achieve. But if someone offers to watch your child so you can nap, TAKE THAT OFFER!! If you aren’t a mom, take advantage of a good night's sleep. Even if you aren’t fully tired yet, lay down an hour or so earlier than you usually would and just relax. (That means leave your phone alone too!) When you disconnect from technology before bed & your rest will be much more fulfilling, trust me!!

4. Get active!

Add a little bit of exercise to your day! Exercising releases endorphins, which make you happy! I’m not asking you to go run a marathon or anything... If you aren’t inclined to go work out, put on your best playlist and dance around your house for a few songs! You’ll feel better for a handful of reasons and this is something you can easily do with your kids! Make a habit of once or twice a day just dancing around like a fool! You can thank me later for the positive changes to your spirit in even the first dance sesh.

5. Find a way to recharge.

I’m not gonna ask an introvert to leave their house to recharge because that’s something that would help an extrovert. But you know what I’m trying to get across... If curling up with a book for an evening alone or if going out to meet up for coffee with your friends makes your internal battery recharge, DO IT! Do whatever it may be at least once a week. Everybody needs to recharge at some point and when you make time for yourself, you’ll be amazed how differently you’ll feel.

6. Treat. Yo. Self.

If you like having your nails/toes done, go do it! If you want that cute top you’ve been eyeing (but have been ignoring because you simply feel like a bad mom for buying things for yourself) GO BUY IT! This is another one I feel the need to stress. I’m not telling you to make bad financial decisions, but you definitely deserve a “prize” every once in a while so don’t be afraid to treat yourself! It can be a coffee because you made it through the grocery store without your kid having a meltdown (or because your kid screamed at not being able to have a frozen corn dog in the middle of Wal-Mart). If it’s been a long week and your feet need some TLC, go get that pedi!! Treat yo self!

7. Remember your worth.

Happiness relies on your mental health. It might take a bit of “brain retraining” but you need to constantly remind yourself what you’re worth. Start with simple mantras daily like: “I am beautiful,” “I am strong,” “I am a great parent,” “I try my hardest every day,” “I AM ENOUGH, EXACTLY AS I AM.” Whether you say them out loud or think them to yourself, I want you to look in the mirror every day and say these positive things about yourself. Include five things you love about yourself and do not think of the things you dislike about yourself. When you start to realize that you’re worth FAR more than the opinion of another mom, the “perfect body” standards you see online, or the mean things you think about yourself, you will notice a change in your soul.

This is really only scratching the surface of things you can do to take care of yourself. At the end of the day YOU know what YOU need to feel whole. Never think that it’s “selfish” to take time for yourself. Ignore people who make you feel like it is selfish. Every single person, mom or not, deserves the chance to recharge and remember who they were before life got crazy busy! Your family needs you to be happy/healthy so please, please don’t lose yourself. Always find a way to come back down & be proud when you do find something that keeps you sane. Make it a weekly habit! You DO deserve it. You ARE worth it. Take care of yourself.

Find the positive in all things and ALWAYS, grow through what you go through.

Love & Light,

Olivia

self help
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About the Creator

LWA

Live (& Love) With Abandon 🖤🧿🔆🌸

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