Five Self-Care Habits to Nourish your Mind and Body

Self-care is a practice of taking care of yourself first so you can be healthy and have more energy for the things that are important to you. Self-care is in no way a practice of self-indulgence and something you should feel guilty for participating in. When you do things that take care of you, you allow yourself to have more energy to care for those around you. When you engage in self-care you may find it helps you to perform better at work, be more compassionate towards yourself and ultimately enjoy more of your day-to-day experiences.

If you have never really thought about self-care, we have compiled a list of our favourite healthy habits to get you started. Seamlessly integrate them into your routine to live a fuller and happier life.

1. Sip more water

Staying hydrated helps with healthy brain function, regulates your body temperature and helps to lubricate your joints and tissues to protect them. Drinking water also helps improve your physical performance if you’re training towards a goal. Most importantly, staying hydrated helps to boost your energy and mood so that you can achieve the things you set out to do in your day.

There are plenty of simple ways to help you drink more water throughout the day. You can flavour it with refreshing citrus fruit or stack it with another habit, like brushing your teeth or drinking a glass after a meal. Whatever trick works for you, ensure you're drinking enough water throughout your day.

2. Connect with family and friends

Spending time with friends and family can help bring us a sense of purpose, happiness and reward. But it’s ok to be selective on who you choose to spend your time with. Spend time with the people who encourage you and build you up. We know that’s easier said than done, so if you do spend a lot of time with someone who may drain your energy, balance that out and refill your cup with one of these other self-care practices.

3. Take some time to be alone

Wait? Didn’t we just say to connect with family and friends? That’s right, but studies have shown that we also need some space to recharge. This is especially true if have a busy work or family life. Taking a little time for you is not selfish; it’s necessary to get a bit of distance to regulate your mood, boost creativity and gain perspective. Often a little me-time can actually bring people closer, because they’re less stressed and can therefore relate better to others.

4. Practise mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice where you focus on being aware of your experience in the present moment. There are many ways you can practice mindfulness, such as taking deep breaths and following them with your full awareness. You can even practice mindfulness while going for a walk and take note of all the different sensations you’re feeling in your body or the sounds around you. The benefits of practising mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve your overall health. Learn more about how you can practise mindfulness here.

5. Physical activity

Regular exercise helps to boost your energy, improve muscle tone and strength and may even increase your lifespan. The best thing is that there is no right or wrong way to move in order to reap these benefits! Even just 20 minutes of movement a day can make a world of difference. Find something that’s enjoyable for you, whether it’s going for a walk or run, dancing around your house, or attending a boxing, yoga or HIIT class. Whatever you enjoy doing, implement it into your routine a couple of times per week.

These five self-care habits are just a few ideas to get you started, and it’s by no means an exhaustive list. Self-care can look different for everyone. You may enjoy taking regular baths, getting a massage, or just getting enough sleep. In order to serve and care for others, you need to take care of yourself first. Whatever self-care looks like for you, go ahead and implement it into your routine so you can continue to live your best life.