![]() ![]() I am cleansed, lightened, refreshed.īonus tip: keep a lovely smelling soap or body-wash around. Yet, almost every time, something magical happens while I stand under the water. After turning the shower on, I figure I’ll stand there for ten minutes and then return to feeling sorry for myself. Massage boosts serotonin and decreases stress hormones. RELATED POST: 10 quick pick-me-ups for when you're exhaustedĪn upgraded version of this tip is to book yourself in for a massage. Another option is to moisturise your elbows and heels. Try rubbing the arches of your feet, or brushing your hair. You can totally spend some time touching yourself. Or (bonus!) ask them to give you a foot rub, shoulder massage or to stroke your head.ĭon’t have a friendly person within touching distance? A pet is also good! We’re lucky enough to have a dog friendly office, so I get to pet dogs at work which is an enormous help.Īll alone? Don’t stress about it. So, if you are feeling rubbish, ask a friend or partner to give you a hug. And it can speed recovery from illness and surgery – touch therapies provide a small but measurable reduction in pain. It can decrease blood pressure or calm your heart rate. Affectionate touching can ease symptoms of depression. ![]() On a similar note to the above, touch is one of the most powerful senses that we have. Here’s one of my favourite quickie yoga videos. It can stop negative thoughts and remind yourself that you are worth taking care of. Take some time out to touch yourself in a loving, gentle way. But, for me, one of the most important aspects is the fact it represents self-love. It’s shown to improve your circulation and calm your nerves. There are lots of benefits to self-massage. Headaches and stress are not far behind.Ī few quick neck and shoulder stretches can be key to staving off a very painful evening. When I finally stand up, I discover all the muscles in my shoulders and neck have seized up. I spend hours at work, hunched over my desk. A few squares of dark chocolate.ģ: Do 10 minutes of stretching and self-massage Some suggested snacks: Apple slices or celery sticks with peanut or almond butter. You might want to reach for carbs or sugar, but protein is a better choice to stem the blood-sugar rollercoaster ride. Look for something that contains protein. So if you haven’t eaten for a while, or your last meal was not substantial, it’s time to break out the snacks. It releases stress hormones, and makes you irritable, or unfocused. Because your brain is dependent on glucose, if your glucose levels drop, your brain panics. Whilst the ‘optimal’ thing for your body and your health is a regular routine of meals the truth is that’s not always possible. All you’ve managed to eat today were two crackers and an apple. Whatever else is going on in your head, enjoy the fact you have access to clean, fresh, drinkable water. Drinking water can also help even out your blood sugar if you’re feeling a sugar rush.Īs you drink the water, take a moment to appreciate it. If we’re busy or distracted, we may not notice when we get thirsty. Or some cucumber! I had cucumber water at a café and I thought it was super-pretentious until I drank it and then I was like… THIS IS THE BEST WATER EVER.ĭehydration leads to headaches and ‘brain fog’ (that feeling you get when you’re a bit slow and fuzzy). Stick it on your fridge, your bathroom mirror or your notice board at work to remind you to take some time for yourself. You can download a free printable version of this self-care checklist at the end of the post. Sometimes all I can manage is step one, and that’s a win right there! □ ![]() Please feel free to stop at any point that works for you. The suggestions run from low effort to high effort. This one is when you have a cold/flu and need some extra self-care!) Secondly, a self-care checklist for when you are sick. It’s a slightly different list, which is more targeted to people fighting off a more severe case of the blues. (I’ve also written two follow-up posts: Firstly, a depression self-care checklist. (Even if you don’t feel better, you might stop yourself from spiralling into an even worse mood.) Go through each suggestion, and see if by the end you don’t feel a thousand times better. This post summaries my quick self-care checklist. Balance out the stress with a bit of self-care. So this post is both a reminder to myself, and a shout out for anybody who is having a bit of a rubbish day. I have several projects at work which, whilst going fairly well, feel high-stakes. The weather at the moment is half downpour, half humid sweat lodge. Find out more by reading my affiliate policy and disclosure. If you click on an affiliate link and buy something, I get a percentage of the sale. ![]()
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