Stretching yourself too thin is never a good idea—especially when it comes to self-care. It’s important to find ways to take care of yourself as you lead your busy lifestyle. So let’s talk about some self-care ideas you can use to stay healthy and productive.
Get Enough Sleep
Burning the candle at both ends isn’t going to help you stay sharp. Create an environment conducive to sleep by minimizing the amount of light and noise in your bedroom.
Stick to a bedtime and wake-up schedule. Give yourself a curfew, and wake up at around the same time each day, even on the weekends.
Avoid Caffeine and Cigarettes
Caffeine is a stimulant. It interferes with your sleep and isn’t good for people who suffer from anxiety. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 12 hours, so avoid drinking it after 2 p.m.
Nicotine can also interfere with your sleep. Try ditching cigarettes or reducing the amount you smoke. Talk to your doctor if you have trouble quitting. Ditching the nicotine habit is a tough challenge, but as a self-care practice, it will drastically improve your quality of life.
Exercise
You will notice how much better you feel after doing some exercise. You don’t need to join a gym or join a sports team. If you’re short on time, you can exercise at home. Do some jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, squats, and crunches.
Do them for a bit every day: Five minutes in the morning, five minutes at night, or whenever you have time. Even just a little bit of physical activity can make a big difference in your overall well-being.
Eat Healthy Foods
There are plenty of ways to eat better, from eliminating processed foods to using fruits and vegetables as snacks.
Manage Stress
Stress is one of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome in our self-care practices. When things get stressful or overwhelming, take 10 minutes to read, watch your favorite show, or listen to relaxing music. Try yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or visualization.
Meditation is an effective tool for reducing stress because it teaches you to focus on the present moment rather than what might happen in the future. There are plenty of apps that can help you meditate.
Drink Plenty of Water
Experts recommend at least six glasses of water per day. Hydration affects so many aspects of our lives, including joint health, immune system function, and sleep quality. But try to avoid sugary drinks, as these drinks can actually leave us malhydrated.
Take Time for Yourself
Whether it’s taking a short walk, reading a magazine, or enjoying a nice meal out, it’s important to find time for yourself. While life has lots of responsibilities, it’s important for us to have at least a few things that we enjoy to balance out that weight.
Streamline Your Business
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or money is tight, look for ways to streamline your business if you have one. Taking some of the load off your shoulders is a great way to practice good self-care.
For instance, when it comes to marketing, you can save a bundle by advertising online, including on popular sites like YouTube. You can start by selecting a YouTube banner template, then customizing it from there.
A virtual assistant (VA) can also be a great asset to any small business. Virtual assistant services offer flexible hours, save time and money, and usually have advanced IT and technical skills. VAs can be found on freelancing job boards, where you will see delivery times, pricing, and reviews. Some tasks a virtual assistant can help with are:
- Scheduling meetings, appointments, and events
- Responding to emails and letters
- Creating and filing electronic documents
- Managing contact lists
- Researching information on the web
Outside of virtual assistants, you can work with specialty services to handle other aspects of your business. For example, work with a formation company to make sure your LLC is properly organized under the laws of your state.
Self-Care Is Non-Negotiable
Starting a side hustle can be exciting—if you enjoy what you do and work hard, there is no reason why you can’t make a side hustle a full-time gig. But don’t forget to take care of yourself while you work toward your vision. Just a few diligent steps each day can make you healthier, happier, and more productive.
This article is a guest post by Courtney Rosenfeld from Gig Spark.
