Practice Self-Care

Finding time to care for one's self is rarely in our agenda. However, self-care has been linked to numerous benefits including increased positive feelings that result in a boost in your confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, it helps achieve a healthy work-life balance in which professional boundaries are set, ensuring you stay sharp and motivated in the workplace. Self-care also aids in reducing stress, which leads to improved mood and energy level boosts.

Here are 10 simple self-care habits that can contribute to a more balanced and meaningful life:
  
1. Have a good night’s sleep: Making sleep part of your self-care routine is essential as it has    
   significant effects on your emotional and physical being. Not getting enough sleep has been  
   linked to major health issues, while its benefits include stress reduction, improved memory, and
   reduced risk of depression.
 
2.  Meditate or do deep breathing for five minutes: Taking the time to quiet your mind in
     order to get in touch with yourself has countless benefits. Mindfulness practices such as
     meditation and deep breathing are associated with enhanced self-awareness, improved
     attention span, anxiety control, and stress relief.
 
3. Take a break when you need it: Stop your road-running and take the time to enjoy the
    outside. Spending time outside can help reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, and help
    you become more mindful. Studies have shown that getting outside can also help reduce fatigue,
    making it a great way to overcome symptoms of depression or burnout.
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4. Schedule your self-care time and honor that time: Organizing your schedule and
    prioritizing self-care time takes practice but reaps great rewards. Moments alone can help
    you to ponder the best ways to move forward in your life and keep you grounded. On the
    other hand, moments with family and friends can help you feel more connected and relaxed.
 
5. Learn to say no: Saying no to others can be challenging. However, if you are stressed and
    overworked, saying yes to coworkers and loved ones will only lead to burnout, anxiety and
    irritability. Setting healthy boundaries will help you feel empowered and will grant you more
    time for your self-care.
 
6. Laugh heartily at least once a day: Studies show that laughter can have great health   
    benefits including lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and improved cardiac health.   
    Laughing also clears your mind, fortifies your immune system and triggers the release
    of endorphins which leads to a general sense of well-being.
 
7. Eat well: Food has the potential to affect our physical and our mental health. Eating right not
   only fends off weight gain or diseases such as diabetes, it can help keep your mind working
   and alert. Eating well can help prevent short-term memory loss and inflammation. Incorporate
   the following self-care foods to your diet: fatty fish, blueberries, nuts, green leafy veggies, and
   brassicas (e.g., broccoli).
 
8. Go for a light run or a jog: Exercising daily can improve your physical and mental health by  
    boosting your mood, reducing stress and anxiety as well as helping you stay in shape. Light
    exercise such as walking, jogging, and yoga can easily fit into your schedule in a way that
    works for you.
 
9. Start a journal: Expressive writing can help clear your mind while releasing negative
    emotions. Journaling can help you keep a more positive frame of mind as it creates a buffer
    between negative thoughts and your sense of well-being. Its benefits include a boost in
    mood/affect, enhanced sense of well-being, reduced symptoms of depression, and improved
    working memory.
 
10. Organize your space: Decluttering and reorganizing your home and workspace can help
      you feel more accomplished and recharged. Moreover, having less visual clutter can relieve
      stress and anxiety, and will help prevent burnout. Not only will this make information or
      items more accessible, a cleaner, reorganized space could create the illusion of a new     
      environment in your mind, which can help your creative ideas flow more smoothly.  
 
Go ahead and make time for yourself this summer! Practicing self-care is important and will lead to a healthier, more meaningful and balanced existence.  
 
Sources: https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/201812/self-care-12-ways-take-better-care-yourself
https://www.forbes.com/sites/payout/2017/09/19/practicing-self-care-is-important-10-easy-habits-to-get-you-started/#5f2817b8283a