How to put yourself first
I’m a huge advocate of looking after yourself. I believe that by attending to your needs and having time to re-energise, you’ll be in a better space to look after others. I don’t know about you but I can get pretty ratty with my little one if I’ve not had any time to myself. My patience wears a little thin!! The other parents will no doubt be with me on this one!
Looking after yourself need not be a full day at a luxury spa (although this would of course be amazing), it can just be a few stolen minutes here and there. Here are my top 12 ideas (in no particular order) of what you could do to re-charge those batteries:
Run yourself a bubble bath, light some candles, pour a wine and relax
Grab a cuppa and your favourite book and have a read for half an hour
Download something like Headspace and do some guided meditation – you can do this for anything from 5 minutes
Put your shoes on and get some fresh air (and vitamin D) by going for a walk
Book into an exercise class, get your partner to come and play tennis, squash etc or take to the local pool for a swim
Enjoy a meal out with your partner or friend
Pick up the phone and have a chat with your friend – we get in a habit of texting/Whatsapping and never speak these days!
Go to your local salon for a relaxing treatment. And no, doing those maintenance things like waxing does not count!
Take in a movie, whether that be at the cinema or on TV, but make sure it’s uninterrupted time
Go shopping and buy yourself something nice
Try a mindful exercise class such as yoga or Pilates and work on that mind body connection
Have a siesta – it works well in Spain so give it a go
Obviously everyone is different, so it’s worth putting together a list of your own that encompasses your hobbies or things you enjoy doing.
Then SCHEDULE IT IN THE DIARY.
It’s a bit like exercising for many - if it’s not in the diary then every excuse under the sun will come out, and you’ll simply never do it!
At the very least I hope these give you a few ideas and that you actually get up and action something.
Let me know how you get on and what your favourite ways of de-stressing are. Come join me on my Facebook group and share away!
Get fitness and health advice, nutritional tips, offers and class updates with my newsletter - sign up here
And, please come join me in my Facebook Group to get updates on when the blogs are posted and other useful updates/info