After going through the pandemic for the last two years, studies show that 80% of Americans want to prioritize acts of self care more.
Although that may be true, this looks different for everyone. Someone’s self care may be getting up at 5 am to enjoy watching the sunrise, while someone else’s may be to sleep until 8:30 am to get the max amount of sleep possible.
Whatever it is to you, self love is important. Here are 5 underrated acts of self care that you may not have thought about doing.
1. Set Boundaries With Technology
In our world today, we often have our phones no more than one foot away from us at all times. We are on hyper alert for every sound or vibration we hear since we have become so accustomed to that meaning something urgent.
It’s often hard for us to ignore when our phone vibrates. We want to see who texted us, what email we just got, or what’s happening around the world in the news.
However, this can become too much at times. Whether you’re feeling left out because of what you see on social media or you are stressed from the number you see over your emails when you go to bed, technology can stress us out more than it helps us sometimes.
That’s why setting boundaries with technology and social media is so important. Whether that means you step away from technology and your phone right after dinner or you only go on social media two times per week, boundaries will help you with your mental state.
2. Acknowledge When You Need Rest
It’s so easy for us to push through when we are tired or feeling burnt out.
We feel guilty taking a day off of work to just do nothing. We feel guilty if we don’t wake up an hour early to go for a run. We feel guilty if we go to bed early instead of getting ahead on work.
Our society has created that, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use your female empowerment to take a stand every once in a while. Asking for a day off when you need it will only help you in the long run (and the company you work for). Sleeping in or going to bed early will also help you reset and wake up more refreshed.
While we can’t rest all day every day, it’s important to show yourself some love and take a step back when you need it.
3. Buy Yourself Flowers
How often is it that we wait around to see if our significant other will come home with flowers in their hand to show their love? That may be you all of the time or you may never wait around.
But you shouldn’t make yourself wait around! Pamper yourself by buying yourself flowers. Since flowers can help you feel more joyful, foster creativity, and provide you with an energy boost, getting them for yourself can help you feel good!
If you want to show yourself an act of self love, check out Phillip’s Flowers for beautiful flower options to purchase for yourself. You may start to notice yourself smiling more!
4. Practice Mindfulness
Many people misconstrue what mindfulness means – and it means something different to everyone.
While mindfulness can mean meditation, it doesn’t necessarily need to be through meditation to practice mindfulness.
Sipping a cup of coffee and just listening to your thoughts can be a mindfulness practice that you do daily. Going on a morning walk is an act of practicing mindfulness.
A few other ways you can practice mindfulness in your daily life are:
- Breathing exercises
- Paying close attention to everything you eat and drink in a moment’s time
- Color in a coloring book
- Journal nightly or each morning
- Live in the moment
- Practice yoga
- Go on a run
Pretty much anything can be an act of mindfulness if you make it! Being mindful is something that has been shown to reduce stress drastically. Doing these things daily (or even some of these things) will help you de-stress and feel better.
5. Spend a Night to Yourself
It can be difficult to say “no” to plans if you are asked to join someone. However, spending a night to yourself can be one of the greatest ways to show yourself self care.
This doesn’t mean you’ll feel lonely or should just sit in front of the TV, but you can if you want! But there are other great ways to spend a night to yourself to relax and de-stress.
You can take a bubble bath with Epsom salts to relax any aches or pains you may have, or take a long, hot shower. When you get out of the shower or bath all clean, you can try out a face mask to relax even more.
Paint your nails and eat a bowl of popcorn while watching your favorite movie.
Listen to a new audiobook or curl up reading a book. Pour yourself a glass of wine or sip on delicious, calming tea.
Whatever you feel like doing on your night in will help you relax and refresh.
Try Out These Acts of Self Care
Acts of self care can look different for everyone. Someone may hate baths, while others love them. Someone may love running and someone else may hate running. Self love looks different to everyone.
However, making sure you try out some of these acts of self care or do something for yourself every once in a while will make sure you don’t burn out.
Did you enjoy reading about these tips for self care? Well, start practicing self care by curling up on the couch and reading more of our blogs!
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