5 Ways to Self-Care in Less Than 5 Minutes
Ever wake up in a funk? Have you ever just had a day where you felt off? I've been there too and know how disorienting and frustrating it can feel. So, I wanted to share a few of my tried-and-true techniques for beating the blues, especially when you're in a pinch and pressed for time. It's not a good idea to repress your feelings, but sometimes you've just got to push through your day and get stuff done. If your're still feeling off later (and you've tried some of these self-care suggestions!) then you can spend some more time treating yo'self.
Move your body. Work through your favorite yoga sequences, walk around your office, or do some jumping jacks. Get your blood flowing, shake out the cobwebs, and connect with your body. I've learned that movement is essential to my daily well-being!
Listen to some music that makes you happy. Turn on your favorite band or listen to songs that remind you of a good time in your life. Connecting to something that already has positive associations in your mind can do wonders for your mood. (Bonus: throw yourself a dance party! Listen to inspiring music and groove. It's pretty hard to feel grumpy after you've just boogied to "Shake It Off".)
Eat something to fuel your brain. The same calories and nutrients that fuel your muscles also power your brain. If you're feeling fuzzy, ask yourself when you last ate something real? Not some convenient junk food full of sugar, but food that can actually power your mind. Be intentional and get some food in your system. "Hanger" is real my friends.
Write down how you're feeling. Writing forces you to slow your thought process enough so your hand can keep up with your mind. This can help you get to the root of what's bothering you. If you can identify the problem, you can start working towards a solution. (And if you do this exercise and can't root out why you're feeling the way you do, that's okay too. Some days you just feel yucky and that's life. Identifying and writing out what you're feeling should bring some relief, even if it doesn't give you all the answers.)
Face your feelings. Sit still and meditate or do a deep breathing exercise. When you're feeling flooded by emotions, sometimes the best thing to do is wade into them and force yourself to sit with them for a while. You might be surprised with how at peace you feel after acknowledging them! Experiencing a few minutes of intense emotion and vulnerability can be better than feeling uncomfortable and off all day.
I wish I felt this way every day - confident and comfortable in my own skin. But on days when I'm not feeling my best, I know what to do!
No matter how you're feeling, remember that you're important and you're valuable! Everyone has off days and that's okay. These exercises are meant to be short-term helps. If you're consistently having a rough go of things, talk to someone you trust. Reach out for help. If you're just having a bad case of the Mondays, these can really help. You've got this!
What do you do when you feel off and need to take care of yourself? Tell me what works for you!