positivity, and self care. -mini post

The increase in self care posts on the internet means that people are starting to see how much taking care of themselves matters. I know this mentally, but have a hard time practicing it. I always have so much on my mind that I fall asleep the moment I sit down. I hope this year will be different, and to make that true, I've written downs some self-care tips that have helped me in the past.

Self care... for when a baths just won't cut it.

Better now than later. Do you ever walk around in your house and there's something that annoys you? For me it's having dirty dishes in the sink, or the lights being left on. This is a great time to fix it. Minor annoyances can build up and become MAJOR annoyances. By taking care of these things now, it saves potential stress from building up later.

Clean up. The added clutter isn't doing a stressed out mind any favors. Take a little bit of time to clean. You'll be glad you did,

Allow yourself to be a grumpy gremlin for a while. The idea of people being happy all the time is actually dangerous. Don't bottle up your feelings! Find a place to be alone and acknowledge them.  There are times where you're not going to want to skip rope using a rainbow. That's perfectly natural. Yes, it can be a bit uncomfortable to acknowledge those feelings, but it is worth it. That being said, don't wallow in a pity party either. 

Work out.  Real talk? The times I need to exercise the most are the days when I have no energy, or motivation. Part of me actually hates this suggestion because there are days when using a ton of energy is the absolute last things I want to do. That's actually the thing that pushes me to get moving. The more I don't want to, the more I probably need it. If leg day isn't on the agenda (or you're just not feeling that energetic) go for a walk, or do 10 minutes of a cheesy work out video at home. The more you move the more your body releases endorphins. 

Find out your relaxing style.  I know  people who can relax easily. They can become completely laid back in just about any situation. Then there are people who aren't comfortable with the idea of doing nothing. There's that annoying voice that says "you should be doing something productive" or "stop wasting time". If that's the case for you, I suggest doing something while doing nothing. Take up knitting, or crossword puzzles. Do something that requires enough concentration to remain relaxed.

Disconnect.  Take a few minutes or even a day to enjoy life without extra electronics. No video games, t.v, computers, phones etc... Go on an adventure in your back yard.

What would your younger self do? Want to make a blanket fort? Pretend the floor is lava? Do it! I used to gather fuzzy blankets and sit at the bottom of my closet or under the table and read books. 

TO THE GARDEN!!  If you have a garden or in door plants, care for them. Sometimes it's easier to care for other things than to take care of ourselves. That's okay, because just being around plants is a calming experience. If you don't have a green thumb try taking care of an animal.