THE 2 TYPES OF DAILY SELF-CARE YOU NEED TO STAY WELL

From eating ice cream to folding laundry, self-care can come in many forms. No matter how big or small, it’s all about finding everyday moments that help you relieve stress and be well.


BY: HANNAH TURNBULL, RDN, LD

When you hear the term “self-care”, what comes to mind? Is it reading a good book in a warm bubble bath by the candlelight? Or is it spending the day at a luxurious spa getting the works? While these may sound lovely, they are often unattainable on a daily basis.

And the fact is, we need self-care all the time.

Self-care practices are activities we engage in on a regular basis to reduce stress and maintain our wellbeing. For example, self-care and nutrition go hand-in-hand because working towards a healthy relationship with food is self-care. Eating foods you enjoy is self-care. Meal planning to save you stress later in the week is self-care. Eating ice cream to make you feel better can be self-care. Working through struggles with food and challenging negative thoughts around your body image is self-care.

The thing is, self-care isn’t always exciting activities that take us away from our normal lives. They can be mundane tasks that lead to less stress later on.

Consider this your “boring” self-care.

These are the small things we can do to take care of ourselves on a daily basis. Sometimes when we get busy or stressed, we tend to put these on the back burner when they can actually make us feel better.  

Some ideas for daily “boring” self-care are:

  • Doing dishes
  • Cleaning – committing just 15 minutes every day can feel productive
  • Laundry
  • Taking medication as prescribed
  • Meal planning
  • Unplug from the internet or do a social media cleanse
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Daily hygiene routine

Then, of course, there’s your fun self-care.

These are the small moments that you likely look forward to, and don’t even think twice about how comforting it is. This includes:

  • Snuggling your pet and/or significant other
  • Taking 10 minutes to do something that sounds enjoyable in that moment (such as reading your favorite book, scroll through instagram, coloring, nap, meditation)
  • Call a friend
  • Yoga: this can be a nice way to get back into your body
  • Joyful movement
  • Journaling or writing

Remember, our wellbeing is rooted in how we take care of ourselves. When we start to let our self-care slip away, we become vulnerable to stress around us.

No matter how busy life gets, you are worthy and deserving of feeling well.

Adapted from the original article.
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Hannah Turnbull, RDN, LD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based in Denver, CO helping others build healthy relationships with food and their body.  In a world full of food rules and restriction, she helps individuals navigate what works in their everyday lives.  Learn more at Nourished with Hannah.