7 Ways To Stay In Touch With Yourself — Self Care 101
Through all that life throws at us, it’s important to establish a self-care routine. Our lives move at a ridiculously fast pace. We are constantly fixated with work, relationships, responsibilities and more. Where does the time for ourselves fit in? I’ve learned how to stay in tune with my body and know when to pull back to take care of myself in 7 simple ways that I’d love to share with you.
1. Spending Time Alone To Do An Activity You Love
It’s easy to get caught up in day to day tasks and when you feel stressed out, it’s even easier to resort to temporary gratification by watching a youtube video or binging on the latest Netflix show. But ask yourself — what really makes you tick? What makes you feel full? You need to find your outlet for personal happiness. One activity I personally find fulfillment in is practicing yoga. Every time I go to a class I feel this sense of belonging. It feels like I am exactly where I need to be at the right exact moment. Recognizing what you love and finding time to pursue it is one of the best ways to connect with yourself when life gets busy.
2. Be Kind To Yourself The Same Way You Would With Someone You Love
We should always practice kindness to ourselves the same way we radiate love to those all around us. As clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson put it in his book 12 Rules For life, “Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping”. Remember to look after yourself. I believe this can be as simple as telling your reflection in the mirror what you love most about yourself when getting ready for bed at night. While brushing my teeth, I often repeat the mantra in my head, “I love you. You are smart. You are strong. I am proud of you”. Maybe it sounds a little silly, but your heart and soul will thank you for it in the long run. Initiating a healthy, loving relationship with yourself must always be the case in order to be in tune with your body.
3. Learn How To Say No
If you’ve already mastered this, totally amazing and admirable! However, I know quite a few people that haven’t learned how to put themselves first and know when to say no to others in order to do what makes them feel good. So when your co-worker asks if you can take their shift on your only day off and you know it would cost you your rest and wellness, politely let them know you simply can’t. I’m sure they’d understand, and if they don’t, then they aren’t worth worrying about. Prioritize your needs.
4. Practicing Gratitude
I seriously cannot stress this one enough. When you practice gratitude, you are essentially grounding yourself. All of the little problems, worries and doubts you carry easily vanish when you think of the big picture and what you’re grateful for. It allows you to focus on what’s important in life and to appreciate what you have. Thinking of what you are grateful for can be a little difficult at first but you can start however big or small you feel comfortable with. I’ve found that writing gratitude lists is one of the best ways to keep in touch with myself and be in tune with what really matters.
5. Exercise
Now I know, I know you’ve heard this one before and let’s face it — when is there ever time to hit the gym? However, if you establish self-discipline by including a physical routine into your weekly calendar, the benefits will be endless. Feel your body. Move it. I always come out of my workouts with a clear head and an eased mind. Exercising gives me a boost of self-esteem, sharper memory, better sleep and it is the absolute best thing you can do for your body. It is also a great activity to get to know myself better, spend time with myself and challenge my own limits which creates a sense of self-love and achievement. Regardless, I am practically glowing inside and out after a session at the gym.
6. Make Your Space Into a Sanctuary
In order to truly be in tune with yourself, you need to feel comfortable in a space where you can completely unwind and recharge. Create your own personal sanctuary where this can happen and set some time aside to be alone. I like to run myself a bath a couple times a week with a good book or add a few additional pieces to my room like plants, candles or a new plush blanket. You deserve to be in a space that makes you feel calm and content. Clean is key here though — try to keep your space tidy, as a messy room will lead to cluttered thoughts.
7. Meditate
I’ve only recently started meditating regularly and sticking with it. In the past, I would do it a couple times and totally forget about it or put it off but now that I’ve committed to sitting down for at least 15 minutes a day to bring my attention inward, I can feel so many benefits. The biggest one being self-awareness. It is so crucial to listen to your body and everything going on with it — your emotions, thoughts, any tension or sensations. So much goes unnoticed when you don’t take the time to listen. My favourite place to meditate is in the infrared sauna. I start with taking a few full, deep breathes to centre myself and then proceed with a full-body scan starting at the crown of my head. While sending my breath down to each part of my body, I start to invite awareness and compassion inward. Inhaling self-love and exhaling anything I need to let go of or that doesn’t serve me. Feeling my body and soul connect with each other lets me be at ease. I believe that mediation can help you develop a stronger understanding of yourself and your surroundings, helping you grow into your best self.
Now, these are only guidelines that I’ve learned from personal experience and suggestions of what you can do to be more comfortable in your own skin. I hope that you can take away at least one thing from this self-care routine and maybe even try it out this week. You deserve to be loved, cared for and praised and the best person who can provide that is you. Every good relationship starts with yourself and the journey of getting to know yourself is fun, intimate and well worth every step of the way.
xo
— Daisy Lewis, 7 Ways To Stay In Touch With Yourself — Self Care 101
