Simple Self-Care: How to Alleviate Stress and Take Better Care of Yourself

It can be increasingly challenging for women to find time for themselves. We handle a lot of responsibilities as mothers, students, teachers, daughters, entrepreneurs, and athletes. There's a lot we must manage, but self-care can help us to wind down, relax, and work through the stress in our lives.

Why We Need Self-Care Time

Chronic stress and other challenges can get you down. Self-care is not just about spending time in the bathtub with some Epsom salts or a nice glass of wine. It's about taking care of you and your mental health. It's time for you to relax, address your stress, and overcome any issues you might be struggling with.

How Do I Practice Self-Care?

There are a variety of ways that you can practice self-care. Everyone has their way of taking care of themselves—it's up to you to decide what you need! However, here are some of the most helpful ways to alleviate stress and take better care of yourself.

Make Time for You

This seems like an easy first step, but you must set aside some time that is all yours. Even having an hour to yourself can help you out. You can pursue your passion, take a bath, or just lay down and relax for a few minutes. You can even take a walk through the neighborhood—cell phone free—and enjoy the scenery. Every little time you create allows you to reconnect with yourself and work through your stress.

Have a Morning Routine

Self-care doesn't have to look like canceled plans and relaxing environments. Sometimes, the best thing you can do to take care of yourself is to set yourself up properly for the day! Hydrate yourself, work out, and have a nutritious breakfast. Also, take time to journal or to spend time enjoying the morning sun. This is highly underrated but an excellent way for you to get some me-time right away!

Weed Out the Negatives

Like in our gardens, we must also find the weeds of our lives and eliminate them. If you find yourself burdened by unnecessary stress, it might be time to do a life audit. Write down all the things that you feel might be holding you back and identify how you can turn them into a positive. This self-care practice might help you find new inspiration and motivation, even in the most stressful of times!

Take a Detox from Social Media

Social media is everywhere, but you can turn it off. If you find yourself with less me-time and more stress, it might be time to put down the phone and limit the screen time. Even if you have a no phones at the dinner table rule, or no work emails after dark rule, you will notice the difference and the stress melting off of you!

Don’t Be Afraid to Take Care of You

We find ourselves so bogged down by our responsibilities that we can forget about the one person we rely on the most: ourselves! So don't be afraid to practice self-care and take more time for yourself. After all, the most important relationship we have in our lives is with ourselves. So treat yourself to a bit of self-care, one step at a time.