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With the holidays coming up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by #allthethings we need to do and remember. So when life gets stressful, try these 5 simple and free self care ideas to feel refreshed and ready to take on your to do list.
I know it is still a little early to be talking about the holidays. And the weather definitely doesn’t feel like Autumn yet. But I feel like this transition moves so much faster than it seems like it should. And between school starting up again and beginning to make holiday plans, we can sometimes put our own self care on the back burner.
So today I am sharing with you 5 free self care ideas that you can do to feel refreshed again and ready to do all those things that are waiting for you on your to do list.
Part of the key to this is remembering that it is something nice you are trying to do for yourself. Even simple everyday things can become a treat when you do it intentionally.
Plus the hardest part is often just allowing ourselves to slow down for a minute. So often it just feel like as soon as we finish one… more… thing, then we can take a break. But that list never goes away. So take a few minutes now. You will thank yourself for it later.
1. Drink a glass of water.
I’m not saying to make sure you are getting all the water you need each day, although that is certainly good too. But I’m saying to get a glass of water, however large or small you would like, and sip it. Taste it. Enjoy it. Don’t just chug it and move on. Let it be a moment where you can just sit and enjoy the cool taste of it. Sounds weird, right? Yep. But this has been one of the best things I have ever done to help reduce stress!
2. Take a few minutes to stretch.
If you have never done yoga, I highly recommend trying it. There are thousands of videos on YouTube with short yoga routines (I love this channel). But even if that is not something you want to try, just stretch your muscles for a few minutes. Roll your neck and shoulders, bend over and let your arms dangle towards the ground, use side bends to stretch your core, arms, and legs. And in true yoga fashion- it is always nice to end stretching with laying on the ground for a minute or so and just relax. 😉
3. Go for a walk.
Even just a short one down the street and back. Soak up some fresh air. Don’t hurry, just enjoy being outside. Listen and see what sounds you can hear. Maybe there will be birds, people talking, kids playing, and cars driving by. If you get a little wind (or a lot) you can hear the breeze go by.
4. Write it down.
This is a good one if you are feeling especially stressed. I don’t care if you use a dedicated journal or just a scrap of paper. Write down whatever you are thinking. This is a no judgement zone. If you want to make sure no one ever reads it, feel free to throw it away or shred it when you are done. But just the process of writing it down can help relieve stress.
Also, write down the good stuff. You could keep a gratitude journal or keep track of cute things your kids say or do. Then you’ll have something to go back to when you need to see something good in your life.
5. Create something.
I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t have the desire to create something. It could be a work of art, or a good meal. You could build a piece of furniture (that one might not be free unless you have a lot of wood laying around), write a story, decorate your planner, sew something, or that craft project from Pinterest that you’ve been wanting to try. The power of creating something that wasn’t there before is so cool! You can do it! Do that thing you have been wanting to try! You deserve it!
I hope you find something on this list to try. Or maybe you know of other things you can do to take care of yourself. Either way, when you get stressed, make sure to take some time to focus on you. Just doing something little can help you re-balance when life gets hectic.
What do you do when you get stressed or overwhelmed? Let me know in the comments!
