When things get hectic, it’s easy to forget that you need to take time for yourself. Somewhere in between work, seeing friends, doing life admin and running errands, downtime is a must to help you rest and recharge. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 self-care ideas that are quick and simple to try. So simple, in fact, that you can try them right this minute. Here’s what you need to do…
1. Give Yourself a Massage
You don’t need to go to a spa for a massage (although that would work wonders for your self-care, too). Instead, work out knots and tension at home, even while sitting at your desk. Read our complete guide on how to give yourself a massage for tips and techniques that soothe shoulders, necks, feet and hands – all enhanced by our CBD Muscle Rescue.
2. Do Exercise You Enjoy
The perfect exercise routine is completely unique to you. One person’s soothing yoga class might be another’s muscle-twanging nightmare, which is why it’s important to find a workout that challenges your body but calms your mind.
It can take a few tries, but once you’ve got it, you’ll experience that endorphin-releasing high. If you’re looking for a low-commitment way of trialling different workouts, you’ll find a host of free exercise classes on Instagram and YouTube. Use this as a chance to test out a mix – from boxing and dance to pilates and tai chi – and you’ll soon discover that the most rewarding fitness goal is better mental health.
3. Reset Your Sleep
When you’re running on empty, it’s natural for bad sleep habits to form. You get up, go to work, see your friends, travel home, then only have a small window of time to relax and unwind. Cue late nights and poor sleep. If your schedule is hectic right now, make sure you still maintain a consistent sleep pattern following these sleep tips or take some time out for a nap. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.
Work evening catch-ups and your morning routine around an eight-hour sleep window – a time you ‘protect’, no matter how full your post-lockdown diary starts to get. You might struggle to drift off after a busy, buzzy day, so try winding down with a book and a cup of chamomile tea an hour before bed.
Our favourite Night-time routine? Taking a dropper of our peppermint-flavoured Night- Time CBD Oil Drops.
4. Do a Digital Detox
It’s not easy to unplug entirely, but allocating time for a digital detox can have a surprising effect on your mood, allowing you to focus on life outside social media. If you find endless scrolling swallows up a lot of time, set aside one day per week where you don’t look at your phone, and concentrate on other activities that bring joy. Alternatively, switch your phone’s settings to add time limits on certain apps, and set a reminder when you’ve spent too long browsing Instagram or responding to out-of-hours Slacks.
5. Use Your Left Brain
Few things calm a busy mind like a dose of creativity, so try exploring new hobbies and crafts that allow you to tap into your left brain. It could be something simple, like gardening or mindful colouring-in, which you can pick up easily whenever you have a few minutes to spare. You could also try learning some new skills, such as pottery, painting or creative writing. Whatever you choose, do it knowing that it doesn’t have to be perfect – it just has to be fun.
6. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is the unspoken hero of the wellness world; a feeling and practice that can help ease negative emotions by reminding you of all there is to be thankful for. According to studies, those with a grateful mindset may sleep better or show fewer signs of depression. But how do you encourage gratitude during challenging periods?
One tactic is to start a gratitude journal, which means setting time aside to really think about the best things in your life, before putting them down on paper to read back when you’re feeling low. It’s okay not to be okay, and it’s vital you process your feelings – good and bad – but when you do need a boost, try this simple trick to bring your focus back to the positive.
7. Clear Out Clutter
Whoever coined the term ‘tidy house, tidy mind’ might be onto something. Clearing out your messiest cupboards and drawers feels both rewarding and surprisingly relaxing. There’s that point in the middle where you pull everything out and wonder, ‘was this a good idea?’ But, by the end, you’ll have a cleaner, more organised space that’s easier to navigate.
8. Plant Something
No stylish home is complete without a houseplant (or five) – but did you know that greenery can also offer stress-relieving, mood-enhancing properties? The right plant will neutralise the air around you, while lending a sense of wellbeing. Plant up flowers and leafy greens that are easy to maintain, like soothing peace lilies, freshly-scented eucalyptus and durable snake plants.
9. Hit the ‘Unfollow’ Button
We all have those Instagram accounts we follow for the wrong reasons; the ones that represent a false sense of ‘perfection’, which you then compare to your own completely normal life. Do yourself a favour, and hit ‘unfollow’ on every account that makes you feel negative. If it’s an account run by someone you know, you could also hit ‘mute’ without them knowing you’re no longer seeing their posts.
10. Start a CBD Routine
Sometimes, self-care can be as simple as taking a daily supplement. Consider adding CBD to your daily routine, and discover why this food supplement has the wellness world abuzz. Our CBD Discovery Kit holds two trial-sized CBD Oil Drops that give you a taste of the compound, featuring our citrusy Bright Days CBD oil and pepperminty Night Time CBD oil tincture. Use one in the AM and one in the PM for round-the-clock dosage.
