You’ve got a to-do list that feels like it’s a mile long. There are kids to run around, social and church commitments, work deadlines to meet, and a house to keep clean. To get everything done, you put yourself aside and focus on fulfilling the needs of everyone around you. Neglecting yourself isn’t good for anyone. Sure, you’re getting your kids where they need to be and putting meals on the table, but you’re left in a state of constant physical and mental exhaustion, which makes you feeling helpless, overwhelmed, and extremely stressed out. How will you get anything done if you’re suffering from burnout?
Luckily, there’s a simple way to avoid those feelings: self-care. No matter how long your to-do list is or how busy you are, you have to take some time for self-care. These self-care techniques can be as simple as laying your head down for 3-5 minutes a day or giving your favorite pillow a quick cuddle. Despite how busy you may think you are, there are hundreds of self-care techniques you can practice to keep yourself sane, avoid getting burned out, and are quick to complete.
Declutter Something
Plug in a Humidifier
A low-maintenance way to take care of yourself is to use a humidifier. There are many health benefits to humidifiers, especially during the winter. The air in your home is naturally more dry during the winter season and cranking up the heater only makes it worse. Dry air can take a toll on your respiratory system and may result in dry eyes, sore throat, chapped skin and lips, itchy skin, and you're more susceptible to colds and the flu. Investing in a high-quality humidifier can make the air in your home more pleasant and brings about a surprising number of benefits. Boosting your immune system, relieving congestion, preventing dry skin, and improving sleep patterns are just a few of the ways a humidifier can keep you and your home more comfortable. The best part? All you have to do is plug it in and it goes to work for you, making it a perfect choice on the days you’re really strapped for time.
Stretch and Breathe
On the days you’re feeling overly run down, stretch and breathe. Sounds simple right? It is! Stretching out your body helps to keep your muscles flexible and healthy. Sitting in a chair all day can cause your hamstrings to get incredibly tight. If you don’t stretch them out, it can make extending your leg more difficult. Over time, this can affect your ability to walk. Not regularly stretching your muscles makes it easier for them to get damaged when you do use them. Studies have shown that regular stretching leads to muscles that are long, lean, and flexible. Plus it’s a great way to get rid of stress, improve circulation, and reduced pain and stiffness.
Breathing is probably something you don’t think about too often, but you should. Taking a few deep breaths has shown to have an incredible effect on stress. When you’re stressed, your breathing patterns change, which means your body isn’t getting the necessary oxygen it needs. Breathing deeply and slowly can help to regulate your breathing, which results in lower stress hormones in the blood, increased energy, and increased feelings of calm.
Journaling
Keeping a journal doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Don’t feel like you need to write lengthy entries every time you journal. There are plenty of ways you can use your journal for self-care. Exploring and observing your feelings, creating a gratitude list, listing things you love about your life, or just ranting are just a few ways you can use your journal.
On the days you’re having a particularly bad day, journaling can be the perfect cure. Opening up to a blank page and dumping all your feelings out can help clear your mind and may even help you get to the root of a particular problem or worry. Writing until there’s no thoughts left in your brain can help you get rid of the stressors from your day and help you focus on tackling your to-do list, instead of wallowing in self-pity.
Find Out What People Love About You
Talking to your friends or coworkers might be one of the last things you feel like doing on the days you’re completely overwhelmed. That’s because stress has a way of making us think the worst things about ourselves. We fail to see the good within ourselves and our flaws and shortcomings are what we focus on. If you find yourself as this point, you should reach out to your social support system. Send a text to your closest friends or family members a text and asking them to name three things they love about you is an incredible mood booster. Their answers can help you get rid of feelings of self-doubt and help you to see yourself as others see you. More importantly, it can help you see yourself as the Lord does. Sometimes the faith people have in us is precisely the kind of push and confidence-boost we need to do better and keep going.
Engage in a Small Act of Service
Attend a Church or Spiritual Community Service
You don’t have to limit your church-going to just Sundays. There are many benefits to going to church more than once a week. The time you spend at a church of spiritual service can help you focus your thoughts inward and clear your mind. This can help to drastically reduce your stress levels and makes you feel lighter and more confident. If you don’t have time to attend a full service, just spending a few minutes sitting in the pews or walking the church grounds can also help you escape from worldly worries for a few minutes.
Taking care of your emotional and physical needs should be something you put first. However, with everything you’ve got going on, it’s no surprise that self-care is one of the last things you worry about. Even on the days where you have so much going on you’re about ready to give up, take a few minutes to practice some self-care. These techniques don’t have to take hours away from your day, just take a few minutes to relax, refocus, and recommit. Doing so allows you to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and feel happier.
