5 Ways To Take Care of Yourself
In Just A Few Minutes Every Day
When you are in a state of constant hustle and bustle, it is obvious that you forget to take care of yourself. Self-care may seem like a time-consuming task, which let's face it… you probably skip.
But putting aside that busy lifestyle for just a few minutes is not so difficult. It's important to know that taking care of yourself is crucial and can increase your productivity in an amazing way.
So here are five ways to take care of yourself in just a few minutes each day...
1. 1-Minute Deep breathing
If you’re under a lot of stress throughout the day, a 1-minute deep breathing session may help you to combat it in a natural way. No matter where you are, if you feel exhausted, a deep breath can instantly make you notice the difference. When you practice deep breathing in the morning, it keeps you energetic and free from stress throughout the day. Most of us tend to breath fast and take short breaths that do not completely fill the lungs, thus this reduces our energy levels and may make us feel anxious.
Just choose a comfortable place to sit and take deep breaths. Make sure your body is completely relaxed, breathe through your nose and let the fresh air fill your chest and belly. Exhale the air and repeat the process a few more times. You can do this deep breathing exercise 1-2 times every day to fight anxiety.
2. Have a nutritional breakfast
If you are skipping the most important meal of the day, you might be making a big mistake. Since your body needs energy at the beginning of the day, you need nutrients. Choosing what you eat for breakfast is so important. It's easy to munch on processed or packaged food when you are running low on time, but this can cause various problems to your health.
It is always best to plan your next day's breakfast the night before if you can. Try to make your own breakfast which shouldn't take more than 5 minutes, unless you are up to cooking something special. Don't forget to add a good amount of fruits and vegetables in your breakfast. These foods contain antioxidants and fiber that are great for the body and the skin. These foods are ready in minutes and provides you a filling and nutritious meal, which is a great way to start the day.
3. Meditate
There are numerous scientifically proven benefits of meditation. It is a great way to take care of yourself and address your mental and emotional wellbeing. It reduces stress, increases focus and wards off negative thinking. Meditation has been used for many years to attain peace and happiness. If you can take out just a few minutes of time for meditation, you will be able to find the difference from the very first session.
The best part is, you can meditate almost anytime and at any quite place you like. It could be a room in your house, under a tree, near a river or just at a quiet corner of your office. The goal is to focus on a single thing for some time and eliminate all the other thoughts that keep wandering your mind.
As a beginner, you may start to meditate for 1-5 minutes and gradually increase the time as you start reaping the benefits. Find a suitable place to sit comfortably. Do some stretching exercises to loosen your body and feel at ease. Close your eyes and follow your breathing pattern. Feel the air entering your body and filling you up with positive energy. While you exhale, focus on your breath and how it leaves your body along with your negative energies. You may also chant a mantra and completely focus on it as you meditate. A pleasant visual object such as a flame of a candle can also help you to meditate as a beginner.
Try an app like Insight Timer or Calm to help get you started too.
4. Read an inspirational book
With so much stress and anger around, there can be a lot of negativity that keeps filling in your mind. Reading can be the food for your mind and help in reducing stress and keeping you focused on obtaining your goals and dreams. People have been known to have their lives changed by just one book.
Books help in building up your belief system in yourself and your abilities. A good book also helps you choose the right path and make better decisions at work and in your relationships. In a nutshell, reading an inspirational book will ward off negative thoughts and help you grow as a better person with each passing day. A habit of reading at bedtime will reduce exposure to gadgets just before sleep, which will lead to a much deeper rest.
5. Have a relaxing bath
Ok so we cheated here and made this one longer, but there is nothing more relaxing than a bath. Baths not only keep your skin nice and smooth, they help relax the body and release tension in the muscles.
Go the extra step and add Epsom salt to your bath. It helps in relieving stress and soreness in an amazing way while rejuvenating your body and helping you feel more peaceful.
In addition to the above five ways to take care of yourself, don't forget to take your vitamins. They not only help you to stay healthy and beautiful but also protects you from a wide range of ailments. Our body usually does not get the recommended dose of the vitamins through our food. Thus, taking the supplements ensures an adequate supply of these vitamins to your body.
Taking out a few minutes may seem difficult in the beginning, but these above ways can help you to evaluate the benefits of self-care and help you take out some more time to spend for your body and mind. Remember, it is always good to take care of everyone around you but it is equally important to take care of yourself.