Guest post by Janelle Lorenzini
Are you constantly putting yourself second? Always making up excuses as to why you don’t have time to look after yourself and give yourself the self-care it needs to get through your busy week? Me too! I was always finding random excuses to not stop and be kind to myself. Then one day I burnt out and ended up in hospital. In the end after ignoring all the warning signs and living off hardly any sleep, it was time to make some immediate changes.
This year I made a promise to myself, on a piece of paper in my journal on 1 January that this year would be the year that I cared about ME! Breaking bad habits has been hard, I won’t lie but the more you are mindful and put your ideas and goals into practise over time like anything it becomes a normal everyday habit.
Below are five ways that you can start planning for self-care. By Sunday evening your body will thank you for it. Our bodies are like computers, we also need to stop and restart.
Schedule it
In your diary schedule in self-care appointments. By that I mean with just yourself. Depending on your schedule it can either be 30 minutes or even 60 minutes. This can be daily or every two days it is entirely up to you. Or if you are like me and have a tight schedule you can break them up into 15-minute time slots over the day, be creative.
Create your list
Write a list in your diary of all the things you would love to do between now and December. Things that will make your heart sing and that YOU want to do. This could be anything from reading 5 books, learning to master yoga, try that local dance class or even start a blog. The list goes on and it’s your list so start writing.
Stop for five minutes
Incorporate 5 minutes in the middle of your busy day to stop and just breathe. Sit outside if you have access to an outdoor area, close your eyes and just listen to your surroundings whilst breathing in and out. I have found that this little exercise, really helps me recharge on the days I don’t have self-care appointments scheduled or if I feel like I am becoming overwhelmed because my to-do list is forever growing.
Stay motivated
Surround yourself with positive affirmations. These can be positive quotes or books that you come across. If you read a new positive affirmation daily, this will keep your mind empowered and motivated.
Have fun!
Overall just have fun. Be creative, you don’t need to spend a fortune on all these self-care appointments. It’s really about making an appointment to be with yourself, to slow down and be present. There is no point booking an appointment if you are constantly thinking about your to-do list that you know you will get to after your self-care appointment is over.
It is really important that you use this time to really switch off from your busy life and recharge. It will take practice and it won’t happen immediately for some of you but the more practice the easier it becomes. We are learning to break old habits therefore allow time for new changes to eventually become new habits.
I hope these tips have inspired you to take time out of your day to say “yes!” to you!
I would love to know what is on your self-care list in the comments below.
About our Gorgeous Guest
Janelle Lorenzini is passionate about living a balanced, healthy and happy life. After suffering from severe stress and anxiety in the corporate world, Janelle decided to take on a new career path and become a Counsellor. With only 6 months to go until she is accredited she is working on ways to give back to the community. Janelle writes at janellelorenzini.com where she shares her story and practical tips to help you live a happy and fulfilled life.
You can connect with Janelle on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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