If you aren’t a resolution person, it’s probably because the fear of not accomplishing is overwhelming for you or you don’t believe in the notion. But what we recommend is looking at making some decisions of self-care so that your emotional, mental and physical health will thrive in making sure that you get small doses of kindness every day.
What does self-care mean?
This might be a new buzz for you, as it has had many names over the years. But self-care is taking care of yourself so that you are functioning at your best to take care of the people and duties that are counting on you. Often when people hear self-care, they immediately think of taking time to be self-indulgent and have the ‘me’ time. Self-care means being aware of everything you need to do to keep your mind and body fit and healthy.
Self-care doesn’t need to time consuming or expensive, but it needs to make an impact on your mind and body.
Here are some small ways to access those mood boosters and keep your mind happy all year long:
- Surround yourself with positive messages.
When you feel worried, focus on positive messages or mantras that give you daily encouragements and is calming for you. For example, create a calendar with motivational quotes, put an image on your mirror in the morning for when you wake up or even buy an app on your phone that gives you positive mantra quotes for the day. You will find that you need 4 positives to outsay any negative thoughts, so if you are surrounded by them before going to school or work you will already get the boost that you need.
- Let go of the idea of perfection.
Actively remind yourself that you are wonderfully, naturally imperfect. Nobody is perfect, everyone has some sort of fear or something that they want to change about themselves. So, what you need to do is normalise the little imperfections that make you lovely and you ‘you’. Whether it’s the way you look, dress or smile, allow yourself to see the good in you.
- Take mini timeouts.
A timeout doesn’t need to be long; it needs to be a moment where you think about yourself for once. It could be enjoying a cup of tea, a 10-minute meditation, or a brief stretch/yoga session. When you take mini timeouts for self-care, you allow your body, mind, and spirit time to rest and recharge.
- Journaling.
Sometimes you need a ‘safe place’ to unload your thoughts and feelings and also to get something off your chest that is bothering you. When you bottle things in, you create unnecessary anxiety that unfortunately continues to grow until you let it out.
Journaling could also help with writing down your dreams, what you hope to achieve or what you have achieved thus far. Which opens your mind to positive thoughts, and helps with your self-confidence and inspire you to do something new.
FACT: Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Frederick Douglass all kept journals or diaries. How do you think that we found about their inventions, pasts and all their experiences? Kahlo and da Vinci even used illustrations to express emotions and sketch out ideas.
- Move your body regularly.
Movement releases natural happy hormones. Have you ever wondered that when you start your exercise routine you don’t feel like it, but after you did you are glad you did it?
When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that triggers a positive feeling in the body. By taking care of your physical body, you improve your chances of keeping your mind healthy as well.
Even if you put on your favourite music and dance around the house. Any movement floods the brain with happy hormones.
These days, there is a lot of emotional and negative thoughts on social media and the news; it’s best to remind yourself of the good things in your life. Research other methods that can make you happy and practice this for a full year, you won’t regret it!
If you are looking for a new career or pathway in 2022, then look at our Youth Training courses. For more information about the courses, visit our website ways.org.au/ways-youth-training/ or register your interest by contacting [email protected] or call Billie on 0405 074 617.