Self-care can seem selfish, however, being the best you for yourself makes you the best you for everyone else in your life. During the holiday season, life gets a little busier than usual. Self-care is a daily practice that we, as women, moms, wives, employees – need to be more attentive to, in order to bring balance to your routine.

Here are 10 ideas to incorporate and practice self-care into your busy life!

1. Schedule Time for Self-Care in Your Daily Agenda.

If I don’t proactively schedule this, either mentally or on my calendar, life takes over. I need sacred time alone first thing in the morning to meditate, pray, read scripture, or all of the above.  This sets the tone for my day and is too valuable to skip for an extra few minutes of sleep.

2. Eat Empowered

I talk about this all the time!  Fueling my body in a way that is energizing and nourishing helps me feel better and tackle my responsibilities with enthusiasm.  During the holidays, I eat really healthy 80% of the time, but really enjoying my favorite desserts and holiday dishes (with ZERO guilt) 20% of the time.

If I give in to the indulgences more than the 20% of the time, my body aches with inflammation.   I get swollen and feel puffy, have headaches, moods swings, weight gain, and digestive issues.  I risk a relapse into a full-blown sugar addiction. It is NOT worth it!

3. Sweat Often

Exercise is often the first thing that goes when my schedule is too full. This is not OK, our bodies are designed to move and groove.  Finding an exercise or a sport that you enjoy is important.  Listening to your body, but still challenging yourself will help you get stronger and also feel more confident.

I can knock out a 10 minute HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) work out or a quick 15-minute strength training AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) to get my blood pumping.  But, sometimes I need a run outside (it might be slow and steady) to get regroup mentally and even spiritually. It is also important to be exercising to help burn off some of the extra calories you might be consuming, and help re-set insulin sensitivity (which is a very good thing!).

4. Being “In The Moment”

Being mindfully present and focusing on what is in front of me. Decreasing screen time and limiting social media. This is hard! I literally have to leave my phone in another room or turn it on airplane mode sometimes.

Put that phone away at the dinner table!  Be with the people/ person that is in your presence, connecting with them, not with 1000 of your best Facebook friends.

Seriously, every special event doesn’t need to make it on social media. You can literally miss beautiful, precious moments trying to get the perfect picture and have the best “post”.

5. Deep Breathing

Practice 8 count box breathing that taps into the parasympathetic nervous system and literally forces the body to relax.  This practice is taught to Navy Seals and other elite fighting forces to provide them with a reliable way to reset their bodies and minds during stressful situations. If it can work for these soldiers to reduce their stress and help them relax and stay calm, it certainly can work in our lives of a much different (and likely not as great) level of stress.

6. Sleep

Adequate sleep has been shown over and over again to be beneficial in so many ways. It can improve your heart, mind, and body in various ways.  Researchers have shown that satisfactory sleep can lead to improved memory and greater attention and ability to focus during the day.  Averaging greater than six and a half hours of sleep a night can not only allow for a longer lifespan, but improves the quality of life during those years as well. Physical performance is improved with a regular uninterrupted sleep of 8-10 hours. Mental performance at work and school is also enhanced with adequate sleep at night. Inflammation of joints and your arteries is significantly decreased with adequate sleep.

Just as important is the reduction in overall mental and physical stress that getting a good night’s sleep provides.  This benefit has far-ranging effects in itself.  So, get to bed at a reasonable time and turn off the television, put down your devices and get busy sleeping!

7. Indulge in Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salt baths provide the body with magnesium sulfate, which is a key ingredient for healthy detoxification.  Add 1 cup of Dr. Teal’s Epsom salts to your bath.  Remember, this is your time, not to be rushed; soak 15- 20 minutes, play some relaxing music in the background, light your favorite candle and enjoy!  This is your time to practice self-care ( I do this every day!)

8. Keep a Gratitude Journal

Gratitude reboots our brain to be happier! Write down 5 things you are grateful for every single day!

Before you hop out of the bed in the morning, utter thanks for 3 things,  1 can be the same each day, (like a cup of coffee), but the other 2 need to be different each morning.

9. Have a “Not-To-Do List”

You have to say No to some good things.  We simply cannot do all and be all to everyone.  Saying NO is really hard, especially to us, people pleasers.  Know and own your daily agenda and daily purpose.  Don’t be quick to say yes every time you’re asked.  Rather say, “let me think about it and get back to you”.  This gives you an opportunity to pause and make a wise decision based on what works with the rest of your life, and not feel pressured to serve, help, volunteer or anything else that requires your time and energy.

10. Cultivate Relationships

We are created for community.  Good healthy relationships don’t magically happen, they take time, energy and intention.

This past week, I reached out to 3 friends and caught up with them.  I invited them to lunch or dinner.  I can honestly say it was difficult to take the time away from impending work deadlines, however, relationships fill our lives on a “soul” level.  I was re-energized from the time with each one.

I hope you will truly take care and love yourself~ so you can be your best self! You are worth it!

LOVE,
AMY