6 Self Care Habits That Changed My Life

I'm sure I can speak for just about everybody when I say the past twelve months have been, for want of a better phrase, utter sh*t.

It has gotten too easy lately to neglect very simple yet important rituals to ensure you're taking care of yourself. Here are six self-care habits that have changed my life for the better.

#1. Write It Out.

I would argue that I have the loudest brain, especially in our current climate. My mind will zip from one thought to the next at break-neck speed, leaving me overwhelmed and suffering from whiplash. The worst is at night time. I could be tired all day long, but as soon as my head hits the pillow, my thoughts yell at me and crash around like a pinball machine. Nice one, brain.

A great way of channelling these thoughts and creating some calm in your mind is to keep a journal.

A massive trend as of late has been Bullet Journalling; (if you don't know what that is, basically just imagine what porn would look like if it was based solely on notebooks and stationery) however, these types of journals focus more on organisation and day-to-day tasks. I'm talking about a journal for all your thoughts, worries, fears, the 'shut-the-f**k-up-I'm-trying-to-sleep' kinda stuff. A journal doesn't have to be beautiful, it just needs to be a place that you can dump all of your thoughts.

The reason I'm saying this, and it's not to throw shade at Bullet Journalists, is because sometimes in this world of aesthetically-pleasing and Instagrammable diary entries, we often lose sight of what a journal can actually be useful for. Don't be afraid to let loose in your journal, get all of your inner-most-demon's dialogue down and let it stay there, away from your precious mind.

Buy yourself a journal and leave it by your bed. When a thought bubbles up in your mind and won't leave, write it down. You'd be surprised at the effectiveness this has.

#2. Move

Every single day I endeavour to move. And, no, I'm not just talking about shuffling to the kettle to make a cup of coffee, I mean, really move.

I'm not saying that I run 5k and lift mad weights every day (though, if you're a cute girl reading this, scratch that, that is absolutely what I do).

Taking a walk in your local park, doing a light work out or some yoga can work wonders for not only your body, but also your mind and your attitude. I never realised that just adding 30 minutes of concentrated movement to my daily routine could completely change my outlook on life.

It is so easy, especially lately, to sit in your home and let the world pass you by; but, I guarantee you, no one has ever been for a walk or worked out for half an hour and thought: 'Wow, that was a waste of time, I feel terrible'.

You wake up and exist every morning, thanks to your body, how magical is that? It carries you through this world with impressive ease, so, make sure you say thank you by stretching those legs every once in a while.

#3. One Woman Party

This self-care habit is my personal favourite and has surely changed my life. Given the party-less state of the world right now, it is absolutely perfect for the coming months.

Every now and then, when you're feeling a little low, turn your speaker up full blast (or, if you have sh*tty neighbours, put your headphones in) and blare your favourite tracks full pelt; whether they be hardcore metal, cheesy pop hits or rap, let them consume you for a little while.

This habit is all about letting go and having fun. Sing into a hairbrush like you're the star of an American coming-of-age movie, dance for yourself in the mirror like no one is watching. If you think this sounds ridiculous, you have no idea of the power that this ritual holds.

Sometimes, life gets a bit too serious. The news is miserable. Maybe you're going through a break-up. Maybe your mental health is getting the better of you. Whatever the reason, dedicate a good half an hour to just dancing it the f*ck out. One woman party style. I bet you'll feel better.

#4. Give Your Mind Something To Smile About

It is so easy at the moment to consume nothing but negative media content. It feels like no matter where you look, something bad is happening in the world; it feels almost inescapable.

As much as our media is saturated in negativity at the moment, most of which is beyond our control or capabilities to help with, it is very important that you take ownership of what you can control in this situation: what you consume.

Take a break from checking the news. Boycott comparing your life to those who are seemingly more 'successful' than you on Instagram. Ignore or unfollow people who spout negative sh*t all over the timeline. Colour your thoughts and your feed with positive content.

My dad always tells me 'you become like those you associate yourself with', and that is applicable even with the content you consume. If you're always reading into negative stuff, you're never gonna feel that great. Of course, it's important to keep up to date with the affairs of the world, but, it doesn't have to be the only thing you read up on.

Since I stopped letting the negativity of the world consume me and paid more attention to the positive, I have been infinitely happier. Swap out that tragic Covid story for a cute puppy video, perhaps. Always lean into the positive.

#5. Gratitude is King

I have always had an issue with getting older; I'm always shrouded in thoughts about what I haven't achieved in each passing year and forgetting all that I should be proud of or grateful for.

I was sick of feeling this way, so, a couple of days before my 23rd birthday, I wrote a list in my journal: '22 Things to Be Proud Of'. I made a list of 22 things (obviously) that I had achieved, qualities about myself that I liked or impressive milestones in my life.

This was such a powerful experience for me, and, when I turned 23 in November, I didn't feel that usual nauseous oh-f*ck-I'm-getting-old feeling, instead, I felt excited about what my list would look like this time next year.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to pat yourself on the back for what you have achieved so far in life, to be grateful for all that you have and to look upon your life with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

I encourage you to start your day by writing down three things that you're grateful for, proud of, or both. Whether that be the people in your life, your shiny new job, your dope music taste or the fact you can tie a cherry stem in a knot with your tongue (I don't know, it's the first thing that came to mind), own all the good things about your life. Gratitude is such a valuable tool in changing your outlook on life.

#6. Get Introspective

I read a quote once, and I'm sure you've read it too, that resonated with me:

"Elevation requires isolation".

Though this pandemic has been a total sh*t show, it's important to use this rare time of quiet and solitude to your advantage: looking at your own life and asking yourself questions that you might not normally have the time to ask.

Are you happy? What do you want from life? Are you headed in the right direction? Could you make any positive changes? What brings you joy? What are you holding onto that no longer serves you? Are you surrounded by positive energy? Are there things you haven't healed from that you need to pay attention to?

These are a few examples of things I have been trying to ask myself lately to elevate my own life, my sense of self and my self love. Now is the perfect time to get introspective with yourself and ask those heavy questions, before the hustle and bustle of life distracts us once more.

Full disclosure, it probably won't be a comfortable experience, at least, it wasn't for me the first time I did it. I used to be one of those people who would run from these questions - too heavy! Sue me! But, how can we expect to grow if we don't push ourselves from our comfort zone?

Getting a little uncomfortable and delving deep into my mind from time to time has been one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Every day I wake up, and I know myself a little bit better than before. But, like a puppy isn't just for Christmas, this self-care habit isn't just for lock-down. This is a life-long habit that will always, always be relevant and useful.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a small tip so that I can keep creating content! Y'know, 2020 wasn't exactly fruitful. Peace!