Self-Care With A Difference: 5 Unconventional Rituals You Need To Start Immediately *

*Collaborative Post.

Stressed out? Check your calendar and make sure you have enough time to tackle all your responsibilities this week. Double-check your email and make sure you didn’t miss anything. Maybe you’re just feeling a little blah and unsure how to get your mojo back.  

No matter the reason, you need to take care of yourself more often than not. Stress can take a severe toll on your body, leaving you feeling worn out and exhausted. But no need to panic! There are plenty of simple self-care habits you can start this week to help you recharge and get back to your best self. 

Read on for 5 ways you can help take care of yourself this week that you’ve probably never heard of.

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Why Does Self-Care Help?

You might be wondering why you should care about self-care at all. Well, stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your body, leaving you feeling exhausted, foggy-headed, and overall unwell. These feelings can make it hard for many people to focus at work or school or even go to sleep at night. 

But if you’re not getting enough rest or exercise, it can also lead to chronic pain, digestive issues, and weight gain. And if you don’t address it early, the stress in your life can escalate, making it harder to unwind and relax. So when you’re feeling down or stressed, it’s important to prioritize taking care of yourself. Not only will it help you feel better, but you’ll have more energy to tackle your day and live a happier life. 

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Talk Yourself Up

You’re feeling overwhelmed. Like you can’t possibly tick off every job on your to-do list. Taking a minute for ourselves helps. But many of us feel anxious or guilty about taking time for ourselves. It can be easier to just keep pushing through the days, figuring out what needs to be done and how you can get it all done. But that’s not the healthy thing to do. In fact, it’s exactly what causes you stress. Allowing your feelings to dictate how you respond is self-sabotage at its finest. 

But there’s one thing you can do to help yourself feel better: talk to yourself like you would a friend. Be kind to yourself, but also try to be realistic. If you’ve got a lot of things on your plate, or you just haven’t been sleeping well, it’s okay to take a moment to talk to yourself like you would a friend. Then, help yourself calm down by reminding yourself why you deserve some Wiggle Room. 

And Quit Being So Hard On Yourself

If you feel like you’re beating yourself up too much, it might be because you really are beating yourself up too much. There’s no shame in taking a break from the routine when you’ve reached a breaking point or feel particularly burned out. 

You’ve worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get where you are today. And sometimes, life can get in the way and leave you feeling scattered and overwhelmed. So whether it’s hitting the pause button on your to-do list or agreeing to take a break from a project, saving your energy is essential. So when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, it’s okay to take a break and not feel guilty about it. Quit being so hard on yourself. And when you’ve got it under control again, you can get back to work with a fresh, clear perspective.

Have A Hugging Huddle

Hugging can be a great way to help yourself feel more grounded and centred. It can also be a great way to help yourself feel loved and cared for when you’re feeling alone or like you’re struggling with self-worth. So hit up your closest family and friends. Then bring them in for a hugging huddle. A good cuddle is excellent for our mental health because it releases feel-good endorphins, bringing our mood up. And it makes us feel closer to our loved ones. It lets us know we’re not alone.

Hugging isn’t just something you do when around family and friends. You can also use hugging to help yourself feel loved and cared for when you need it the most. So the next time you’re feeling really low or alone in your struggle, hug yourself. This will help remind you that you’re cared for and loved and not alone.

Break To Breathe

Sometimes, you’ve just got to take a break. You’ve got a ton going on, and it’s overwhelming. But the best thing you can do for yourself right now does not add to the pile of stuff you’ve got to do. So if you’ve got a tonne of things you need to get done, but you’re just not in the mood for it, don’t do them. 

It’s essential to keep your head in the game, but it’s just as important to take care of yourself. And the best way to do that is to take a break from the stress in your life. Sometimes you need to step away from the computer and the office. Whether it’s a shift in scenery or a change of pace, it’s important to get your mind off of work and other obligations. When you take a break, follow some calming breathing exercises. They’ll help you refocus, regroup, and able to tackle whatever’s ahead. 

Take A Nap

Getting enough sleep is crucial for your health and well-being, but so many of us skip it because we feel like we have to be productive. But if you’re not getting quality sleep, it can seriously impact your energy levels and cause you to feel groggy and even irritable during the day. Sleep is so good for us because it helps us to regenerate. And it gives our minds a chance to make sense of everything that’s happened throughout the day. 

But if you’re still struggling, naps can be a great way to help yourself reboot and get your energy back up. Try to stick to napping in 20-minute increments. That’s because 20 minutes is the length of a sleep cycle. But anything more than 2 hours will see you slip into a deep sleep. And that’ll leave you feeling more tired than before the nap. 

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The Usual Stuff Works Too

Self-care isn’t about being perfect all the time. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a break and treat yourself to something that you know will help you feel better. For example, if you’ve got a kid(s) at home, they can help you slow down and take some time to regroup and recharge. And if you don’t have kids, a pet can remind you that you’re worth taking care of. So hit up your friends for a social break, head online for a shopping splurge, or cook up something that brings you joy. You could also invest in the best massage chair to take a relaxing moment for yourself at home.

While there are many helpful ways to help yourself out there, sometimes you just need to eat a bunch of candy and eat a bunch of ice cream. There’s no shame in needing a treat every now and then. Whether you prefer a bath, a book, a cup of tea, or a walk-in nature, there are plenty of ways to help you de-stress and recharge.