Opinions
Seven self-care tips to try in 2018
by Yvanne Dandan
Taking care of oneself – mind, body, and soul – is always worth prioritizing.
Goal-driven individuals like you and I have jam-packed schedules: school, work, projects, volunteer, and somewhere in there, squeezing in a social life. It can be easy to neglect taking care of ourselves as we try to keep up the juggling act of balancing our priorities. However, failing to look after ourselves can significantly impact how we are able to give to the world and those around us.
First off, what is self-care? Let me begin by saying what self-care is not: it is not about being selfish. Rather, self-care is about recharging, healing, and refreshing your spirit by making intentional decisions to take time for yourself. The impact of this “me time” eventually overflows into other areas of your life, quite naturally, if done right.
“Other people benefit from your “me time” too. Do things that feed you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and you’ll bring greater patience and positivity to your relationships.” – WebMD. So be mindful not to look at self-care through the lens of guilt.
“Be kinder to yourself and then let your kindness flood the world.” – Pema Chodron.
Here are seven self-care tips I encourage you to incorporate in your life this new year:
1. Have “slow mornings”
I just started this one this year and I absolutely love this! This tip involves waking up a bit earlier than usual and creating a morning routine that you would be excited to wake up to. For me this means waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual and now having the time to make my favourite breakfast and watch an episode or two of my favourite TV series as I get ready for my day - all without feeling rushed before heading out the door!
2. Practice meditation
Learning how to stop, take a few breaths, and carry a lighter heart will allow you to more effectively perform during the rest of the day. One of my favourite apps for meditation is “Calm.” This app is so great because, not only does it have guided meditation, it has added features to assist in a more peaceful sleep or music for focused work time.
3. Make joy your compass
This one’s simple: do things that bring more joy to your life. There’s no point wasting time doing anything else.
4. Finally do “that thing” you’ve always wanted to do.
Maybe it was learning how to speak French or taking up kickboxing. Whatever it is, you owe it to yourself to finally do it!
5. Learn how to say “no”
Whether it’s saying “no” to an invitation to hang out with friends because you know it’s probably better for you to get more sleep, or saying “no” to bad habits. Saying “no” to the world in order to say “yes” to soul is always a trade-off worth making.
6. Lift up your spirits daily
We are creatures of habit, so why not create habits that yield positive outcomes? If we give ourselves words of encouragement on a regular basis, eventually we will carry ourselves with more confidence and joy. I want to invite you to have a daily positive dialogue with yourself to lift up your spirits.
7. Forgive yourself
Life is a combination of rise and fall and your story is no exception. Love yourself by learning to forgive yourself for any of the challenges to come. Be kinder to yourself and show yourself mercy as you would to a dear friend.
There you go seven self-care tips to try in 2018! Of course, these are but a few ideas on how to enhance your self-care recipe this year. Above all, this article is a reminder that taking care of yourself is a priority. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.”
Wishing all of you the best year yet! Continue striving for those goals and reaching for the stars.
Yvanne enjoys empowering youth to discover their limitless potential in her current role as Program Manager with Career Trek Inc. She’s also an Independent Pop, R&B/Soul Singer-Songwriter and utilizes this platform to communicate messages dear to heart. Yvanne is a big encourager of following one’s dreams and supporting others along the way. She is happy to be sharing her thoughts and journey with readers of the Pilipino Express since her middle-school years.