Every day you take time to go to work, go grocery shopping, pay the bills, see your friends or visit your parents. But do you take the time to take care of yourself? When our lives are chaotic and we are running around just trying to make it through the day as best as we can, it is easy to neglect our bodies and minds. If your schedule is crazy busy, if you have a stressful job and you have forgotten the meaning of me-time, it is time to make some changes in your life. After all, you cannot focus on yourself only when you are ill! Follow these useful tips and get started with your self-care.

Get enough sleep
A lot of people believe that not getting enough sleep doesn’t affect them, as long as they have cups filled with coffee or bottles of some energy drink. However, a good night’s sleep is important for your physical as well as emotional health, and tossing and turning every night can cause major health issues. If falling asleep is difficult for you, there are some strategies that might help you. First of all, you need to stop eating or drinking immediately before bed, as well as steer clear of caffeine and sugar. Second of all, make sure your bedroom is free of distractions, such as a TV, laptop or phone. Put darkening curtains on your windows to keep the sun from waking you up too early and do something that relaxes you before bedtime.

Exercise on a daily basis
Are you stressed, anxious and tired all the time? Then you need to start working out regularly. Maybe you believe that this will make you feel even more exhausted, but regular physical activity can, in fact, boost your energy levels as well as improve your mental and physical health. Of course, you don’t have to live in a gym in order to stay active. Simply try to incorporate more walking, jogging or yoga into your schedule.

Pamper yourself
Every single day do one thing that makes you happy. You can go out for ice cream, get lost in a good book, watch a great movie, take a nap, get a manicure or basically anything that helps you unwind and relax. For most people bubble baths are an inevitable part of their self-care ritual, so fill up your tub, play your favourite music, thoroughly wash your feet, hair and scrub every part of your body and give yourself a facial. These activities might seem silly, but they can turn your frown upside down and your bad day into a great one.

Eat right
The food you eat can either make you healthy and happy, or can contribute to weight gain and various diseases. If you want to practise self-care, you need to eat more fatty fish, blueberries, nuts and green leafy veggies, while avoiding junk food.

Remember that it is okay to say no
Maybe your friends consider you their go-to person and you are always there to solve their problems, but saying no to them doesn’t make you a bad person. When someone asks for your time or energy and you have none to spare, helping them anyway can lead to burnout, anxiety, and irritability. Putting yourself and your needs first every now is absolutely necessary for your well-being, so don’t hesitate to say no.

Whether you eat a plate of fruit, sleep in, get your nails done, stay at home when you are exhausted or take a solo trip, it is highly important that you do something for yourself on a regular basis. Sometimes it can be hard to find the extra time for self-care in your busy schedule, but these moments can do wonders for your overall health.