11 Powerful Ways to Practice Self-Care so You Can Stay Energized and Focused
11 Powerful Ways to Practice Self-Care so You Can Stay Energized and Focused
Self-care is about more than just indulging in luxuries or spoiling yourself with a big treat. It's an essential daily practice that helps to keep you energized and satisfied so that you can show up for the people who need you. Practicing simple self-care involves making small but impactful intentions that will help nourish your inner being.
If we haven't met, hi, my name is Felecia! I'm a Certified High-Performance Success Coach and Business & Life Strategist! I love to help overwhelmed, stressed-out ambitious, high-achieving women maximize their time, energy, productivity, and influence so they can be present and intentional with the vital aspects of their life.
I do this through proven science-backed and outcome-based high-performance strategies, routines, habits, and mindset shifts that are simple, sustainable, and fun.
Finding time for yourself in a world of busyness can be difficult, but self-care is essential to maintain your physical and mental well-being. Don't let those ever-growing tasks take over; give yourself permission to focus on your health each day so you can manage life's demands with a smile on your face. Each day, take an item from this self-care list and make it part of your routine. Whether it's something simple like getting more sleep or unplugging for a while or planning an escape to reconnect with yourself, taking the time out will energize and motivate you to tackle all that comes your way.
Here are eleven powerful ways to practice self-care tips to help you make time for yourself and stay energized and focused:
Self-Care Tip 1| meditate
We all know that self-care is important. We need to take care of our bodies and our minds in order to live happy and healthy lives. One way to do this is through meditation. Meditation has been shown to have many positive effects on our mental and physical health. It can help to improve our concentration, reduce stress levels, and promote feelings of calm and relaxation. It can also help to boost our immune system, improve our sleep quality, and promote overall well-being. In other words, meditation is good for us! And there’s no better time to start meditating than now. So go ahead and give it a try – you might be surprised at how much better you feel.
Self-Care Tip 2 | practice saying no
One of the most important aspects of self-care is recognizing and respecting your own boundaries. When we struggle to set healthy physical or emotional limits with others, we often find ourselves committing to things that don't truly align with our own wants and needs. This can result in resentment and even outbursts of anger over time. We may also find ourselves feeling like we are being controlled by the desires of other people instead of living according to our own needs.
Dr. Lickerman notes that this is often due to the anxiety-inducing inner voice, which tells us that we risk being disliked if we say no. To combat this, we must learn to tolerate the fear associated with saying no, and recognize that others may respect us even more for it. With practice, we can better protect our own boundaries and live a life true to ourselves.
When it comes to self-care, learning the art of saying 'no' is incredibly important. Despite what inner voices may tell us, setting boundaries and respecting our own limits can help us feel more fulfilled in our lives. With a little practice, we can stay true to ourselves and live according to our own wants and needs – not the whims of others.
The key to this lies in learning to tolerate the anxiety that comes with saying no, and realizing that it can come with immense respect from those around us. So take a deep breath and remember: it’s okay to say no! Your self-care is worth it.
Self-Care Tip 3|daily gratitude journaling
The daily grind can be hard, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by stress, but finding moments of gratitude can help us stay positive. Even in our darkest hours, taking the time to recognize and appreciate simple pleasures - such as a bright sunny morning, a successful meeting at work or a special moment with family - can provide perspective that helps reframe our day. With practice, gratitude can become a natural part of life and help to cultivate an overall sense of well-being. So take a breath, be thankful for what you have, and remember that tomorrow brings fresh hope!
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few tips:
1) Find a journal that inspires you. There are so many different types of journals out there – from ones with pretty designs to ones with inspiring quotes. Find one that speaks to you and will make you excited to write in it every day.
2) Set aside time each day for reflection. Depending on how busy your life is, this might be 5 minutes or 30 minutes. But find some time each day when you can focus on gratitude without any other distractions.
3) Write down everything – big and small. The point of the journal is to document all the good things in your life, no matter how big or small they may seem. So don’t hold back!
Related Article: 11 Habits of High-Performers that will Transform your Life and Business
Self-Care Tip 4 | Indulge Your Interests
Doing what you love and finding your passion is essential for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. When you are passionate about something, time seems to fly by as if it’s nothing—you become so immersed in what you're doing that you forget the outside world. Taking risks comes naturally when working on something that means something to you.
So, put some thought into what sparks your interest and brings you joy. Choose hobbies that relax you and offer an escape from the hustle of daily life. When you take pleasure in your activities, whether at work or during leisure time, you’ll find yourself feeling more content with life.
As a high-performance coach, I can personally vouch for this—I'm often swept away by my work and the flow of the day. To keep myself in balance I’ve made sure to incorporate activities into my life that bring me joy, like sketching, cooking, music, books and travel. Self-care is key to sustaining a good mental state, and finding activities that make you happy is the best way to achieve it!
Self-Care Tip 5 | Make Your Own To-Do List
If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of the things you have to do, take a couple of minutes to write out a list of everything that's on your mind. Then, circle the five tasks that must get done and put a star next to those that would positively impact if they were completed. It may be counterintuitive, but you'll get more done if you allow yourself some downtime in the middle of your busy day.
Related Article: Simplify to thrive | 10 tips to save 3-5 hours every week
Self-Care Tip 6| Strike A Pose
You've heard about how powerful walking is for stress relief—and you know that yoga can help you wind down after a long day. What you may not know is that simply standing up straight can help improve your mood. For 2 minutes, stand with your feet hip-width distance apart and place your hands on the lower curve of your back. This pose will open up your chest cavity to promote clear breathing and leave you feeling more energized than when you started.
Self-Care Tip 7| Prepare For The Day Ahead
Your morning routine sets the tone for how your day will go—which can affect your productivity and stress levels. A recent study found that the first 90 minutes of your morning significantly impact how you feel until bedtime. To ensure those hours are as cheerful as possible, keep your alarm set to a tune that makes you smile and use that time to prepare for the day ahead. Include one thing on your to-do list, as well as something from your hobby list—like baking a cake or working on your knitting project.
Related Article: 7 ways to optimize your daily routines for maximum productivity
Self-Care Tip 8|Make Sure You're Getting Your Sleep
Did you know that sleep deprivation is as powerful as being drunk? If your child wakes up at night or you work long hours; it can be hard to get enough rest. To make sure you're getting the shut-eye you need, include a wind-down period in your bedtime ritual and avoid caffeinated beverages later in the day. If you're struggling to relax at night, try writing in a gratitude journal or reading before bed—these activities can help you sleep better.
The best gift you can give yourself is time for self-care for health and happiness.
Self-Care Tip 9|Prioritize your mental health
It's important to pay attention to your mental health just as much as your physical health. If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you manage your emotions in a healthy way. You can also try meditation or journaling as a way to calm your mind and recenter yourself. Taking care of your mental health is an essential part of self-care.
Self-Care Tip 10|Practice Self-Compassion
A little self-compassion can go a long way. When you make a mistake, instead of berating yourself, try to treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would extend to a friend. Forgive yourself, and then move on. Write down your accomplishments, big and small. Give yourself credit for the hard work you do every day. And when you're feeling low, remind yourself that everyone has down days and that this, too, shall pass.
Learning how to nurture yourself through self-compassion is an essential step in practicing self-care. To foster this kind of loving relationship with oneself, it is integral to pay attention to your inner dialogue and treat yourself the same way you would someone that you love. If your inner voice is not particularly kind, recognize it and try again with an understanding, compassionate attitude. To overcome negative self-talk that may be present over a prolonged period of time, seeking the help of a certified therapist can be immensely beneficial. By challenging and reframing our approach toward ourselves, we can create an atmosphere of acceptance and care - which is essential for self-care. Treating yourself with compassion will help you to weather the storms of life and emerge stronger than before. So go ahead and give yourself a big hug - you deserve it!
Related Article: The #1 tool for overcoming imposter syndrome | self-compassion
Self-Care Tip 11|Make time for yourself
Taking time for yourself is a powerful self-care tool that can help you stay energized and focused. It is essential to carve out time in your day where you aren't running from one errand to the next or juggling several tasks. Whether it's taking an evening walk alone, reading an enjoyable book for an hour, or simply sitting down with a cup of tea and daydreaming, allow yourself moments throughout the day just for you. Allocating even 20 minutes per day toward self-care activities can help to reduce stress and give you a fresh perspective on things. Taking care of yourself not only makes life easier but also helps you maintain clarity and energy over the long term.
Bottomline:
You have the power to become your best self, and it doesn’t even necessarily mean doing something big—it’s really about taking small daily steps that will help keep you energized and focused. Make performing simple self-care activities a part of your daily routine, so you can make sure you are always feeling recharged. From treating yourself to some quiet ‘me’ time to setting goals that give you purpose, taking care of yourself should be at the top of your priority list. One day off from ‘business as usual’ is simply not enough if you want long-term satisfaction. Take back control of your life today by committing to these 11 powerful ways to practice self-care today so you can stay energized and focused for years to come! Once you do, I'm sure your future self will thank you immensely for it.
If all this has really got your attention and made you realize how important proper self-care is, book your complimentary high-performance strategy session today--you won't regret it! Let's work together to create a custom plan where we explore what success looks like in both your work and personal life so that no matter what comes up next, you can already be prepared with the right attitudes and strategies to thrive better than ever before!
P.S. Thank you for reading! We hope you found these tips helpful. If you’re looking for more ways to practice self-care, be sure to download our Level Up and THRIVE EASY Checklist. This checklist is full of simple activities that will help you take care of yourself so you can stay energized and focused throughout the day. Thanks again for reading, and we wish you all the best on your journey to optimal health and well-being!
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