Whenever our anxiety levels spike, we feel burnt out, our energy is on empty, it usually means that we’re out of balance. This can go on for a while until we realize that we stopped doing the self-care activities that normally keep our tank full. Things like meditating, daily exercise, self-love, keeping in touch with friends, drinking enough water and just generally keeping healthy.
Because these pillars are so essential to keeping ourselves in a happy state of balance, if we keep slipping up on them, then it’s time to move them to the non-negotiable zone.
What does that mean?
Non-negotiable self-care means that we have a few things (ideally 1-4) that we must do every single day to keep ourselves balanced and well-taken care of.
What does it look like?
For me, that means that every day, I must fit in the time for these four things: meditation, exercise (even if it’s only for 20-30 mins), drinking enough water and following my meal plan. It’s something I learned from my therapist and in just a few short weeks of implementing it, I have seen so much progress! I’m happier, more balanced, less stressed and less anxious. I feel in control, healthier and like I am on the right track of my goals. Of course, there’s going to be days where you are busy, so if you don’t have time for a run, you can squeeze in a mini workout session. The goal is to do at least a few things every day to take care of you.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for non-negotiable self-care, here are a few:
- meditation
- running
- journalling
- gratitude
- morning pages
- face mask
- essential oils
- calling a friend
- exercising
- being mindful
- following meal plan
- drinking enough water
- taking a bath
- stretching your body
Don’t try to add several things at once. My mistake when it comes to self-care is trying to create a full-fledged morning routine, filled with at least 5 different things, and all before 9 a.m. What eventually happened was I felt more stressed over trying to fill everything in rather than less stressed.
Instead, aim for adding one thing first. Once that thing has become a habit for you, then add another and another, until you have your perfect morning or day routine!
What are some of your favorites?
