4 Self Care Tips for Busy People

This blog shares 4 self-care tips for busy people. When it comes to self-care, you may find that you do not have the time or energy for it after a long day. It’s not always feasible to assume that people can take a whole day to themselves. You may be a full-time parent, caregiver, worker, or student.

 

Alongside this, you may be juggling a few of these titles at the same time. It can be overwhelming, and sometimes even frustrating to manage. You desperately want to take some time to yourself or to spend with your family, but that isn’t always simple to coordinate.

 

During your busy days or nights, there are small, but meaningful, things you can do to contribute to your well-being. Self-care doesn’t always have to look like taking an evening to engage in relaxing activities, having a full day or weekend to yourself, or being able to take breaks at any time. 

 

Continuing to care for yourself contributes greatly to your overall well-being. When we get to the point of feeling burnt out or exhausted, our minds and bodies may force us to take breaks at inconvenient times. Therefore, keeping your well-being as a priority is key.

 

Our 4 tips include: 1) Establish daily and nightly routines. 2) Assert healthy boundaries. 3) Practice gratitude and regular positive self-talk. 4) Prioritize physical and mental health. By incorporating these 4 tips into your daily life, you may notice signs of increased optimism, more self-love, and a greater ability to cope with regular stressors.

 

Individual therapy in Simi Valley, CA gives you a space to begin working towards personal goals of increasing your mental wellness. 

 

When small tasks or things in your life begin to feel overwhelming, it may be a sign that you are needing support in stress management.

 

4 Self Care Tips for Busy People: Establish daily, weekly, or monthly routines

Establish daily, weekly, or monthly routines. This can help you stay on track for things like meals, resting, specific tasks, attending to priorities, and more. Some people may find that they can plan their day or week out the morning of, and successfully get through any tasks or priorities needed around their schedule. Therefore, it’s different for everyone.

 

However, there may be instances where you need to add something at the last minute, and you may substitute or rearrange priorities. When we add too much into our schedule, we can feel overwhelmed. We may not get to other priorities, and push it to the next day.

 

When we are preoccupied for long periods throughout the day, it’s important to have some level of preparation and planning for the next. This can ease the stress and worry of attending to numerous tasks or responsibilities. You go into the new day knowing that it’s planned out, and do your best to follow the schedule. 

 

For example, one day of the week, like Sundays, is your reset day. This is the day that you prepare for the week ahead by doing laundry, deep cleaning, grocery shopping, and more. You may set dates on a monthly basis for tasks such as deep cleaning various areas in and around your home. 

 

Make a list of what you need to get done on a recurring basis and test out how this schedule works out for you. Make necessary changes as you go and see what works best for you. Individual counseling in Simi Valley, CA can support you in doing this when things feel overwhelming. 

 

Routines do not have to be scheduled by the hour and occupy the whole day. Try testing out what format of a routine works best for you!

 

4 Self Care Tips for Busy People: Assert healthy boundaries

Assert healthy boundaries. This pertains to within your workspace, as well as within social relationships, within your family, and other relationships like with neighbors. It’s also important to assert healthy boundaries with yourself!

 

You can have boundaries with things such as your time or your energy. There may be instances where you’re asked to take on extra shifts, responsibilities, or overall work more than usual. Perhaps you have a friend who relies on you for emotional support, but at times, you feel that you struggle to cope with your own stressors.

 

Saying “no” and denying requests can feel intimidating. We may want to always be there for others. However, a result of always being available could look like our boundaries being overridden, our needs not being met or taken into consideration, and more.

 

Asserting healthy boundaries means being clear when communicating your needs and limits. It’s important to be upfront and direct about what we can or cannot do. Alongside this, you don’t necessarily need to fully explain your reasoning as well.

 

Some examples of asserting healthy boundaries can look like:

 

• I understand you’re needing me to stay later at work, but I am not available to do so tonight. I need at least a 24 hour notice to determine if I can accommodate that.
• I’m sorry to hear you are going through a difficult time right now. I am not currently available to talk with you about this, but can we plan a time to meet for coffee?
• I am not available to be contacted regarding anything work-related outside of my work hours.
• I will be able to come over and help you at 2pm, and I cannot come any earlier. Does this work for you? If not, we may need to reschedule.

 

Individual therapy in Simi Valley, CA helps you create and maintain boundaries necessary to your well-being. Make sure to check out our blog on How to Navigate Conflict in the Workplace, which shares tips about asserting boundaries.

 

Asserting healthy boundaries at work, within relationships, and within yourself is crucial for attending to your own needs!

 

4 Self Care Tips for Busy People: Practice gratitude and regular positive self-talk

Practice gratitude and regular positive self-talk. This can be difficult if you feel yourself getting easily overwhelmed and irritable. You may blame yourself for a current situation and struggle with feeling fatigued, burnt out, overwhelmed, or hopeless. Because of this, it’s important to be mindful of how you speak to yourself. 

 

Practicing gratitude can look different for everyone. You can practice gratitude at certain times of the day, like at nighttime or in the morning. It could be that you also practice gratitude after or during certain events, such as when you’re having a meal or spending time with your family. 

 

A few ways to practice gratitude look like:

 

• Acknowledging 3 things at the end of each day that you are grateful for.
• Start each day with grateful mantras, such as “I am grateful for the love I give and receive.”
• Acknowledge things throughout the day as they come up for you.

 

Practicing positive self-talk doesn’t always come naturally for us. Especially when we struggle with difficult feelings about ourselves. However, there are steps we can take to become more self-aware of how we speak to ourselves, and ways that we can reverse that. 

 

Anxiety therapy in Simi Valley, CA can help provide you with coping skills to feel grounded or present in times of stress. Make sure to check out our blog on 3 Steps for Reversing Negative Self-Talk as our 3 steps outline how you can begin incorporating more positive self-talk! 

 

When we are grateful for the little things in life, we can feel more content and happy with what we have.

 

4 Self Care Tips for Busy People: Prioritize your physical and mental health

Prioritize your physical and mental health. You can do this in a number of ways and the effectiveness can vary for everyone! Whatever works best for you, try to fit it into your daily and nightly routines as stated before. 

 

A few examples of prioritizing physical health can look like:

 

• Taking short walks during your breaks. 
• Setting time aside each day or a few times per week for physical activity (walking, running, hiking, weightlifting, yoga, sports). 
• Stretch your body or engage in yoga movements upon waking up.
• Consider using a standing desk if you sit for long periods of time.
• Staying hydrated and eating balanced meals.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Avoid using substances to cope with stress.

 

A few examples of prioritizing mental health can look like:

 

• Asserting boundaries for your work availability and when you can/cannot be contacted outside of your work hours.
• Engaging in breathing exercises in times of stress or overwhelm. 
• Using positive self-talk withyourself and reciting daily mantras.
• Surround yourself with people who make you feel supported and valued. 
• Set time aside for yourself to engage in activities or hobbies that make you feel good.
• Validate yourself and be your biggest supporter.

 

Struggling to find time to practice self-care can leave you feeling drained or burnt out. However, you don’t need to go through this alone. You can work with a therapist to achieve your goals in feeling more positive, confident, and content with your life.

 

In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you.

 

By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either.

 

Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation! Make sure to check out our blog on Therapy: Where to Start for tips on beginning therapy for yourself or your family.

 

Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.