20 Self-care Tips For a Calmer and Happier Life

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With everyone and everything competing for our time, it’s easy to forget to take care and honor ourselves first, and others second. If you are feeling tired, frazzled or snappy, poor self-care is usually always the underlying problem.

Without proper self-care and simple indulgences, everything in life will seem hard. Slow down, take a break and prioritize yourself. It is essential for your mental health and well-being and listening to what your body needs doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you strong.

Below are Xaura’s top 20 self-care tips because we all need some extra love once in a while...

  1. Journal

Journaling helps to reduce stress when life feels overwhelming. A quick 10-20 minute brain dump helps to clear the mind and puts things into perspective.

  1. Exercise

Exercising releases endorphins which also combats stress. We at Xaura love yoga, but do whatever feels good for you and your body. If you can’t fit exercise into your schedule then try doing 5 minutes of stretching or 50 jumping jacks. The important thing is to move your body to improve blood circulation.

  1. Treat yourself to your favorite drink

Sometimes drinking herbal tea and water just doesn’t cut it. Treat yourself to a smoothie or a glass of your favorite red wine every once in a while.

  1. Pamper your skin

We all know how good it feels to moisturize our body after a shower. Moisturise again at lunchtime or before you go to bed to give you an extra boost of yumminess.

  1. Read a book

Switch off social media for the night and immerse yourself in a good book. We love, 21 Lessons for the 21st century Yuval Noah Harari, Milk & Honey Rupi Kaur, Is everyone Hanging out with me? Mindy Kaling, The Alchemist Paulo Coleho.

  1. Practice Mindfulness 

When we practice mindfulness, we’re practicing the art of creating space for ourselves. Pausing and allowing ourselves space to think, space to breathe, and space between ourselves and our reactions helps us to live in the present moment.

  1. Drink more water

Our body is made up of 70% water so we need to drink plenty to keep it functioning properly. Most people are chronically dehydrated so try and drink at least 2 liters of filtered water every day.

  1. Drink lemon water

If there’s one thing we could get people to do, it’s to start the day with lemon and water. It’s one of the easiest and simplest health hacks. Benefits include better digestion, increased hydration + a healthy dose of vitamin C. It also does wonders for your skin!

  1. Get some fresh air

Most of us are stuck indoors all day so take a break from the computer screen and go for a brisk walk around the block. Breathe in some of that fresh air!

  1. Indulge in a hot a bath

Baths are the best thing in the world! We love adding essential oils, Epsom salt, scented candles, and music. Pure heaven.

 

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  1. Eat chocolate

Not just any chocolate, but good quality high-end chocolate. We love Honest Chocolate. Don’t scoff the whole box in one go though — savor each bite and appreciate the delicate balance of textures and flavors.

  1. Declutter

Organizing a cupboard and throwing away or gifting unwanted items may not sound enjoyable, but it does wonders to clear your mind. As Marie Kondo would say, discard everything that does not "Sparks Joy". Here is a good checklist on How to organise your Home

  1. Call a friend

Sometimes a good ol’ natter can do wonders for our wellbeing so call up an inspiring and uplifting friend. They’ll be pleased you called.

  1. Get Ample Sleep

Get a full 8 hours of sleep at night. This should be non-negotiable. It’s not rocket science, so getting a good amount of sleep helps your body recharge so you can be more productive the next day.

  1. Visit the ocean or a lake

Looking at water and listening to its sound puts our overloaded minds into relax mode. Visit the beach, lake, river or sit beside a pond and just marvel at water’s healing powers.

  1. Write in a gratitude journal

There is so much to be thankful for in life and we can often forget this. Consciously writing 10 things down we are grateful for reminds us how very fortunate we really are.

  1. Treat yourself to a face mask

Why not treat yourself to a face mask and sit back with a glass of bubbly and some relaxing music? You deserve it. 

  1. Get a massage

Booking yourself in for a relaxing massage is the ultimate sign of self-care. It’s a great way to melt away any stress, anxiety, and tensions in the body. Thai massage are our fave.

  1. Do something creative 

Women are born to be creative. Engaging in arts and crafts can be very relaxing and rewards us with the feeling of accomplishment when it’s completed. We at Xaura obviously love designing and creating beautiful garments but do whatever your heart desires. You could try mindfulness coloring, baking, knitting, sewing, painting or flower arranging.

  1. Take a break

If your schedule is arranged in a way that there’s no time for a break then you really need to cut back on work. Schedule in a holiday for your own sanity. Taking breaks is essential for our mind, body, and spirit.

 This lovely blog was written by Juliana Stewart, Lifestyle & Relationship Blogger @ ladiesletschat.com 

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