The importance of self care
Between your career, maintaining relationships with friends and family, taking care of your home and minding your finances, it can be easy to forget to make time for yourself. Ironically, practicing self care makes it easier to manage your daily stressors and helps you become more efficient at working through tasks. A self care routine will make you feel rested and relaxed so you can face the day with lots of energy and a positive attitude.
Create a relaxing environment
Set the stage for relaxation when you get home from work by creating a soothing atmosphere. Take a few minutes to clean up everyday so you can enjoy vegging out in your clean, tidy house. You can also scent your home with soothing scents by using essential oils, sage sticks and candles. The smell of sage, lavender and other herbs and flowers can help relieve anxiety and send your mind a signal that it’s time to unwind.
Take care of your body
You don’t need to spend a fortune at a spa or carve out an entire afternoon to rejuvenate your skin and body. Here are a few of our favorite quick and budget-friendly favorite ways to feel like a million bucks that only take a few minutes or dollars:
• Invest in a handful of face masks and put on one while watching TV, reading a book or catching up on email to moisturize your skin, correct blemishes and more.
• Soak in the tub for 15 minutes before bed or after a hard workout. Add bath salts to soothe sore muscles or indulge in a bubble bath.
• Buy a bar of luxe scented soap that will make you feel like you’re staying in a five star hotel. These bars last a long time, so you’ll get to enjoy this treat for weeks.
Stay connected to friends
It’s easier than you’d think to lose touch with friends. Set a time every week where you can blow off steam with your favorite people. Taking an hour or two out of your busy schedule to reconnect with your besties will help you feel supported, and refreshed to face whatever comes your way. These are a few fun and low-key ideas to catch up with friends:
• Grabbing some snacks from a food truck and enjoying your treats outside in the sun.
• A wine and charcuterie potluck–have every friend bring a different type of wine and cheese to share with the group.
• Grab a cup of coffee from your favorite neighborhood joint and go for a walk so you can catch up while getting a little exercise in.
Unwind with a cup of tea
While everyone loves wine and coffee, a cup of tea is the perfect way to unwind and relax after a stressful day. By switching from coffee to tea in the afternoon, you can still get the caffeine you need to perk up and get through those last emails– but at a much lower dose than coffee so you won’t get the jitters or a caffeine crash after a few hours. Likewise, having a glass of wine before bed can leave you a little dehydrated, and the alcohol may disrupt your sleep. Switching out or following your alcoholic nightcap with a cup of tea or two is a healthy way to relax and stay hydrated before bed.
Nourish your body with home cooked meals
Although it can be tempting to order pizza after a long day, a home cooked meal is the best thing for your body and mind. Instead of heading straight to the couch for a post-work Netflix binge, cooking can be a fun, creative and meditative activity to help you unwind. Pick up a few cookbooks with recipes that you can whip up quickly with a few simple healthy ingredients such as like avocado, summer squash, or chickpeas for a quick and nourishing meal.
Embrace your creative side
Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly artistic, everyone can benefit from a little creativity. Grab some new art supplies or fun colored pens and explore your artsy side by painting, coloring or journaling for a few minutes before you switch on the TV. If you want a little extra inspiration, grab a friend and take a workshop to learn a fun new creative skill.
Shop for self care at the mercantile!
The Mercantile is your local Rock Hill, SC shop for all things self care. Stop by and treat yourself to some candles, face masks, tea, and more… you deserve it!