Wednesday, 12 February 2020

6 Self Care Habits I'm Introducing In 2020

Self care. We all know what it is and we've all seen a spike in people talking about it and spreading awareness on the importance of it but is it something I'm actually that great at? Not really. I've spoken about how I self care in the past on my blog and it's not that I don't at all anymore, but I seem to have stopped setting time aside for it. This year I want to get back to finding time each week to indulge in some self care and whilst I'll still definitely be doing things I've listed before - reading books, having a pamper hour, cooking and even just resting, I actually have a few new habits I want to introduce in 2020. Self care isn't all bubble baths, face masks and chocolate (though they do help) for me a lot of it is about mental wellbeing too so here are 6 habits I'm adding this year that I think will have a positive impact in several areas of my life.
flatlay on pink background. Variety of products scattered including the body shop cleansing butter, ghost perfume, patisserie de bain shower gel and hand cream, all that jazz glitter nail polish and the body shop bear body yoghurt

Practise Mindfulness

I actually don't know a huge deal about mindfulness but whenever I've heard anybody talk about it, it's only ever been in a positive way. It's a great tool for clearing your mind and re-connecting with yourself and it's something you can practise in 5 minute sessions or longer depending on your preference, but even just those few minutes can do a world of good. Focused relaxation where you literally just lie or sit back and close your eyes, allows for you to pay attention to your thoughts and feelings for that period of time and whilst it might sound a bit hippy dippy or too out there, it can literally change your life. It's only something I've tried once or twice in the past but given the positive impact it has on so many, I really think it could help me massively and be a great tool for times when I'm struggling or feeling low.

Drink More Water

I know this should probably be a given but I'm really bad with just basic self care sometimes and that to me is just as important as any other kind of self care. When I'm feeling low or struggling with my anxiety, all self care goes out the window and I become a bit of a mess. I don't want to cook, I eat all the chocolate, I shut myself away and I generally just don't look after myself. Really regardless of whether I'm having a tough few weeks or not, I just want to look after myself a little more this year. Surprise surprise, when I eat well and drink lots of water, all that jazz, I feel so much better and I look it. I feel more comfortable, my skin is clearer and my hair looks healthier so this year I'm determined to better with it. I don't think the fact I'm a bit of a pop fiend helps though so that's definitely something I need to work on.

Put Myself First More

Maybe this is going to come across as selfish or like I think I'm this amazing person, I'm really not but for a long, long time I've put others first, in pretty much every situation and I've just kind of had enough. I like to think I'm a nice person so I'm always going to want to go the extra mile for someone or do something kind for no reason but often I find I'm thinking too much about other people and allowing myself get put to the bottom of the list time and time again. I'm tired of worrying about people who I know don't give me a second thought. I'm tired of trying to second guess and understand some people's actions. I'm tired of putting my all in with people to get nothing back. I'm tired of doing nice thing after nice thing for people and not even getting a thanks. Maybe that does come across a little bitchy, maybe it does make me a little selfish but I need to start putting myself first. That's not to say I'm never going to do nice things for people again or anything like that, I like to do the things I do, but I'm not going to make some people a priority anymore over myself when it's just never appreciated.

Spend Less Time On My Phone

I seriously need to get better at putting my phone down and leaving it be. I've said before that reducing my screen time really helps when it comes to sleep so why can't I ever stick to it? It's just so easy to scroll and scroll but with that comes comparison and all those other wonderful thoughts so more often than not, I find social media can be a negative rather than positive. I am on the whole much better in the respect than when I'm at a loss at what to do or if I'm having a pamper hour in the bath, I'll read instead, I'm always picking up a book when I can now but I'm still on my phone far too much. I want to get back to switching it off an hour before bed as that always helps me sleep better and generally I just want to give it less thought. What's going to happen if I don't go on Instagram for a few hours? Absolutely nothing but mentally I'll feel better.

Get Out More

Because of my anxiety, there's been periods where I've not left the house for weeks. There's been times where I genuinely haven't been able to remember the last time I got fresh air but luckily as I'm in a much better place now with the social aspect of my anxiety, that hasn't happened for a long time. I'm actually really proud of myself and how far I've come with my anxiety as whilst I still need to do some serious work on my health anxiety, I feel I've come on leaps and bounds in other areas. I don't think working from home has helped in the past as it's been the perfect excuse to stay in but now we've got Bear, he's been my motivation to get out each day - boy needs his walks. I just feel like since we got him, I've started seeing life in a different way and he's made me so much more confident. There isn't often a day goes by now where I don't want to get out of the house which in the past would never have happened and each weekend now I'm wanting to explore somewhere new or go on a date night or book a trip, I just want to do it all. Just an hour of fresh air makes me feel so refreshed and clears my mind and that to me is self care. It makes me feel 10x better so whilst I'll always love coming home and being in my little haven, I want to continue pushing myself in this area.

Allow Myself To Feel

Deep I know. Very deep in fact but this is something I'm really bad at. I used to be quite an emotional person and I cried at pretty much anything and it's not that I'm the complete opposite now but I almost don't allow myself to get too caught up in emotion sometimes and I shut it down before it even really gets going. Does that make sense? Probably not. It's a hard one to explain but more often than not, if I feel I'm going to cry, I'm usually like 'nope, not happening' within seconds and I don't just allow it to happen. It's not like I never get tearful but sometimes you just need a big old sob and I tend to stop myself before I can get it all out meaning it all ends up just building and building which isn't good for anyone. I don't like being sad but I think when I'm feeling a certain way, I need to try and embrace it. If I need to cry, I want to let myself rather than sneaking a tear or two and brushing it under the carpet. If I need to talk, I want to allow myself to open up rather than thinking I'm being dramatic or too much or annoying. At the same time when I'm happy, I want to shout about it. Sometimes when I'm feeling really good or doing something that makes me happy, I feel I should be tame about it and I get embarrassed but I don't want to anymore. I think anxiety has a big part to play in why I feel things so intensely and that has it's pros and cons but whatever I'm feeling, I just want to allow myself to be in it for a while.

What do you do to self care? Can you relate to any of the habits I've mentioned?

Follow Me - FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest & Bloglovin!


Hannah said...

This is such a great idea! I feel like I need to introduce the same things into my routine, as they really help. Especially drink more water xx

Hannah | luxuryblush

Sophie said...

I'm totally with you with the emotions. I shut down a lot and don't get emotionally attached to much and I definitely think it's something I need to work on. Spending less time on my phone was a goal of mine towards the end of 2019 and I'm still doing quite well with that one. Good luck with everything! x


jennyinneverland said...

I can definitely relate to a few of these, particularly putting myself first more! I've done that this year so far and it feels great x


Heather Nixon said...

I need to drink more water - I barely drink any x

Lady Writes said...

I really need to drink more water!!

Amy said...

I can really relate to a few of these - I'm trying super hard this year to drink more water especially as my skin is awful! I also really need to work on spending less time on my phone too. Thanks for sharing! 😊

Tiffany Timms said...

I'm so bad with drinking water at the moment! xx

Tiffany Timms said...

Thank you Sophie! I'm glad you understood what I meant about emotions xx

Tiffany Timms said...

I've just gone so long putting others before my own needs with very little recognition or appreciation so it's about time I focus on myself I think. Glad it's helping you too xx

Tiffany Timms said...

Me too, I'm awful with it at the moment x

Tiffany Timms said...

I really need to get better with it xx

Tiffany Timms said...

No problem! x

Kim said...

I can definitely relate to some of these. Especially getting our more and allow myself to feel - I often neglect both of these.
Kim x

Isabella Lucas said...



© Food and Other Loves . All rights reserved.
Blogger Template Made By pipdig