Hello February!

Self care is such an important but often disregarded practise. As we go about our day we focus on the things that need to be done and can often forget to take some time for ourselves. I’ve put together 5 tips that I try to follow and have had a positive impact on me.

Get out of the house

February is usually a very dull time of year. If it’s not pouring down with rain it’s drizzling, cold and miserable. It can be quite easy to settle into a routine of staying indoors where it’s warm and dry but it’s important to make a point of going outside, and breathing in the fresh air. The movement will get your blood flowing again, and the clear country air will revitalise you. Also, seeing the first signs of spring always gives you something to look forward to!

 Pamper yourself

This one may seem obvious but it is so effective. Pampering yourself can be interpreted in so many different ways and you should always do what you feel is most rewarding. Personally I am currently enjoying a soothing bathing routine which includes using the many Lush bath products I bought in the January sales and indulging in a set of soothing cucumber cooling eye pads which I picked up in Savers for only £1. I’m also a big fan of face masks, the Ethiopian Honey mask from the Body Shop in particular as it softens and soothes my sensitive skin. Whatever it is that relaxes you, make sure to regularly set aside some time as you will feel better for it.

De-clutter your workspace

Whether in your place of work or at home, workspaces should inspire productivity and creativity. Clutter can easily accumulate and can create a disorganised and stressful environment as seeing lots of unnecessary items at your desk can be distracting and can easily lead to procrastination. I am guilty of letting things accumulate on my workspace, I started to de-clutter today and have found things from body butter samples to used candles which I clearly don’t need on my desk! I’m not saying that everything but the bare essentials need to be cleared from the workspace, (I personally am certainly not a minimalist!) but perhaps just clear away everything that doesn’t serve a purpose and no doubt you will notice the difference!

Read a book

As a book lover there is nothing I find more relaxing than curling up with a great book and a cup of tea. Books offer a wonderful escape from the stress and challenges of daily life, they can be educational or they can make you laugh. Of course, books aren’t for everyone so I would also suggest listening to your favourite songs and watching a new film at the cinema.

              Laugh and smile

It may be simple but it’s easily the most effective way of lightening you mood and shaking off the stress of daily life. After recently letting some difficult situations get to me I decided that I would do something every day that made me smile. This can be watching cat videos on YouTube, joking around with friends or doing something creative. If there is something that you can do every day that makes you happy then do it, it will give you something positive to focus on when you reflect on your day and will take the edge off anything that may be troubling you.

I hope this has been helpful and if you have any other self care suggestions please let me know!