Simple Self-Care Acts To Boost Your Well-Being!

Mary-Lisa Russo

Understand Your Worth

There aren't enough hours in the day... well, that's an understatement.

Employment, meal planning, bill payments, gardening, laundry duty, raising children... the ongoing daily tasks and commitments we experience in our days leave little room for nurturing ourselves.
If there is anything I have learned from my life experiences, it is that ignoring your own self-care needs results in YOU burning out. Fatigue, under-eye bags, mental mash-up and lack of inspiration soon follow.

You've got a lot going on. There's no doubt about that. Acknowledge the fact that you are a busy lady, but respect yourself and make special 'me time' just for you! Trust in the process. Trust that you are deserving of special, self-nourishing time.

Let's dive into 10 simple self-care acts that will have you feeling instantly pampered!

1. Get Some Sleep!

We tend to think that we need to spend a fortune to boost our well-being, when it fact, getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep is the crowning glory of your wellness journey. So simple, yet so mighty. Being well rested will heal inflammation, boost your vitality, and help you tackle your day with clarity. Get your cozy pyjamas on, brush your teeth, slip into your comfy bed and shut away the world. You'll greet the morning rejuvenated!

2. Schedule a Spa Night 

Check your planner and make scheduling a spa night as important as making an appointment to see your physician. Your wellness is significant! It should not be minimized by thinking (or permitting) other daily events/duties take precedence over you. How can you soothe your well-being and flourish without prioritizing your self-care? Give yourself permission to book that special beauty care evening just for you... the warm bath, the mani/pedi, the exfoliating mask, the massage with a silky body cream... 

3. Put Away the Electronic Devices

It's too much. The e-mails, messages, social media feeds, mindless scrolling... it's enough to bombard your brain to the point you feel mentally exhausted. Drained. Your mind doesn't have a chance to disengage and just breathe. I know I've had enough when my eyes begin to water and my concentration starts to diminish. Don't allow yourself to get to that point. Pick a time in the evening and give your mind a chance to rest before you ease yourself to sleep. 

4. Connect with Your Loved Ones  

Don't underestimate the power of connecting with a loved one! Put on a robe, put up your feet and call a family member or a friend and chat away. Discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. Reminise. Lean on each other for support and advice. If possible, meet in person for a coffee. Make it a weekly event so you can look forward to your visits. Keep that human connection flowing.

5. Write a Love Letter to Yourself

Once a week, write a love letter to yourself, praising your weekly accomplishments. What transpired this week for you? Did you resist the temptation to eat junk food in the evening? Did you complete a course? Did you get to bed early for three consecutive nights? No accomplishment is big or small! Give yourself credit no matter how small the achievement.

​In addition, acknowledge (but don't dwell on) the outcomes that did not go well for you. Perhaps you ate too much at dinner. Perhaps you forgot to pay your cell phone bill. Perhaps you slept in and got to work late. Life doesn't flow perfectly. It's not supposed to! Give yourself some slack. Laugh it off. Be your very own cheerleader! It is important to value your self-worth, noting the highs and the lows.

Write it all down. Clear your mind. Appreciate the goddess you are and elevate your self-confidence.

6. A Little Something Special... Just for You!

Gift yourself a trinket every month that makes you feel special! What makes you smile? A new book to read? A new nail polish? Perhaps a fancy hair clip is your thing? It doesn't have to be an expensive item... just a little something to reward yourself and put a smile on your face. I always look forward to my trinket days. A new book or notepad always makes me happy. 

7. Remove Negativity in your Life

Say no to anything and anyone who creates disruption in your life. Chase the calm and remove the chaos makers. Protecting your spiritual self is important because it is tied to your health. Surround yourself with people who genuinely care for you and make you feel  good. The people who make you feel calm and content are YOUR tribe... are YOUR genuine family and deserve a seat at your table.

8. Get in the Best Shape of your Life

It's never too late to take your health seriously! Nurture your mind and body by being mindful of the food you eat and your daily movement. Eat real, nutritious food whenever possible. Avoid prepared frozen foods and sugar-filled drinks. Keep meal portions minimal. 

Incorporate daily exercise to keep your body moving and stave off disease and inflammation. Go for a walk, ride a bicycle, dance to your favorite music... pick activities you enjoy and stick to it!

Staying in shape has many positive benefits such as boosting your physical energy, promoting mental clarity and elevating your confidence, to name a few.

9. Plan a Mini Trip Once a Month

Plan a day or weekend getaway to create positive anticipation. Take a day trip drive on scenic, winding roads that display the glory of nature. Visit a local town and stay a few days at a quaint little bed-and-breakfast. Explore, learn, and feed your senses. This is a break from your daily life that will rejuvenate your mind and create a positive outlook for you.

10. Create a Custom Playlist 

Music you enjoy has the amazing ability to connect deeply with you and just make you... feel. It can make you experience calmness, shower you with wonderful memories, or even create little sparks of energy that can positively invigorate your thoughts. Create your ultimate list, sing along and dance!

Find your calm, clarity and inner serenity in this 22-page (PDF) Calming Your Mind Journal! Inside you'll find calming journal prompts, breathing prompts, work sheets, gratitude reflections and more! 

get my journal!

---

A Few Final Thoughts!

Take time to fall in love with yourself every day. You are not a super woman. You are not expected to take care of the surrounding universe to such a rigid degree that you forget yourself. Schedule in self-care time. Give yourself permission to break away from your duties, disconnect from stress and the ordinary. 

My book, THE MANY MINI WAYS TO CREATE A POSITIVE & INSPIRING LIFE by Mary-Lisa Russo continues the discussion of nurturing our self-worth with self-care acts that boost your wellness journey. You can find this book and other inspiring reads at www.marylisarusso.ca

Feminine-inspired books to elevate your lifestyle & nourish your well-being

Blog Archive

Fancy more lifestyle/self-development reads? Click HERE for the blog archive.

About Mary-Lisa

Mary-Lisa Russo is a blogger and author of lifestyle books who believes in the power of slow/intentional living. She is keenly aware of women’s unique life journeys and seeks to bring elegance, confidence and classic charm to their daily routines. She writes to inspire her readers with advice on living a simple, feminine-inspired life featuring discussions on self-care, self-growth, style, home décor, health and well-being, seasonal living and much more. ​Embark on your wellness journey with Mary-Lisa’s inspiring self-help books by visiting www.marylisarusso.ca.