If there’s one thing you’ve heard an exceptional number of times and will never stop hearing, it’s that you should take care of yourself. While this is solid advice, many of us are guilty of putting it off for another time because we see taking care of ourselves as a big step, as something we need to plan and prepare for. However, that’s not true.
For some of us, it’s that we don’t have a good picture of what taking care of ourselves looks like. We feel it’s something we need special lessons for or something we may need to spend a lot on. We think a professional needs to walk us through it. These assumptions are also not correct.
While taking care of yourself is a big deal because of its many benefits, which span good health, clear mind, productivity and more, going about it isn’t that big a deal. It’s something you can do easily and even start right now.
That’s not an exaggeration. You can literally pause what you’re doing this instant, participate in a self-care activity, and start enjoying the benefits without having to wait for days. There are many things you can do to take care of yourself right now—big emphasis on NOW—and I’ll tell you about some of them. Ready?
Go to Bed
I’m pretty sure you know what happens after a good sleep. Your body, having been in a relaxed state for a long time, would have enjoyed some restoration from stress, weakness, and aches. Don’t deny your body this privilege.
Recently, I started sleeping in the middle of the day. When I feel stress starting to overwhelm me, I just take my eyes off my laptop and sink my head into a pillow. Coping with work stress has been easier, unlike before, when I would brave through all the stress until nighttime.
I read a fact in a Telegram channel that says our bodies are designed for four hours of sleep twice a day, not eight hours once a day. Is this fact true? I don’t know. I’ll let the scientists tell us. But I know that taking rest breaks will leave you more productive and happier than bodying hours of stress and resting it all away at once.
Should I give you a challenge? Go to bed now. Pause reading this article and catch some sleep—or do so immediately after you finish reading it. If you can’t go soon, then go at the next opportunity that comes your way. You’ll see that your body and mind will feel so much better.
Also, ensure your bed is comfortable. Know the kind of hardness level that is best for you, depending on whether you sleep on your side, front, or back, and get one for yourself. What you’re sleeping on will affect your ability to enjoy a lovely rest.
Drink a Cup of Water
Writing this section was my reminder to drink a cup of water. I felt guilty that I wasn’t walking my talk, so I drank a cup of water, refilled it, and kept it by my bed, where I’m writing this article. I felt more alive after drinking it, and it made me wonder why I was delaying it in the first place.
You have got to stay hydrated, my friend. It helps your organs to do their job well. I bet you’ll notice how your body conditions deteriorate when you’re dehydrated. You may feel tired, irritated, and angry. You may even feel a headache or find it hard to concentrate. All you need is a cup of water—or maybe two.
Take a page from my book and keep a cup or a bottle of water close to you so you can find it easy to stay hydrated. It’s so much easier to stretch and grab your cup or bottle of water than to do the long trip to the kitchen or fridge to get water. That long trip is what’s discouraging you and keeping you dehydrated.
I don’t like to scare people with my writing, so I’ve been trying hard not to say this, but for those who don’t know, not taking enough water can lead to urinary tract infections and kidney failures, among other serious issues. We all agree that these issues don’t look good on us, yeah?
So, it’s time to take hydration seriously. Even if you have to set reminders to drink water, do it. Your body will love you for the effort.
Do Some Exercise
If you’re already dismissing this suggestion as too stressful because you’re picturing a long drive to the gym or lifting weights, you’re probably overthinking exercise. These are actually good options, though, and you should try them when you can.
But exercise goes beyond these options to include anything that requires some physical effort and helps you stay fit and healthy. With this definition, you have many exercise options.
Here’s one thing about exercise. If you go to play football for the first time or after a long while, you may be out of breath and panting after a few minutes in. But if you return to play the following day and the next day and the next day, you’ll notice that you can play for longer periods and be fine. One day, you’ll find yourself playing the whole ninety minutes comfortably.
You have become more fit. When you started, your fitness wasn’t solid enough, but by keeping it up, you have earned fitness that is probably shocking to you. This fitness you’ve earned will be beneficial to you outside of football. You’ll notice that you can spend more time taking care of your yard or that you can handle longer walks.
Of all the examples of exercise, I chose football for a reason: Many people enjoy football. I’m trying to make the point that you can enjoy exercise, too. And what’s better than doing what you enjoy and getting healthier for it?
Can you stand up right now and do something? Dance, do some pushups, jog around your house, lift some weights, or do some sit-ups. Set a challenge and go for it. The best time to start exercising is right now.
Eat Something Nutritious
Many of us haven’t always found the sweetest meals to be the nicest-tasting ones, so we prefer to eat processed foods, stuff with too much sugar, and fries loaded with salt and fats.
Doctors say we shouldn’t eat these things, but since I’m guilty of loving and eating them, I can’t echo their words. However, you should also have your fair share of healthy, nutritious meals. Try to balance meals you love for their taste with those that are better for your health.
Vegetables are not always the sweetest, but they are healthy, so try to include them in your meals. Fruits are tasty enough to be used as snacks, so consider buying more of them. Cheese, yogurts, potatoes, dark chocolate—there are many healthy foods you can use in place of or along with other foods.
Eating healthy will keep your heart healthy and boost your immunity against illnesses. Scary diseases like cancer and diabetes are far away from you when you watch what you eat. You’ll also get stronger bones, sleep better, and find your weight easy to manage.
If you can, eat something nutritious before you move on to the next thing I have to say. If it’s impossible to do so right now, try including something nutritious in your next meal. I’ll be watching you.
Call Mental Break Time
Many times, our minds find themselves overthinking, or, as I like to call it, working overtime. Maybe you’re angry about not being able to give someone a piece of your mind, or you’re worried about the new memo your boss sent out, or you’re deep in legal troubles and always thinking about how to get out.
All of these can stress you out. It’s impossible to stop thinking at all, but it’s possible and helpful to give your mind a break—for your mental health’s sake. A few moments not spent worrying or being angry or sad would do you more good than you’d expect.
One popular way to do this is through meditation. Meditation is quite simple. Just get a quiet spot, take a comfortable position, and focus on how your breath flows in and out of you. Shut down thoughts as they come on, and just have the silence in your mind for a few minutes.
My favorite way to handle this is to watch a movie or reaction videos on YouTube and just get lost in them. I push out unneeded thoughts in that moment and just enjoy the entertainment. As time passes, I get so lost in the entertainment that I forget about the thoughts that were trying to intrude.
For some people, they work out when they need a mental break. For others, they sing some songs to themselves—happy songs, sad songs, worship songs, chill songs, etc. can work. You can try any of these or find a way that works for you.
Don’t make me challenge you to take a mental break right away. You know I will. Just go ahead and do it.
Keep Those You Love Close
As social beings, having people around makes everything better, at least for me. I’d rather visit New York with my girlfriend or just anyone than go alone. I’d rather hang out with my friends or family members than be at home alone. I think that’s why solitary confinement is a punishment.
If you’re anything like me, and I like to think you are, then you should put in the work to have people around you. Check up on family and friends. Reach out to them occasionally just to catch up. Also, be responsive to those who are reaching out to you.
Keeping people close is not the easiest thing to do, but it’s one way to take care of yourself. These are the people who should be by your side when things are rough to support, uplift, and console you. These are the guys who would make your happy moments even happier by celebrating with you.
These are the people you can share lunch with this afternoon or hangout with at dinner tonight and enjoy your food over funny conversations. You can decide to have a game night today, and they are the ones you’ll expect as guests.
You can’t enjoy their presence if you’re not keeping them close, though. Some people would see it as using them if you only reach out to them when you need them. You have to treat the people in your life like they’re important and they would be happy to be around you. It’s your investment in your social life.
My advice is simple: Send a message to a friend or family member you haven’t spoken with in a while. Also, respond to those chats you’ve left unattended. Try to do it today, and you’ll probably start enjoying the benefits by tomorrow.
Try to meet up with one of your friends or family members this week or next week just to talk and catch up. Invite them to lunch or to join you to attend an event. I’m sure it’ll be fun and strengthen your relationship with them.
Set Boundaries
Sometimes, what we want and what others want are different. So, we tend to bend what we’re comfortable with to please others. It will leave them happy, but it may leave us drained, conflicted (especially if it’s against our convictions), or sad.
That’s not taking care of yourself. Taking care of yourself involves looking out for yourself, too, while you work for or lend a hand to others. You have to set boundaries so people don’t cross them easily. Knowing your limits helps.
Those things you don’t feel good about doing, those things that drain you and don’t benefit you, those things that you just don’t want to do for no reason — these are things that can be your limits. Anything that has a negative impact on your mental health can be your limit. It’s okay if you don’t know your limits yet. You can learn them as you go through life.
When you set your boundaries, you should also enforce them. People will try to make it seem as if you are naive or annoying for setting your boundaries, but ignore them and insist on them. If you don’t, some people are more than happy to manipulate you out of your boundaries or pressure you into doing what they want.
How about people who get angry when you tell them or enforce your boundaries? They’ll be fine. You just take care of yourself, and they’ll take care of themselves. If someone wants you to do what you aren’t fine with and is angry that you don’t want to do it, I don’t think I can say they have your interest at heart.
Decide not to let anyone push you around today and every day after that. You’ll be a happier person.
Do Something You Like — Anything
Immediately after I’m done writing this article, guess what I’ll do? I’ll go on YouTube or Netflix to watch a series. Why? Because it’s what I like. I like to watch TV shows. I also love to write, record, and perform songs. I like to play football, too. When I do these things, I feel so free and happy and like they should never end.
You have your hobbies and passions. You may not do them every day, but how do they make you feel when you do them? Alive? In heaven? The best feeling in the world? That’s exactly why you should do it now.
There must be something you can do right now that you like. Knitting? Dancing? Eating something new? It doesn’t have to be something huge. Even if it’s for a few minutes, just do something you know you like.
Sometimes, we overthink doing things we like. Who says you need eleven players on two sides to enjoy football? What happened to playing against the wall? If others think it’s a childish thing to do, that’s not really your problem—it’s theirs. What matters is that playing with the ball makes you happy.
Or is it knitting? You don’t have to make a whole piece, you know. Instead of putting off knitting until you can make a whole sweater, why not do a bit today and continue whenever you can? Or what if you just knit aimlessly and see where it takes you?
The way I see it, it’s more about the activity than the results. I’ve written songs I may never record because I’m not really feeling them. However, it felt good while writing them and that’s what matters. Don’t overthink it. Do something you love right away.
You Can Start Now
When I say you can start taking care of yourself right now, it’s not a metaphor, and I’ve proved it by telling you eight ways you can do it now. It’s beautiful knowing that you’re one second away from several self-care activities. All you have to do now is indulge in anyone you like.
If you don’t mind—and I don’t think you do—please share this article with a few people. The more people take care of themselves, the happier they will be, and the more happy people we have on earth, the better our world will be.