Do you ever forget to take care of you? Living a healthy life isn’t just what is on your plate or how long you spend at the gym. Self-care and finding the time to unwind after a stressful day is essential when taking care of your emotional, mental, and social health. Practicing these exercises below and devoting just thirty minutes each day can help better your mental conscience and prepare you for the day ahead. Make yourself a priority!

Get moving

Instead of running right to your bed or finding a spot on your sofa, it is important to stay on your toes in order to let go of tension and allowing yourself to re-focus. Whether you take a walk, go to a fitness class, or do a quick workout at home (YouTube has some great workout tutorials), keep your muscles moving!

Pamper yourself

Treat yourself! Whether that is getting a manicure, putting on a face mask, or taking a long bubble bath… there are so many ways you can take time to love and focus on yourself. We work each day trying to please and make everyone else around us happy, and often neglect ourselves in the process. Make time for you!

Learn to meditate

Find somewhere quiet to sit, close your eyes, relax, and focus on your breathing. Try to concentrate on your body and breathing. Spend a few minutes in one position decompressing and relaxing your muscles to cleanse your mind from a busy days work.

Spend time outdoors

Take a walk, or engage in some light exercise outside. After being inside all day, it’s important to absorb the natural environment. It is proven that walking in nature can improve your short-term memory!

Turn off before you tuck in

We all need to “wind down” before we sleep! Practice turning your phone or laptop off an hour before you fall asleep. Studies prove that using electronics before bed time makes it much more difficult falling asleep. The more electronics we use in the evening, the harder it is to fall or stay asleep. Check your emails, texts, and social media in the morning. Take care of yourself to renew and recharge for your next day.

We hope we have inspired you to think about self-care techniques and unwinding after a stressful day. We encourage you to push through your busy schedule and finish the day making time for yourself. Find a technique that works best for you and reflect on how you feel. You are a priority!

Self-Care Ideas + How to Unwind After a Stressful Day