Category: Tips

Here are some tips to help you on your self-care journey

Essential Mental Self Care Practices for a Sharp Mind

Taking care of our mental health is just as crucial as healthy eating and exercising, but it’s often overlooked in our busy lives. Mental self care is about intentional practices that nurture our psychological health and emotional balance.

With rising global stress levels and increasing awareness about mental health, it’s more important than ever to understand how to effectively care for your mind.

Let’s explore practical, evidence-based strategies that can transform your mental well-being and help you thrive in all areas of life.

What Is Mental Self Care

Mental self care is about adopting habits that promote and maintain mental health. There is a strong connection between self care and mental health. Regular mental self care practices help improve self esteem, self worth, and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. This leads to better decision making and better life choices. Basically. it is a commitment to your mental health.â

Despite what some people may think, mental self care is not selfish. Setting boundaries is not meant to push people away or disrespect their needs. Rather, it’s a way of respecting your own needs and limits. Besides, you can reinforce boundaries in a respectful way, by communicating why this matters to you and by encouraging the other to do the same.

Mental self care is not time-consuming either. Although it may seem like an inconvenience to set time aside for a therapy session in the moment, it might cost you more in the long run. Every minute you spend on mental self care in the present is an investment in your mental well-being in the future. It prevents anxiety, depression or burnout – so I’d say it’s worth it.

Signs You Need More Mental Self Care

It’s good practice to look after your mental hygiene on a regular basis. But if you are at risk of mental exhaustion and burnout, this is paramount.

Here are a few signs you need to focus on your mental health right now:

you are easily irritated, often by things other people barely notice
you have lost your excitement for hobbies or interests that used to energise you
you lost motivation to achieve your goals, or you abandoned your goals altogether
you eat too much or too little
you aren’t looking after your physical health, skipping or missing doctor’s appointments and regular check-ups
you lack self confidence
you are overly cynical
you avoid social interaction
you are unable to focus

All these signs show you are close to burning out and you need more mental self care in your life. Start small, especially if you are feeling exhausted. You are not going to be able to sustain a demanding routine and you will feel discouraged immediately.

Try instead to introduce small habits that take less than 15 minutes.

Daily Mental Self Care Practices

So how can you care for your mental well-being on a day-to-day basis? Let’s have a look at a few practices you can start incorporating in your daily routine right now!

Mindfulness Meditation

This is the easiest step you can take in your mental self care journey, because I’s so handy. There is no shortage of apps and videos online for guided meditation. You don’t have to learn anything, just press play and follow the instructions.

Research has shown that a regular mindfulness meditation practice is highly effective in reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Some studies have shown that mindfulness can help with physical symptoms as well, for example by reducing pain and fatigue.

Journaling

Journaling is also a great tool to have in your arsenal when working on your mental well-being. In fact, many therapists use journaling with their clients and patients.

Here are a few prompts you can use in your daily journaling practice to support your mental health:

1. What were you doing the last time you felt happy? What could you do to replicate that?

2. Write a letter to yourself, focusing on kindness, understanding and forgiveness.

3. What boundaries could you set in your relationships to make you feel more safe or relaxed?

4. What pain or uncomfortable feeling are you trying to avoid at the moment?

5. Are there any recurrent thoughts or emotions that are not serving you? What are they? How did they make your way into your daily life, and what can you do to release them?

Gratitude Practice

Practising gratitude on a regular basis helps you re-focus your mind on the positive aspects of your life. Because no matter how bad things get, it’s never all doom and gloom. Rather, it’s our exhausted minds telling us that.

Try gratitude journaling to re-frame the narrative and remind yourself of the blessings you still have in your life. Here are a hew prompts you can use every day:

1. List 3 people hose presence makes your life better, safer, happier.

2. What do you value most in your relationship with your partner?

3. What do you value most in your friendships?

4. What do you value most in your relationship with your family?

5. List 3 small moments of joy you experienced today.

Digital detox

Unfortunately, the screens aren’t our friends. It’s been well documented now, and I think we all agree, that excessive use of technology is ruining our mental health. Social media usage has a great impact on our self esteem and self worth, our attention span and our ability to form meaningful and rewarding connections with other people.

So reducing your exposure to screens seems like the next logical step.

Take time every day to unplug.
Be conscious of your screen usage and set limits for your most tempting apps.
Create an evening routine that doesn’t include screen-time. Focus on reading, meditation, journaling or talking to your partner instead.

Here are a few more ideas on how to create a digital detox routine for yourself and stick to it.

Digital Detox Routine: Simple Steps to Reclaim Your Time and Focus

Boundaries

Set boundaries with your friends and loved ones, but also in your professional life. If there are behaviours that are hurting you, communicate it.

Let them know that certain words or behaviours are not accepted anymore, and explain what effect they have on you. This way, they can understand your motivation and your new boundaries don’t seem like they came out of nowhere.

And if you feel uncomfortable about having these conversation, think about how much more uncomfortable you will feel when this behaviour repeats itself again and again. Learn to view boundary setting as a practice of self respect.

The Connection Between Physical Health and Mental Self Care

While you are implementing new practices to care for your mental well-being, please don’t forget about physical health. Your mind lives in your body, it is a part of it. The state your body is in affects your mental state.

Nutrition impacts your mental health. 95% of your serotonin is produced in the gut. Its function, as well as the function of your neurons, is influenced by the bacteria in your gut. So you want to make sure what you eat is nutritious, rich in fiber and non-inflammatory.

On top of that, physical exercise has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, in many cases being as effective as medication. Shorter, high intensity exercise programs produced the greatest effect. Which is good news for those of us who always feel like we’re running out of time in our schedules.

Physical activity releases endorphins (the feel-good hormone), boost self confidence and improves sleep quality. So get your workout equipment ready, and book time in your day for this self care practice!

Professional Support for Mental Health

Last but not least, please don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

There is no shame in asking for help when you need it. Nor is there any shame in preventing that moment form happening. A regular therapy practice is a great way to care for your mental hygiene, guided by a qualified professional.

Conclusion

Incorporating mental self care practices into your daily routine isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential for maintaining optimal well-being in our demanding world. Start implementing the strategies we’ve discussed, and you will build remarkable resilience against life’s challenges.

Remember that mental self care is personal. Experiment with different approaches to discover what works best for you. Start with just one practice today, and notice how even small changes can lead to significant improvements in your overall quality of life and mental well-being.

Self Care for Introverts: The Ultimate Guide to Protect & Recharge Your Energy

Did you know that between 30-50% of the global population identifies as introverted?

Yet in our fast-paced world, many introverts feel drained by social expectations that don’t align with their natural tendencies. Our society, our systems are designed to reward extroverted people and behaviours, which can be very frustrating and exhausting for a natural introvert.

This is why self care for introverts is important: we need to prioritise our emotional well-being in order to function and thrive in this world.

If you’re an introvert too, this guide will help you create a self care routine that honors your personal needs.

Create Your Introvert-Friendly Sanctuary

A deal-breaker for me as an introvert is creating a cozy, pleasant and clutter-free environment at home. This is, after all, my sanctuary whenever I need an energy re-fill. So where do you start?

1. Use Lighting to Create a Warm Environment

First things first, lighting is absolutely crucial. If you have harsh overhead lights, they will be basically screaming at your nervous system. Switch over to a mix of warm-temperature lamps strategically placed around the room. You can even invested in some smart bulbs, which can be dimmed from your phone.

2. Use Sound for Self Care in Your Introvert Sanctuary

Sound management is another secret weapon for creating a proper sanctuary. While complete silence works for some introverts, I’ve found that having a bit of ambient noise helps create that cocooned feeling.

From soft classical music, to ambient, to natural soundscapes – there are so many options to choose from. And basically every streaming service out there has got you covered.

3. Remove Clutter from Your Sanctuary

You may have overlooked it so far, but visual clutter can drain your energy too. Make it a habit to put everything you use back in its place. And if it doesn’t have a place, it’s time to assign it one. I know, creating new habits takes you out of your comfort zone, but this one is so rewarding! And takes no time at all. Just stick to one rule: ‘everything must have a home’.

You can use woven baskets that hide away all the bits and bobs that used to scatter across your surfaces. When everything’s in its place, your mind actually feels clearer. Just give it a go, you’ll love the results.

4. Adopt Plants to Enrich Your Environment

Plants can become your non-demanding roommates. They provide just enough life to make the space feel dynamic without requiring any social interaction. You can start with the nearly un-killable ZZ plant. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can slowly build up your confidence with more challenging green mates.

They help purify the air too, which is brilliant for those long stretches when you’re enjoying your solitude.

Setting Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt

An absolutely essential skill that you need to master, is saying “no” without the fear of disappointing others. As an introvert focusing on self care, you have to learn that setting boundaries isn’t just about protecting your energy; it’s about respecting your own needs as much as you respect others’. It can be anxiety-inducing at first, turning down those after-work drinks or explaining why you couldn’t make it to yet another crowded birthday party.

The breakthrough moment in my self care for introverts journey came when I started treating my social energy like a mobile phone battery. You wouldn’t expect your phone to work without charging it, right? So why do we expect ourselves to be constantly “on”?

I’ve developed this system where I block out recovery days in my calendar after big social events. They’re non-negotiable, just like any other important appointment.

Another skill I learnt, is saying no without giving elaborate excuses. You don’t need to explain why you can’t make it. Your time is your own, and you have a right to it. If the other person doesn’t accept this and demands an explanation, it’s their problem and they need to work on their own boundary issues.

As soon as you get enough time and space to recharge, you will understand that by honouring your needs, you are actually being a better friend, colleague, and family member. And when you do show up for social situations, it’s because you want to be there. You can be present and energised, not just a zombie running on social fumes.

Navigating Social Situations While Honouring Your Needs

If you are an introvert focusing on your emotional self care, you need to learn to socialise on your own terms, rather than trying to match the energy of your more extroverted friends. Observe how you feel before and after social events. Take the time to know yourself. And then adopt new habits to make your experiences less draining, and don’t forget about recovery!

Here’s a little trick I use for social events: I am completely honest about my exit strategy. No more making up elaborate excuses to leave early and then feeling guilty for lying, or being afraid that people can see through it. Instead, I’m upfront about my timeline from the start: “I can stay until 9, then I need to head off.” It’s brilliant because it sets expectations and gives you a guilt-free exit. And as a bonus, most people actually respect you more for being clear about your boundaries.

Another strategy you can use if you are an introvert on your self care journey, is “quality over quantity socialising.” Instead of trying to chat with everyone at a party, focus on having two or three meaningful conversations. Look for a quieter corner and have a proper catch-up with someone interesting. These deeper chats are more energising, and people tend to remember these genuine interactions more than small talk anyway.

And here’s another thing to keep in mind: it’s perfectly fine to take little breaks during social events. Stepping outside for some “fresh air,” or offering to help the host in the kitchen can give you those crucial moments to reset. Sometimes, five minutes of peace is all you need to recharge enough to dive back in. It’s not antisocial – it’s smart energy management.

Solo Activities That Rejuvenate Your Spirit

1. Dive Into a Good Book

One of my favourite solo activities is diving into a good book. There’s something magical about getting lost in another world, where I can forget my worries and immerse myself in someone else’s story.

And before you say you don’t real like books, hear me out: maybe you haven’t been reading the right ones. Your goal, in this self care journey, is to feel good. So go for genres that inspire you. This isn’t homework, you can choose to read what you like. If you like romance, go for it. If fantasy helps you escape and stimulates your imagination, this is your genre. Find something you enjoy.

You don’t have to be an avid reader to make this work; even a few pages can make a difference.

2. Get Out in Nature

Another activity I cherish is walking in nature. I love heading to a nearby park and letting the sounds of the outside world wash over me. It’s a great way to clear your mind.

The sights and sounds of nature have a rejuvenating quality that’s hard to beat. Just being outdoors can lift your mood and help you recharge. You can take your camera along to capture little moments.

3. Get Creative

Creative pursuits are also a fantastic way to engage in self care for introverts. Activities like painting, drawing, or writing in your journal are a great way to escape daily life. Even if the end result isn’t a masterpiece, the process itself is freeing.

So, if you’re an introvert looking to recharge your spirit, consider carving out time for these solo activities. You might just find that they bring a sense of joy and restoration that you didn’t even know you were missing.

Conclusion

While taking time for yourself is important if you are an introvert, social interaction is also important. Don’t fall into the trap of isolating yourself! Embracing your introverted nature isn’t about becoming a hermit, it’s about finding the perfect balance that allows you to thrive.

You can read more on what is social self care and its benefits here:

What Is Social Self Care? A Simple Guide to a Healthy Social Life

By implementing these self care strategies, you’ll build a lifestyle that honours your need for solitude, while maintaining meaningful connections. Start small, be patient with yourself, and watch as your energy and well-being transform.

10 Quick Self Care Rituals That Take Less Than 10 Minutes

According to the World Health Organization, stress-related health issues are on the rise globally, with 75% of people reporting they struggle to make time for self care. Yet studies show that even micro-moments of mindfulness and self-nurturing can dramatically improve our mental well-being!

I understand the challenge – between work demands, family responsibilities, and daily commitments, carving out time for yourself might feel impossible. But here’s the encouraging truth: transformative self-care doesn’t require lengthy meditation sessions or expensive wellness retreats.

Let me show you how quick, purposeful rituals can revolutionize your daily wellness routine, no matter how packed your schedule may be.

Morning Quick Self Care Rituals

1. Morning Stretches

I’ll admit it: I tend to be a bit lazy. So when I decided to embark on my physical self care journey, I jumped on the easiest solution I could find: stretching. But as I was researching it, I was amazed to learn of all its amazing benefits.

Because it’s so easy to do, we tend to dismiss it. But stretching has been proven to boost blood flow, which helps circulate oxygen to the brain. A regular stretching practice can help you build flexibility and strength. And it’s so easy to do!

Take just 5 minutes every morning to stretch your body, it’ll energise you and set you up for the day.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s an idea of a 5 minute stretching routine. You can also look up videos online and alternate routines, if you are the kind of person who gets bored easily.

2. Create a 5-Minute Mindful Coffee or Tea Ritual

This is one of my favourite quick self care rituals, because it combines practising wellness with a pleasant moment that I am always looking forward to. Do you start your mornings in a hurry, while you sip your coffee in between emails and planning for the day ahead? So did I. It’s stressful and it creates a false urgency mindset.

But here’s the thing: if you take 5 minutes for yourself, the day is not going to implode. You schedule will not be affected. But your mindset will, if you start from a place of mindfulness and calm.

Take 5 minutes every morning to have your coffee or tea in silence. Enjoy the taste. Engage your senses:

what does it smell like? Do you like the smell?
how hot is it? Observe your sensation as you are holding the mug with both hands
what do you think about as you are sipping your drink? Where is your mind leading you to? Are there any happy memories associated with it?

Take the time to be present and observe the moment, your movements and sensations, the environment around you. This exercise of mindfulness will help you start the day with a positive mindset.

3. Quick Morning Affirmations

Affirmations are an effective tool to support mental well-being. The regular practice of affirmations can help you create a more positive mindset, focus on your goals, and create space and self compassion.

Your affirmations may focus on resilience, self love and encouragement, motivation, positivity, confidence – the list is endless. It’s up to you to decide what you wish to focus on. Just take a moment every morning to write down 5 affirmations for the day.

Quick self care rituals are all about effectiveness, and this morning practice will help you keep your priorities to the forefront throughout the day, and make decisions which are in line with your personal values and goals.

4. 3-Minute Gratitude Practice

Let me tell you something: practising gratitude works! Not only is it backed by science, but it is also one of the most effective quick self care rituals out there. For a 3 minute exercise, the return on investment is remarkable.

If you want to start the day energised, motivated and in a good mood, adopt a gratitude practice.

How it works is you list a few things that you are grateful for. Even if you are navigating the worst period of your life, there are always countless things to be grateful for. I like to begin with the things I take for granted every day:

hot running water
access to the world’s knowledge at my fingertips
close friends
old family members who are still alive
physical health and mobility

The list can go on, and you can brainstorm and come up with examples that fit you. Take a moment to remind yourself that for many people, and in many places in the world, these things can be a luxury. Everything little thing you have can very easily be lost. So take the time to appreciate it and be grateful.

Quick Self Care Rituals for Work Breaks

5. Desk Stretches and Exercises

Sitting down for long periods of time is unhealthy. Our bodies were not made to be immobile for hours on end. Unfortunately, that’s not really up to you if you have an office job. But what you can do is take short breaks every now and then to get your blood flowing.

You can find countless videos online that show you how to do quick exercises at your desk. You can even do them while sitting, if you are not allowed to stand up and stretch where you work.

These stretching breaks:

reduce muscle tightness
promote joint mobility
improve posture
oxygenate your brain.

As these quick self care rituals improve your blood flow, you will return to your work more energised and with a clearer mind.

6. Quick mindfulness practices for between meetings

The benefits of mindfulness have been well documented, and you don’t have to live in an ashram deep in the Himalayas to enjoy its benefits. A simple 5 minute meditation session can help ground you and find clarity in a busy work day.

If you have a few minutes between meetings, it’s more than enough. Don’t worry about finding a quiet place. You are not trying to relax, but to be mindful. And mindfulness can be practised in any conditions.

Here’s how you do it:

get back at your desk
look ahead, without focusing your eyes on any object
notice the sounds around you. Don’t pay attention to conversions, just observe them.
observe the sensations in your body. Your body touching the chair, maybe you are hungry, is there any other sensation or pressure in your body? Do not assign any meaning to these feelings, just observe them
observe your breath. Don’t try to change it, just focus on the in and out breaths. Follow it for a minute or two, depending on how long you have

When you are ready, go back to work. You will notice that you managed to take some space from your daily burdens, and have a more positive and constructive attitude towards your next meeting or task.

7. 5-5-5 Breathing

When it comes to quick self care rituals, it doesn’t get easier than the 5-5-5 breathing method. It’s easy to remember and easy to apply anywhere and at any time. This type of breathing reduces anxiety and stress, by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. So make sure you learn this technique for those moments when you are stressed or under pressure.

It’s pretty simple, here’s what yo have to do:

5 seconds slow inhale
5 seconds slow exhale
5 seconds hold
repeat for one minute

Evening Quick Self Care Rituals

8. Quick Journaling Prompts for Emotional Release

Journaling has been proven to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. It helps process feelings, enhance clarity, and helps you find creative and effective solutions to everyday problems.

So having a daily journaling routine is a good idea, and you can squeeze it in your schedule by following one or a few of these easy journaling prompts:

What am I anxious about today?

What is it that usually causes me stress?

What actions can I take to avoid anxiety or stress tomorrow?

What is my anxiety trying to tell me?

What was one thing today that made me smile?

What did I learn today?

What are the 3 highlights of today?

What surprised me today?

How did today contribute to my long term emotional stability?

Who can I reach out to for support?

What is keeping me from asking for help in stressful situations?

9. The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique for Fast Relaxation

Remember that frustrating feeling when you are tucked in after a long day and, no matter how tired you are, you just can’t fall asleep? That’s because your mind is racing with thoughts about today’s conflicts, or problems you have to tackle tomorrow. Try as you might, you just can’t get it to quiet down.

What if I told you that there are easy and quick self care rituals out there that can help you relax at will?

Breathing is not just a bodily function, but also a powerful tool you can use to control your mood. Did you know that the functions of your heart and breath are connected? So you can use your breath – which you can control – to affect your heart rate. This is the secret to calming yourself down anywhere and at any time.

The 4-7-8 breathing technique is highly effective for relaxation. Many people use it to help them rest. Here’s how you detach from the day’s stress and get ready for restful sleep:

breathe in through the nose for 4 seconds
hold your breath for 7 seconds
exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound, for 8 seconds
repeat 4 times

10. 3-Minute Evening Reflection Practice

As discussed earlier in this article, it’s good practice to reflect on the day before bedtime. It helps you create distance between you you and your problems, and it promotes clarity. Even a 10-minute journaling session can have beneficial effects.

But if you don’t have those 10 minutes, or you just aren’t in the mood to sit down and put pen to paper, you can still reflect. You don’t have to set aside time for this task. Use an already established ritual, like brushing your teeth, when your mind if not otherwise engaged.

To wrap up the day and clear your head, answer these 3 questions:

What is the best thing that happened to me today?

How could I have made today better?

What is the lesson I learnt today?

Conclusion:

Remember, self care isn’t about perfection – it’s about consistency and finding what works for you. Start with just one or two of these quick self care rituals and notice how they impact your day. The beauty of these practices lies in their simplicity and accessibility. You don’t need special equipment, expensive products, or hours of free time to prioritize your well-being.

Which quick self care ritual will you try first?

7 Most Common Self Care Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

So you have started your self care journey but it isn’t going quite as you expected? You may be making one of the 7 common self care mistakes and don’t even know it.

Trust me, I know what it’s like, I’ve been there. More often than I’d like to admit.

In this article, I will get into every one of them, and I’ll show you how to avoid them.

What Are Self Care Mistakes?

If you feel that self care isn’t quite working for you, maybe it’s because you are too strict with it. Or you may be too strict with yourself.

Self care is about making space, being patient and learning self compassion.

If you feel stuck, it may be because you are treating it too much like a job. And this is the exact opposite of what you want.

Don’t worry, we’ll get into all the self care mistakes you might be making, and I’ll show you how to avoid them.

I know “self care mistakes” sounds scary, but there’s no need to panic. This article isn’t supposed to show you yet another thing you are doing wrong. It’s supposed to be a tool to help you out on your journey, and make your work a lot easier.

So without further ado, let’s get into it!

1. Bubble Baths Are Not Self Care

This is the most common misconception people have about self care.

It’s true, it may be pleasant in the moment. And there is nothing wrong with treating yourself once in a while. But a bubble bath won’t work for your long term wellbeing.

Self care is about sustained effort. It is about creating a routine that’s beneficial for your physical and emotional health.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against treating yourself to a slice of chocolate cake, while watching your favourite comfort movie. I don’t object to a hot bath after a long day. But please don’t mistake this for self care, and don’t expect it to make you feel better on the long run.

2. Having Unrealistic Expectations

Self care covers many aspects, and there is a lot that goes into it. It can mean physical, emotional, social, spiritual self care and so on.

One of the most common self care mistakes people make, is trying to do everything at the same time. I am guilty of it. I used to stack up as many self care routines as I could in a day. And then felt guilty when I failed.

If you are starting out, don’t try to cram everything in your daily routine. You will get overwhelmed and, within a couple of days, you will feel like a failure.

Try to introduce new routines one by one. Then only add new ones when the old ones are habit and don’t require any effort to maintain.

For more ideas on how to begin your self care journey, check out this article here:

Best Strategy to Begin Your Self Care Journey and Stick to It

3. Treating It Like a Job

Another mistake you might be making is treating your self care journey like you would a job. This means putting pressure on yourself to tick off everything you decided to do in a day.

I used to do this all the time. Every day I would set goals for myself. I would force myself to

meditate
work out
socialize
eat healthy
do breathing exercises

I would have to hit all these targets on my to-do list every day and I would feel disappointed if I didn’t.

This is the best recipe for failure. There’s a reason why its called “care”. You’re supposed to care for yourself, not stress yourself out even more. So if your self care journey feels like a chore, it most likely is.

Try to be more forgiving with yourself. Give yourself space and be patient. Self care is not supposed to be another to-do list that you have to tick off at the end of the day.

4. Only Focusing on One Aspect of Self Care

As I said earlier, self care has many aspects and it requires a holistic approach.

Going to therapy is self care, but so is regular exercise or nurturing your relationships. If you are only focusing on one aspect, you might be missing out on the benefits of self care.

It’s great that you are doing your meditation practice every morning. But if you are not looking after your body, that can affect your mental health. Everything is connected.

For your overall wellbeing, you should look after your mental, emotional and physical health.

I know that sounds like a lot of work. But you can begin with small steps and build up from there.

5. Not Asking for Help

One of the most common self care mistakes people make is trying to do it all on their own.

The world we live in has pushed us to be more and more individualistic. To the point where we’re afraid or ashamed to ask for help. I don’t know about you, but I always hesitate to ask for help from others. It feels like I’m being a nuisance.

But we are social animals. We are meant to live in tribes, to co-exist. We are supposed to help each other out and to depend on each other. We connect when we work together.

Try to get over the fear of asking. If you don’t know how to, here’s how it worked for me:

Think back on the last time someone asked you for help.
How did you feel?
Were happy to be of use?

Chances are the answer is yes. Because we like to feel needed. The idea that others feel bothered by our needs is often only in our heads.

Most people, decent people, are happy to help. As for the rest, you don’t want them in your life anyway.

6. Not Being Consistent

Like with everything, consistency is key. You cannot see results if you don’t make a practice and stick to it.

I understand that this might be challenging, since we are always busy. It’s hard to cram new habits and practices into an already busy schedule.

This is why I always recommend to take it slowly.

Start with small steps and keep at it.

It’s more efficient than going at it in leaps and bounds. Focus on small habits and do them consistently. The results will be instantaneous. I promise, it works every time!

7. Learning Instead of Practising

If you are reading this article about self care mistakes, that’s great. Learn what you need from it. But then go do it!

Information without practice is useless.

You are not working on your self care because you are reading about it.

It’s easy to fall into this trap. Consuming content and info on something is great. It teaches you what you need to know, and the internet is a wonderful tool for learning.

But one of the downsides is that it’s meant to keep you engaged at all times. You are supposed to spend your time consuming content, instead of going out there and living your life.

If you are not applying what you have learnt, you are wasting your time.

So start now.

Begin a new practice now.

Improve on it as you go.

Learn along the way.

Just do!

Conclusion

If you have been making some of these self care mistakes, that’s ok. This is how we learn. But now you know how to fix it.

Remember that you are doing it for yourself. There is no audience, no pressure and no finish line.

It takes time. Self care is a practice, not a race. You’re not trying to prove anything. And it’s not supposed to be perfect, whatever “perfect” means.

Learn to be patient with yourself, and stay consistent.

Have you made any of these self care mistakes on your self care journey? How did you deal with them? Please share your experience, and any tips & tricks in the comments!