Between our crazy-busy work schedules and taking care of kiddos or keeping up with friendships, there seems to be less and less time in the day to spend on taking care of ourselves. But that means there’s even more reason to do it! With World Mental Health Day coming up on Oct. 10, now is a better time than ever to get in the habit of caring for ourselves.
Time Blocking
Time blocking is a way of booking your calendar out for designated activities. In a typical work setting, you’ll see time blocking show up as 15 minutes to check for emails or an hour set aside for lunch break. But when it comes to self care, time blocking can be a great way to stick with things that are important and beneficial to your life – think meditation moments, gym sessions, or time set aside to read your favorite book or focus on a hobby. Get in the habit of scheduling out your self care so nothing takes precedence over your “me time.”
Sleep
What an underrated self care activity. Sleep: We all need it, we all crave it, we all feel better after a great night’s rest. Nothing sends your body’s circadian rhythm into a frenzy more than having a wild sleep schedule. Be intentional about your evening wind-down and your morning rising routines. Try to stick with a set sleep schedule and aim for a minimum of 7 hours each night.
Make Time to Be Social
Calling all introverts! Don’t go running for the hills – socialization is important even for the quiet types. As human beings, we are social by nature. Loneliness sets in quickly and while you could go a few weeks or even months with minimal socialization, our brains are built for connection. So give that long-distance friend a call to say hi, check up on your mom and chat, or plan an outing with your favorite people. And if your friend circle is rather limited, there are plenty of online apps to meet new people, like Bumble BFF or Meetup.
Be safe and be well. Don’t forget to follow our Olympus blog page and social media posts for more lifestyle inspiration, how-to’s, recipes, giveaways, and seasonal contests.