LIFE

Sometimes, after stress and anxiety has been bubbling up to the surface for too long, we explode, right? And all of our self control and composure seems to evaporate when this happens—and that's what we call a breakdown. Yikes! Those can be scary, but it’s good to know that we can take steps to prevent them, like by building a self care routine.

Even though sometimes we may beat up on ourselves, the fact of the matter is, we deserve breaks. It may not seem like taking a break is productive, but it will help tremendously when it comes to stress and learning to approach things from a more optimistic point of view.

So, how do you develop these routines?

1. Start by taking the time to identify things that calm you down. Things you might not have the time for on a daily basis, like special activities or pampering rituals. Make a list that you can reference whenever it’s relaxation time. These can be simple things like painting your nails or treating yourself to some chocolate. Whatever they are, make sure you record them!

2. Schedule a block of time each week that will be spent focusing on relaxation and self care. It might be a good idea to pick a time of day that’s the most soothing for you. Are you a morning person? Maybe morning is your self care time. A night owl? You can plan to take a bubble bath or cuddle up with a book at night.

3. Exclude social media from your routine! Even though it’s tempting to check Instagram every five minutes, it distracts you from focusing in on the present. Try develop self care habits that aren’t centered around your phone. You’d be surprised how much this helps!

4. Spend this time alone. While most of your week may be spent following busy schedules and plans with friends and family, self care is meant for you and you alone. Tuning into your individual needs can really help battle the overwhelming aura that the daily life creates. Take advantage of that alone time!

5. Allow yourself to do nothing, if that’s what you’re meant to do. When you’re used to being busy and working hard, it’s difficult to drop everything and spend time being idle. But doing nothing is a good thing, because it lets you give your mind and body a bit of a break.

If you've just gone back to school or you're heading back in a week or two, take note of these tips and implement them into your schedule *now*. That way, by the time you get yourself into a school routine you've already created self-care habits that will last the school year.

Do you have a self care routine? Tell us about it in the comments!

by Maggie Medoff | 8/23/2018