Three Unconventional Ways To Practice Self-Care

*Collaborative post.

Three Unconventional Ways To Practice Self-Care picture

Image from Hassan OUAJBIR / Pexels

Modern life is stressful, and that’s no secret. With the increasingly hectic realities of the workplace, family, relationships, and more, finding time for yourself can sometimes seem impossible. And, believe me, time to yourself is more important than you might realise. Moreover, as the world starts to turn at a normal pace once more (after the strange year-and-a-bit we’ve just collectively gone through), it can be difficult to re-learn all of the busy behaviours we mastered in the past. 

Luckily, as times change, so can we. If you feel like you’re finding yourself burnt out, restless, or just plain exhausted, there are a few things you can try which are proven to help lift spirits in times of duress.

  1. Give therapy a go- but not necessarily CBT

Therapy is more widely accessible than ever now, which is a fantastic side-effect of our increasingly online lives. With a few simple clicks, you can get yourself in touch with a licensed professional who can help you figure out how to combat some of the stressors in your daily life, and all from the comfort of your own home!

However, the most popular form of therapy (cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT for short) is not necessarily the right choice for everyone. Everyone’s mental well-being has unique requirements, therefore, sometimes one-size-fits-all doesn’t cut it. This is where it might be worth checking out some more unconventional solutions. Group therapy might be worth a try, or even hypnotherapy (which can even be done online now from providers such as hypnosis-courses.com) might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Hypnotherapy is often used to help people achieve a state of deep relaxation and focus, as well as addressing various psychological and emotional issues. If you are looking to start hypnotherapy malvern treatment (or in your area) then ensure you have a conversation with a licensed hypnotherapist or healthcare provider to determine if this is a suitable option for you. 

Don’t be afraid to try new things! You never know; the next one might be the life-changing revelation you’ve been looking for.

  1. Revamp your wardrobe

As simple as it may sound, sometimes the monotony of our daily lives can get us feeling down. The way you see yourself can have a huge impact on your general well-being; it’s no secret that you feel good when you’re looking good! If you feel like you could do it with a touch of personal reinvigoration, going on a shopping spree might be the remedy you needed all along. 

Something as simple as a new jacket or pair of heels can be enough to tip the scales from self-neutrality to self-love. Material objects shouldn’t dictate the way we perceive ourselves, but they can definitely help perk up your daily routine!

  1. Spruce up your living areas

The world which surrounds you in your everyday life can either raise you up or wear you down; it all depends on how comfortable you are. Not only can giving interior redesign a go be an engaging new personal project, but it can also have some serious long-term benefits to your general health and well-being. 

The environments we work, sleep and relax in will have an effect on how effective each respective task is. Humans are sensory creatures who enjoy comfort! Embracing this fact will open an entirely new avenue of agency and help you seize control of the world you live in.

 

How to silence the mind chatter when you meditate

If you are new to meditation,  you may be struggling with silencing the mind chatter. I struggled with that on and off for a while when I first started to meditate regularly. Now I don’t have that problem anymore. I meditate twice a day, 20 minutes in the morning and evening, and I can now do so effortlessly with no mind chatter. Now that I mediate on a daily basis, I feel a lot better all over and I can’t imagine not meditating now that I am reaping the full benefits of it.

 

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Meditating simply means being still. It is taking your mind off everything, sitting comfortably and focusing on your breath while breathing in and out deeply. It is different from the prayer quiet time which I also do multiple time a day. So how do you silence the mind chatter when you meditate? Here are some tips that may help you do just that.

 

Meditate daily

The more you meditate, the easier it will be for you to go right into it and be still. The more you practise mediation, the more you know how to silence the mind chatter that threatens to keep your mind and head still. If you only meditate once a while, you will definitely find it difficult to be still mindfully, but if you practise on a daily basis at set times, you will gradually get into the swing of it. If you are struggling to silence the mind chatter, don’t give up on meditating. Continue to meditate on a daily basis until it becomes second nature to you.

 

Pick the right time

It is important you mediate alone and when you know you won’t be disturbed. Picking the right time helps as it keeps your mind focused and free from distractions. It is a good idea to put gadgets on silence so you are not disturbed. I always make sure my iPhone and Apple Watch are on the silent mode so I am not disturbed.

 

Keep your mind still

Whenever you find your mind beginning to wander, acknowledge the thought, bring your mind right back and focus on your breathing. It is easy to wander off when you are trying to meditate, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Just ensure you continue to bring your mind back and you will find that the amount of time you do this decreases the more you meditate. This is a clear case of practise makes perfect!

 

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Keep your eyes closed and no music

I know some people say they mediate with their eyes open and music on. It can be possible to do this but I won’t recommend it. I struggle to keep my mind focus even when using guided meditations so I won’t recommend you listen to anything. Keeping your eyes closed is also important as it keeps you looking within and your mind is focused on your meditation and nothing else.

 

Start gradually

If you are struggling to keep your mind still or stay awake while meditating, then it may be a great idea to start small. Start mediating for 5/10 mins for some days and then gradually increase the amount of time you spend mediating.

 

Do you meditate? What are the benefits for you?

Dealing with anxiety as a self employed person

*Collaborative post.

Self employment has always been the dream, and I am grateful I am able to live this life especially with my kids being so young. But being self-employed comes with an unstable income. The uncertainty can be very worrying and the worry could lead to serious anxiety if you let it. I have been a mum for over 5 years now, while running my online business by the side and I have picked up many ways of dealing with anxiety as a self-employed person. Here are a few of the ways I combat anxiety.

 

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Save the money

Running your own business means sometimes it rains with money and sometimes it doesn’t. I have always been more of a saver than a spender, so that helped me in this self-employed journey. I always put money away just incase an unexpected bill comes up, or business becomes really slow the next month. Saving the left over money means I don’t worry about paying my bills the next month.

Ageing my money helps me deal with anxiety, and it is one tip I always recommend to business owners. Save that money. It may come in handy in a few months.

 

Have faith

I don’t really talk about my faith on here because it is not a faith blog, but I believe in God. That faith helps me when anxiety comes knocking. I am a very spiritual person, and my active spiritual life helps me deal with issues that seem impossible.

It may not be your cup of tea but it works great for me. I can’t imagine living a life without my faith in God.

 

Self care

When you are working for yourself, it may be very hard to take out time for self-care. I have started paying more attention to my mental health and the extra attention helps me stay on top of my self-care, which helps get rid of any anxiety. It could be a nice long walk on a beautiful sunny day, or going for a relaxing massage at the spa, or watching a movie at the cinema.

Self care is very important especially when you are a 1 man team. If you are having issues with your mental health and want to read up more on this, check out Better Help for more information on who is best to speak with. Also, you can look into trying different self care products like a foot spa, massage chair to unwind, and the likes, in order to figure out the products that fit you.

 

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Take your work seriously

I take my work very seriously and I think that helps me get a steady flow of income. I work every free time I get (more than 40 hours a week) and I believe I am the true definition of a hustler. Nowadays I try to take the as much time as I can afford to take off but I am always working. That helps me stay on top of my bills, keeps my mind busy and get rid of any anxiety.

 

Music helps

Music is good way for me to escape all my problems. It is like food to my soul and I feed on it everyday. I love listening to good music. My Spotify playlists come in very handy. You can easily catch me typing up a post and listening to some cool songs.

 

 

How do you deal with anxiety as a self employed person? Do you have any tips to share?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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