At Home Self Care… My Top 5 Tips + Tricks

Hi friends… happy hump day from me to you!!! I’ve got something that’s been weighing on my mind as of late and it’s a follow-up to something I shared last week via IG stories.

Some of you may not know that years ago I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder [GAD for short] and it’s been an aspect of my life that I am constantly having to work on. My PCP [primary care physician] and I crafted a plan to manage my GAD with daily medication when I was diagnosed and slowly but surely after two years, I was able to come off my daily medication. Since that time, I have been advocating at home self care and getting on my soap box to talk about the importance of putting YOURSELF first sometimes so that you can care better for your kids, husband, family, friends, etc. It sounds easy, but its not and it’s a part of my life and I am always working at.

black eyelet dress [50% off/just $28/wearing XS] | the lovely war book

To be completely transparent, I mentioned how this recent quarantine has been particularly challenging to deal with… I tend to worry and think of “what if” and so for a few days, I gave myself some space and lots of grace and stepped back from social media and I think it was exactly what this gal needed to gain a better perspective and not hear everyone’s voices and opinions on Facebook and Instagram = yes, the not-so-great aspects of the internet. I even found myself dialing back from daily newscasts and instead relying on information straight from the CDC.

I’m raising two little girls and I worry about their anxiety since a lot of it is genetic, though also environmental as well. I posted about my love of Sissy Goff’s Raising Worry Free Girls and it’s been a HUGE help in navigating this new normal for our family in the current state of affairs.

With that, I hopped onto my friend Catherine’s Mix and Match Madness Facebook Group last week to do a LIVE video on the importance of self care right now and I thought it was definitely worth sharing here for my blogging friends as well. We are all in this together and anything we can do each day to keep ourselves sane, happy and functioning in the best way possible is a win for us all:

Here are my top five tricks and tips for all things regarding at home self care:

At Home Self Care

number one. set a schedule and get organized

Grab your planner and/or phone and write down tasks + to-do’s you want to accomplish each day… keep the list small–a maximum of five per day– that way you’ll stay on track and keep life a bit more organized and “tidy”. For this type-A gal, it also feels REALLY good to check those boxes once complete! I’ve linked some fun paper products to help craft that to-do list too:

number two. now work it out

I’ve said it time and time again, a little workout session does the mind, body + soul SO good… it helps mentally and physically get those endorphins going to help your attitude and overall stress level as well. If you’re not an avid exerciser, start small… take a walk around your neighborhood, create a daily challenge for yourself and find a friend to do it with you so you can keep each other accountable. There are a WEALTH of on-demand workouts and ideas to get you moving and grooving! And of course the proper workout attire helps get me motivated to burn those calories—here are some recent favs from my closet:

Align Jogger Pant | Fresh Foam Sneakers | Light Blue Tank

number three. get some sleep

If there were ever a time to catchup on some much-needed sleep, now is it my friends. Aim for at least 8 hours each night and if that doesn’t happen, a little afternoon nap with your favorite cuddle buddy is perfectly acceptable, too. Yes, I am telling you to sleep more = who am I?!?!? And yes, cute sleepwear and must-haves for rest make it all better:

Lynn Sanders Art | Buffalo Check Bed | Matelasse Coverlet + Shams | Duvet Cover
VStep Bolster | Coy Table Lamps | Erin McIntosh Art |  Merriton Nightstand

number four. keep in touch

Whether you get the phone out to chat, write in your journal, or pick up the pen to send someone some happy mail or a thank-you note, let’s get creative in our communication. Make a point to reach out to at least 1 person everyday–it will put a smile on your face and bring a bit of joy to them as well.

number five. do one thing for yourself each day

True self care is understanding that it’s OK to put yourself first so that you can care for others… when I take time for me, I’m a better mom, wife, daughter, friend, etc. I challenge you to do ONE thing every single day just for you. Put on makeup, grab yourself some real clothes + get dressed, bake your go-to sweet treat or spend 15-20 minutes reading a book. Whatever makes you feel ALIVE and most like you, you’ve got to make it happen for a positive perspective and outlook to your days.

What do you do to practice at home self care?  Let me know in a comment below!