10 Simple Self-Care habits to add into your routine

 "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance"-Oscar Wilde 

June here on Pampas and Pearls is self-care month, all our blog posts will be based around self care and what it means to use. 

Recently I have found it difficult to get time to myself and have been neglecting some of my basic needs. To improve on my quality of life and mental health I am trying to implement new steps into my day to day life which will hopefully help me to achieve my end goal. 

Below are 10 steps that I am, slowly, trying to incorporate into my daily life. I add a new one each week. 

1. 
   Get enough sleep - This helps your body to reset to be ready to face the day.
   
2. Maintain a balanced diet- If you eat rubbish you will feel rubbish, but a good balance is great!
3. Exercise regularly- even if that is walking the dog or taking the longer way to the shops, even getting off the bus a stop early helps!
4. Take breaks from technology- the number of headaches I get from looking at my phone is alarming, taking an afternoon or even just an hour away from any screens is a start. 
5. Practice mindfulness or meditation- This could tie in with the breaks from technology, spending time reflecting on the day or even an event that has happened recently. 
6. Spend time outdoors- I have noticed that a lot of these tie in with each other, taking an extra long
   dog walk, or exploring your local area. Play tourist of the day!
7. Stay hydrated- This one is easier said than done, when I first saw this one I thought great I drink loads of tea and coffee, but as a genuine rule it often means a drink not filled with caffeine (damn it!)
   
8. Connect with loved ones - Getting back in contact with people is great and being able to talk to others really helps us with self care, it opens us up to feelings of happiness and memories we often have forgotten. 
   
9. Pursue hobbies or activities you enjoy- this one is all about trial and error. Finding a new hobby or activity can be daunting, and for a daily routine this might not be possible. Take this as find a new element of the hobby you are already doing. For me it would be finding a new genre to read.
10. Prioritise self-reflection and self-awareness.- This is the most difficult one of all for me, putting myself first has never come naturally as I was always pushed and encouraged to help others, much life yourselves I bet, but being able to step away from that and say look I need to do this for me is great! It could also be an opportunity to drop a hobby you don't like because someone else likes it, or maybe it is too expensive, putting you first is a big step in your self care journey. 

I  hope those little tips have helped you think about self care and adding it into your routine, whether that me daily, weekly or monthly.

I hope you enjoy the rest of self care June! 

Kisses 

Katie xx