Taking Care of Yourself: 10 Days of Self-Care
Welcome to Be Your Own Date - a safe space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. If you havenโt already done so, I encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope youโll like them and find them useful too! I am building a collection of thoughtful articles, tips and resources to uplift you and get you thinking. This month is dedicated to 30 Days of Self-Care.
๐ 30 days of self-care
Join me for 30 Days of Self-Care in September (and beyond). Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook (@beyourowndate) to follow my self-care and wellbeing journey. You donโt want to miss this!
Sharing self-care ideas
I am sharing simple and accessible self-care ideas with you in a three-post series, so donโt forget to come back and read all of them. In this post, I will explore what 10 days of self-care could look like to support you in taking care of yourself. Are you up for the challenge?
I was inspired to write this series because I am often asked about ways to practice self-care and what it means to me. I am also struck by the growing attention on self-care in society - and rightly so - but sometimes the ideas and actionable steps are few and far between. In response, this is a practical guide to keep and refer to at any time. Use this when you need some inspiration and motivation to continue with your own self-care plan or routine, which is most effective when personalised to your needs and interests. I would love to know which ideas resonate with you most on your self-care journey. Share your thoughts in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials.
Individual self-care support
Let me support you to prioritise your self-care and develop your own plan, reflecting on the different aspects of your personal and professional life, as your Wellbeing Coach. Simply click the button below to register your interest and book a free discovery call with me. Letโs have a chat!
When it comes to taking good care of yourself, I suggest taking the time to shape the self-care ideas that really resonate with you, to fit your own schedule and way of doing things. Unfortunately, itโs rarely as simple as โcopy and pasteโ. I would also encourage you to do some independent research; whilst these are simple ideas, they may not always be easy to implement and may require some additional reading. Do the work. Your future self will be very thankful!
Fear of failure and success
Which one do you grapple with the most? I have experienced both fear of failure and fear of success, and they certainly have a way of holding us back, no matter how confident we are about ourselves and our capabilities. That said, these self-limiting beliefs are invisible barriers that we can overcome, so that we are not deterred from reaching our goals and full potential. The first step is to be aware of these doubts and to kindly remind ourselves of a time when we have achieved what we had set out to do.
โThe things we fear the most have already happened to usโ Deepak Chopra.
Whilst preparing for the best way to present 30 Days of Self-Care and what to write about, I thought about how self-care applies to the different areas of our lives as well as the things that we often overlook, so you may well find some surprises. Be Your Own Date is a space to get you thinking after all! So, take one day at a time (or more if you need it) because at the end of the day, thereโs no rush and the only competition is yourself.
๏ปฟI have categorised 30 different ways to practice self-care under three themes, though you will notice that there is some overlap:
โ๏ธ Self-care (days 1 - 10)
โ๏ธ Self-care in the workplace (days 11 - 20)
โ๏ธ Financial self-care (days 21 - 30)๏ปฟ
Taking care of yourself: 10 days of self-care
Here are 10 self-care ideas for you to consider. I got you!
Day 1. Life admin
Day 2. Eat well
Day 3. SMART goals
Day 4. A good nightโs sleep
Day 5. Move your body
Day 6. Period care
Day 7. Pet care
Day 8. Simple skincare routine
Day 9. Invest in coaching
Day 10. Joy
Day 1. โกLife adminโก
Letโs start with the less glamorous side of self-care. I am all for pampering and treating yourself, but we also need to make time for the everyday things that we keep putting off. IntroducingโฆLIFE ADMIN. Iโm talkingโฆorganising your paperwork, filing things away, dealing with bills and managing your inbox.
Day 2. โกEat wellโก
๐ธ I love wholemeal tortilla wraps because they are quick and easy to prepare. This one was particularly delicious with salmon, hummus and salad. Whatโs your favourite filling?
Experiment with different ways to encourage healthy eating and get into a rhythm, so much so that it becomes a habit and part of your lifestyle. For example, I like to carry water and healthy snacks with me when Iโm on the go; being prepared definitely helps to stay on track. My favourites include nuts, dark chocolate, a piece of fruit, popcorn (sweet and salty mix, of course!) and homemade granola.
Day 3. โกSMART goalsโก
Create a SMART goal so that it is easy to track and keeps you motivated. This can apply to personal and professional goals, itโs the principles that count:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-sensitive
For example, I set an ambitious goal to post about self-care for 30 days to inspire you and to start a self-care conversation. I will post a self-care idea each day this month. A challenge, but well worth it!
Day 4. โกHave a good nightโs sleepโก
Having a good nightโs sleep is restorative and such an important part of our self-care and wellbeing routine. Sometimes it can be difficult to settle down at night, especially when feeling anxious, stressed or with a lot of things on your mind. So, I thought it might be useful to share some of the things that help me to sleep well at night on my blog and podcast. I hope this resonates with you and Iโd also love to know what works well for you too!
Day 5. โกMove your bodyโก
Exercise and physical activity has mental, social and physical health benefits. Remember to take good care of yourself - mind, body and soul. I try to go for a walk each day. What do you enjoy doing?
I also love to swim. Visiting a fancy swimming pool, from time to time, really helps to keep me motivated.
Day 6. โกPeriod careโก
I am raising awareness about 3 sustainable options that can be incorporated into your self-care routine, which encourage you to feel good and comfortable about your body:
โก๏ธOrganic cotton tampons and pads - fewer chemicals and suspect ingredient
โก๏ธMenstrual cups - reusable
โก๏ธPeriod pants - reusable
Do your research to find out what might work best for you. Thank me later!
Day 7. โกPet careโก
Taking care of your pet has the added benefit of being very therapeutic and can contribute to your own self-care whilst taking on the responsibility of looking after your furry friend. Pet therapy (also known as animal-assisted therapy) has also been shown to boost the ownerโs wellbeing and mental health. So I think that we are very lucky to have pets in our lives.
Pets also make for GREAT companions. However, if you love animals and do not have a pet, consider visiting or volunteering at your local animal shelter or explore other options, such as pet sitting.
Day 8. โกSimple skincare routineโก
Create a simple skincare routine (one that you can actually stick to) and that doesnโt cost the earth - fragrance free if you have sensitive skin. But first, enjoy the sunshine and boost your vitamin D.
Start with a cleanser and moisturiser. If you have acne-prone skin try not to get too overwhelmed with all the different products out there, and choose one to treat it. Reach out to your GP or ask to see a dermatologist for personalised recommendations.
All skin tones and skin types deserve protection via sunscreen throughout the year, so invest in a moisturiser with SPF, especially for your face.
Day 9. โกInvest in coachingโก
Invest in self.
Invest in coaching to support and guide you in the pursuit of reaching your goals and ambitions. I also advocate for therapy to explore your thoughts and feelings, and not keep them bottled up. Coaching and therapy is a time to focus on yourself and unload whatโs on your mind in a safe space, which also involves being challenged in a constructive way to encourage you to consider different perspectives and ways of doing things. This may mean experiencing and sitting with uncomfortable feelings, at times, but you will get through it!
Take the time to find and connect with a Coach whom you truly feel comfortable with and donโt be afraid to offer feedback to help improve the way in which you work together.
Coaching sessions mostly take place on an individual basis (1:1) or within a group setting via different methods: face-to-face, over the phone, online or even through texting!
Did you know that I offer 1:1 Wellbeing Coaching and a personalised programme tailored to your needs? All coaching sessions take place online.
I am particularly keen to support professionals and entrepreneurs because I understand, first-hand, the demands of working in a high pressured and fast-paced environment, including the impact on your personal and professional life. Read more about my background and experience if you are curious.
Day 10. โกJoyโก
Surround yourself with people and things that bring you joy.
๐น๐ป๐
Tip: Read all the blog posts in this three-part series, which will take you on a self-care journey over 30 days, rooted in taking care of yourself.
1:1 Wellbeing Coaching โ๏ธ
I am delighted to share that I can support you with your life and work transitions through 1:1 Wellbeing Coaching.
Curious to know more? Read about my unique approach, personalised coaching programme and what to expect while we work together.
When you are ready to get in touch, submit your interest in personal coaching sessions or pass on this information if you think it might benefit a loved one.
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Be kind to yourself. Be Your Own Date.
~ Amy-Jo โ๏ธ
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is provided for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. For that, you will need to speak to your GP and/or local health provider.
