January has been busy – I always knew that it was going to be a busy month with work (so at least I was mentally prepared!), but it’s been even more hectic than I could have imagined. With big projects, a never-ending to do list, and doing my best to balance this blog – sometimes life is overwhelming. And in the words of “10 Things I Hate About You” – I wish I was just “whelmed” instead.

But when life gets busy, it’s even more important than ever before to get some self-care into your routine, and STAT. When days are feeling long and you’re constantly in a not “whelmed” state, that’s the time that you desperately need to leave work a few minutes early, go home, pour yourself a big ‘ole bottle of wine and hang in the bath for an hour. Believe me, your body and mind will thank you whole-heartedly.

And while I’m not perfect at self-care by any means (my friends and family will vouch that it’s not one of my core strengths), when life is nutty, here are a few self-care habits I swear by and am actively adding to my routine to give myself some much needed TLC.  1) Mix up your Routine: 

Do you ever feel like you’re in a brain fog, unable to get our of the cloud of self-doubt or are stuck in a creative rut? Hi. Welcome. I feel that too!

There are days where I feel like I’m 3 seconds slower than all my co-workers and can’t get my mind out of a fog, unable to think clearly or make quick decisions. And of course, our little friend Imposter Syndrome tends to slip in around that time too…joy.

I used to just think I’d get through it, but I realized that the only thing that helps me feel mentally sharper during those times is to break out of my routine – whether it’s waking up 30 minutes early to drink coffee in bed, turn off the TV and read before bed instead, or literally mix up my usual lunch routine and take 30 minutes to eat lunch with a coworker rather than eating at my desk in sadness. You know your routine better than anyone – so find easy ways to make it a little different. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes.

3) Squeeze a Workout In: 

All my friends who know me know that I’m the worst at working out. I literally put off going to yoga because I didn’t want to go alone and put it off until the laaaaaaaaast possible moment to get out my door. And I always know that when I workout I feel a million times better, it’s just the pain of getting myself there that stops me 99% of the time.

So, besides giving myself the “no excuses” pep talk, I’m trying to find ways to squeeze in a workout – whether it’s planning my weekend around an early morning yoga class on Saturday, or even doing the New York Time’s 7-Minute Scientific Workout (if you haven’t heard of it, it’s basically 12 activities you have to do in 7 minutes that scientifically fulfills the benefits of longer workouts in less time – magic!). Even if I’m not perfect at working out every day…or every other day…or sometimes every week, doing a little better every day makes me feel so much better and melts away the stress of my day.  4) Take a Bath – and really enjoy it: 

We’re not talking about a 15 minute bath, but a long, enjoyable soak with wine and books and face masks – let’s live it up people! I have so many friends who swear by taking a bath at least a few times a week as a stress reliever, and it’s often something I overlook. Bust out the bubble bath, pour yourself a glass of wine, and take some time to veg out. You’ll instantly be put in a better, more relaxed mood – which is especially ideal if you have a hard time falling asleep because you’re stressed out (aka, my life Monday – Friday ;))

5) Eat Healthy-ish (or -er): 

I can’t preach for the Whole 30 or Keto, or whatever diet is cool these days – but I can vouch that  eating healthier (or -ish) can make a big difference. I used to not think of food as self-care, but when you really take a step back to realize the effects food has on your body and mindfulness, you realize how important eating whole, healthy foods are.

I don’t like to deprive myself of anything, so you won’t see me cut carbs or sweets from my diet (unless I’m doing a mini no-sugar challenge, or attempting to be Pescatarian for a month). But I have been try to eat more whole foods, cook more at home, eat less meat-based protein, and overall keep tabs on what I’m putting in my body. I’ve started to see a big difference in how I feel, and definitely think eating is a big part of self-care/mindfulness that we often overlook!6) Get Yourself Something Nice: 

Okay, obviously I’m not promoting anyone to become a shopaholic or drown their sorrows at Nordstrom – but hey, you work hard! And you deserve something nice too!

Whether you’re saving up for a big trip, new bedding, that designer handbag you’ve always wanted, or even just a tube of lipstick that you know is going to make you feel like a million bucks – plan for it and go for it, 100%. I always plan to buy myself a nice handbag every year because it makes me happy, so I’m excited for my 2019 purchase already. It’s the little things…and sometimes big things…that make you feel good. And that’s OK too.

7) Enjoy a Self-Care Sunday:

Take one day a week, month, or quarter (whatever you can squeeze in) that’s a full day of self-care pampering. Whether you’re more of an at-home spa day kinda gal, or you book a bunch of amazing appointments, do yourself a solid and carve out time for yourself. I never get my nails done (and rarely get a massage), so I try to take time every other month to give myself some TLC. And honestly, a face mask at home is a magical thing – never underestimate the power of a good face mask, your favorite movie and wine – maaaaaagic!

8) Wine:

Oops. You may have noticed that I wrote about wine in most of this blog post. Whatever makes you happy – and my happy often is accompanied by a bottle of wine. #NoShameI could go on and on and on, but you have things to do and places to see, so I’ll stop there 😉

Any other self-care tips you recommend? I’d love to know what helps you stay mindful, happy and less-stressed, especially as I continue through my work month of crazy! xx