Healthy Living

Small Things You Can Do Everyday To Take Better Care Of Yourself

Olia Nayda on Unsplash

At the start of the year, we often challenge ourselves with a series of resolutions – and many of them focus on being a little healthier. Whether that means you’re planning to exercise every day or shake up your diet. However,  as time goes on, we begin to slip up more and more often and end up abandoning them all together – usually by the time that March hits.

However, the reason that new year’s resolutions so often end in failure is because we put too much pressure on them or expect to overhaul our lives overnight. This is simply not the way that real change occurs – you have to give it time. The best way to do this is by starting with smaller changes and developing them over time. 

With that in mind, here are some small things you can do every day to take better care of yourself. 

Wake up a little earlier

We’re all guilty of hitting snooze on our alarm from time to time – but the truth is, that extra five minutes usually does not make much of a difference to your mood. In fact, it may leave you feeling more tired than you did beforehand. One way in which you can combat this and help prepare yourself for the day ahead is by starting to get up a little earlier – even if it’s just ten extra minutes. Don’t let yourself rush in the morning – as this means you start out feeling stressed. Ensure you have enough time to get ready and eat breakfast before starting work. 

Spend more time outside

Spending time outside – whether you are walking, cycling or running is great for your mental and physical health. Therefore, you should set aside some time each day to go outside – if only for a few minutes. For example, if you find that you are too busy with work to go for that evening bike ride – take a short walk around the block on your lunch break. 

Pay close attention to your eyesight

While people are often quick to make an appointment to see a doctor when they are struggling, many of us tend to put off a visit to the optometrist as we view it as an extra cost. However, you must take care of your sight – and pay close attention to any sudden changes, such as if you are struggling to see things clearly when up close. If this is the case, make an appointment sooner rather than later. 

Learn to say no

There is a lot of power in saying no. While this does not mean that you have to turn down every opportunity that comes your way, it’s important to understand that you don’t have to agree to every situation presented to you. For example, if your boss is asking you to take on a new project, but you’re already juggling multiple deadlines – you can tell them that you aren’t quite ready for that yet. If you’re having a bad day and want to stay at home, you don’t have to make plans with friends. Learning to say no and letting yourself rest when you need it is a small change that can have a real impact on your life. 

Don’t ignore problems

Sometimes, we ignore any health issues as we think they are insignificant and don’t’ want to cause worry. Other times, we feel like we are too busy to go and get them checked out. However, you must go to visit a doctor as and when you need to. Alternatively, you could also look into an online consultation service – which would allow you to address any concerns you have from the comfort of your own home. 

Stop comparing yourself to others

Society often teaches us to be competitive – or compare ourselves to those around us – and it can be hard to pull away from this mindset. However, it’s important to remember that everybody feels this way from time to time – and people you are envious of may be envious of you, too. Nobody’s life is as good as it looks on social media – and every feed is carefully curated to present the image of a perfect life. Whenever you begin to compare yourself to others – take a step back. Instead of thinking about areas in which you feel you are lacking – make a note of everything you like about yourself or everything you do well. Recognizing your own strengths and accomplishments on a daily basis can have a positive effect on your mental health.

Karla Urwitz
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