Sometimes, making huge changes to your lifestyle isn’t feasible. If you want to make positive changes without getting burnt out fast from the sudden differences, then you can instead focus on tiny self-care habits that make a huge difference in the long run. These habits prioritize yourself without making those sudden swaps.
6. Short Walks
Tiny self-care habits don’t have to be time-consuming. So when it’s recommended to take walks, you don’t have to block out an hour. Short bursts, like 10-minute walks, are a great habit to start with. These walks can consist of you going to the mailbox or walking around your block. But make sure you’re taking mindful walks, which means you’re not zoning out watching social media while you walk. Embrace nature, be mindful of your steps and pace, and take this time to meditate or process your day.
5. Quick Stretches
How many times have you heard to stretch when you first wake up? Well, did you know you can actually do an easy 5-minute stretch while you’re lying in bed? You don’t need to hop out and start performing yoga poses right away. You can wake up calmly with these few stretches, like pulling your knees to your chest while you’re lying on your back. Or extend your arm overhead while lying on your back, and lean the opposite side. Once you sit up, extend your legs out in front of you and touch your toes for a quick back stretch before starting your morning.
4. Remove Self-Criticism
One of the best tiny self-care habits that we should all learn is removing self-criticism and replacing it with compassion. Many of us move through the day with harsh dialogue towards ourselves, which might not seem like much at the time. But as we keep criticizing ourselves, it’s mentally draining, which can negatively affect our confidence, our emotions, and our outlook on life. The little jabs you give yourself are actually more harmful than you might think, so make the change of offering ourselves compassion and understanding to see how it positively affects our moods.
3. Eat With Distractions
Thanks to social media, it’s becoming normal to eat while watching something. Try to make a habit of eating at least one meal without any distractions. Put the phone down, turn the TV off, and actually sit with your food. This is incredibly helpful if you want to learn about your body. Many of us are in the habit of overeating and not realizing that we’re full until we’re stuffed. Take each bite and focus on your body and how you’re feeling. This is a great way to learn your limits without the distractions.
2. Make Your Bed
The habit your parents tried to drill in you as a child might actually be beneficial. Making your bed when you first wake up is actually incredibly beneficial in the long run. This tiny victory sets a productive and positive tone for the rest of the day, encouraging you to keep up that momentum. It might be a small thing, but you really do feel better about your day if you start it off with tidying up your bedroom. Plus, there’s nothing like coming home to a made bed to look forward to.
1. Drink Water
It’s time to start reaching for a cup of tea or coffee when you first wake up. Most of us go through our day dehydrated. One of the best tiny self-care habits that makes a huge difference is just having water on hand. Whether that means buying a fun water bottle to carry around with you, or always having a glass of water by your side. Go to bed with water so you can drink some throughout the night, and wake up to a glass of water to have right when you wake up. This hydrates the body and puts you on the right path for a healthy day.