Staying on track with your self-care goals is not always the easiest thing to do. Sometimes, life’s stresses can hold us back from pushing forward; other times, we may just not have the self-motivation to keep striving for better. This is precisely why we should create self-plans and stick with them to ensure that we don’t give up too soon. That may seem easier said than done, but today, GenerationFit outlines precisely how it’s done.

What are your self-care goals?

Since self-care can take on a variety of forms, it makes sense then that your vision for ultimate health and wellness could be vastly different from someone else. For example, if you know you could do with more rest, then your self-care may involve carving out specific times in your day to make time for this.

On the other hand, if you know you could do with more exercise, then drawing up a self-care to address this will be completely opposite to finding more time for some downtime. Knowing what you lack to function at your best will determine how you set your self-care goals. So don’t be afraid to visit GenerationFit for some fitness tips!

Creating your self-care plan

Creating a self-care plan will involve a series of steps to help you identify where you are and where you hope to be at the end of it. Your self-care plan should begin with where you are currently and identify what practices you are doing to help you cope with your unique stressors. Delving into these particulars can be the eye-opener you need to separate the good habits from the not-so-good habits so that you can eliminate this one by one.

Make a list of activities you wish to pursue

The next step would be to brainstorm and jot down a list of activities that you’d like to pursue as part of your self-care routine. You might also want to prioritize this list in terms of self-care activities you want to do daily versus weekly or monthly, even. For example, it may be especially important to you to get outdoors more during winter if you feel like the winter blues are starting to set in, as vitamin D is extremely beneficial for your serotonin levels.

Naturally, it’s also important that you spend some time cleaning and decluttering your home so that you can stay on task and avoid subconsciously adding to your stress by living in messy surroundings. The trick here is not to try and tackle everything at once. Instead, take on one task at a time, and don’t be shy about taking breaks when you need them. You can also turn to the experts for advice, whether that’s tips on dusting or how to empty a shark vacuum, since these increasingly popular canister-style vacuums can be a little tricky for the uninitiated. 

Make time in your schedule

Your current schedule will have to change if you want to implement the changes above. Allocate time during your day for applicable self-care activities depending on how you feel at the moment. For example, if your mental health is showing signs of distress more than your physical health, pay attention to the warning signs and try to rectify this before tackling anything else. Talking to someone on a professional level might help if you feel like you are slipping further and further into a depressive abyss. But sometimes, it is the simpler measures that can work just as well, too, such as spending time with loved ones to help boost your mood.

Stay with the plan

For any plan to end up succeeding, there has to be some level of accountability involved. Staying true to yourself and others can keep you progressing at the desired rate instead of slacking off when the going gets tough. Do allow yourself a bit of flexibility and lenience throughout your journey, as you might fail in some areas while excelling in others. Remember, taking care of yourself is the greatest gift you can give yourself, especially if it’s doing something you truly desire with all your heart.

GenerationFit is here to provide affordable, high quality fitness products for real people who need them. Let us know if you have any questions!

Blog contributed by Kimberly Thomas from ushealthcorps.org

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