It’s hard to find the time to care for ourselves when often we feel there isn’t enough time to get everything we need to do done! However, there are some simple yet effective tools that can be implemented in your daily routine to increase self-care and allow you to make better use of your time.

H.A.L.T.

Originally created for those with addictive behaviors, this acronym is a helpful way to assess whether daily needs are being satisfied. By making sure you never get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired throughout the day, you allow yourself to make thoughtful choices that help in achieving goals. Make sure you take stock of these four feelings throughout the day to ensure your needs are being met.

Increase Your H2O

Drinking water is good for the body and mind! Drinking water improves skin health, prevents dry mouth, curbs food cravings, and clears bacteria from the body. Water also decreases mid-day fatigue and improves concentration, increasing concentration and thus productivity, which always makes us feel good!

Hop Offline!

Many discuss the negative impact of social media on concentration, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Being active online allows us to connect with others and learn new things however a feed filled with information can often leave us with feeling left out or upset. Take scheduled breaks from social media or Internet scrolling and focus on other activities you enjoy.

Meditate

Try to take a break each day to meditate, in order to care for yourself and get time to “reset”. Sit in a comfy position (e.g. favorite chair, couch, pillow) with your eyes closed and take five to twenty slow, deep breaths. By doing this activity you are allowing your body and mind to slow down and re-boot after the many activities that can take place throughout the day.

Learn Something New

Learning new things have benefits including being good for brain growth, increased feelings of accomplishment and pride, as well as the ability to contribute to meaningful conversations. Consider a podcast or audiobook on the way to work when taking a social media break.

*These may not all work for you, each individual has self-care activities that work best. Try some out and see which ones fit best in your day to day life! For more self-care ideas unique to your self, work with a therapist.