Self-care: the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health.

Between work deadlines, tax season, relationships, and even just figuring out what the heck to make for dinner, life can get more than a little stressful sometimes. And feeling stressed is not good for your body and overall well-being.

Enter the importance of self-care. More than just a buzzword or a trend, taking time to do things for yourself regularly can significantly impact your physical and mental health.

Although lounging at a luxury spa or getting a blowout may come to mind, self-care doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive to be effective. Establishing and prioritizing simple acts of self-care every day can go a long way toward feeling like your best self.

With spring in the air, there is no better time to create new habits and say “yes” to self-care! If you need some inspiration to get started, here’s a list of self-care tips to help you create a routine that’s perfect for you.

Why is self-care so important?

But first, let’s talk about the benefits of self-care (there are many!). Here are some of the perks that can come from getting serious about a self-care practice:

• Decreased stress and anxiety

• Improved self-esteem and confidence (Veet’s committed to empowering everyone to feel confident and comfortable in their skin, so this is an important one!)

• Improved energy levels

• Increased concentration and focus

• Better relationships

Sounds awesome, right? Let’s move on to some self-care tips and ideas for you!

1. Get fresh air every day

It doesn’t get much easier or inexpensive than this self-care tip – pledge to spend more time outdoors.

Studies show that spending at least 120 minutes in nature per week (that’s roughly 15 minutes a day) can significantly boost physical and mental health and well-being.

So go for a walk with a friend or a good playlist after work, or step outside your door first thing in the morning with your favourite warm beverage to get your outside time bright and early. Rain, shine, or snow, you don’t want to skip this self-care tip.

Are you hitting the beach for some fresh air this summer? Read Waxing Essentials To Pack For A Summer Trip

2. Limit your screentime

How often have you picked up your phone only to look up and realize you’ve spent an hour mindlessly scrolling? Imagine all the other more cup-filling things you could do with that hour (like waxing your legs, for example, if you’re into that!).

Balancing and managing your screentime is an essential part of practicing successful self-care. So, what are some ways to reduce your time with technology?

• Replace your screen with a book – when you’re tempted to pick up your phone, try reading a chapter of a book instead.

• Turn off your notifications to drastically reduce getting distracted by your phone.

• Ban phones at mealtime to be more present with your food and your family.

• Leave your phone in another room or an “unplug basket.” Many people opt for no-phone rules past a particular hour at night and/or no phones in the bedroom.

3. Eat healthier

People often think about how their eating habits affect their physical bodies, but healthy food also means a healthy mind. Eating nutritious foods with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain, while diets that are high in sugar and processed food can harm your brain and body.

Choose to fill your plate with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and grains and leave the sweet and salty snacks for one day a week as a “treat day” if you want a compromise.

It may also help to set aside some time each week to meal plan – leaving less up to chance can reduce the likelihood of making unhealthy choices.

Meal prepping healthy snacks and lunches can also be a great way to encourage healthier eating habits.

4. Write it down

Journaling daily can help you get your thoughts, worries and experiences out of your head and onto paper. It can also help you examine and work through your emotions and behaviours.

Set aside some time each day (ideally when you wake up or before you go to sleep) and choose a comfy spot for your journaling practice. You can try freewriting, where you jot down anything that enters your mind, or you may find it easier to use prompts (you can find tons of helpful journaling prompts with a quick search online).

You can also keep a gratitude journal to record what you’re grateful for daily (another popular self-care tip with many notable benefits like reduced blood pressure and improved mood and well-being).

5. Refresh your skincare & beauty routine

If you look good, you feel good. Or at least that’s what they say.

While looking good looks different for everyone, spring is the perfect time to check the expiry dates on your beauty products, restock your go-to items, and organize your collection for a little Marie Kondo-approved pick-me-up every time you get ready.

Refresh your morning make-up routine for maximum confidence each day and fine-tune (or create) a fabulous skincare routine for the ultimate wind down at the end of the day.

Another hot tip? Make time to pamper yourself at least once a week, incorporating your favourite skincare, haircare, in-shower hair removal, and waxing routine for unwanted facial hair. We’re big fans of the at-home spa day (or the viral “everything shower,” anyone?).

Is unwanted facial hair bugging you? Read our article to learn more about ways to remove it.

6. Enjoy more you-time

Our last self-care tip? Spend some screen-free (see self-care tip #2) quality time alone.

Spending time in solitude can help with feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated, reduce irritability, and improve focus. So go ahead and make time for me-time.

If you’re looking for ways to spend your solo time, you could try meditating, exercising, or starting a relaxing new hobby like painting, gardening or yoga.

Did you find any self-care tips on the list that you’d like to incorporate into your practice? Which one is your favourite? Enjoy finding the self-care habits that are just right for you, and help you feel happier and healthier every day.

Looking for even more spring self-care tips and inspo? Check out My Sunday Night Routine.

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