Self-care can drop off the list of things to do when life gets hectic. Work, kids, spouses, parents, and taking care of a home all add up to no time for yourself. You know self-care is important, critical even, yet it still slides off the radar all too often.

Focusing on self-care may seem self-indulgent when you’re busy, but it is quite the opposite. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” as they say. Refuelling yourself gives you the resources to maintain your responsibilities without getting sick.

Self-Care Ideas for When Life Gets Hectic

Diet

One of the first things to go is often healthy food choices. You’re tired and frazzled at the end of a hard day, and everyone is hungry and waiting for dinner. So, you pop into a drive-through or make a phone call for delivery to take the pressure off. And it works. But it creates a vicious cycle.

You know the cycle. You get tired, so you eat fast food. Then you end up feeling even more tired. So, it’s even more likely you eat fast food. Break the cycle with healthy meal options from your health food store and add a multi-vitamin to every family member’s diet. Consider a quick and easy healthy smoothie when you get home, so you have the energy to make a meal for the family. Protein powder is an ideal supplement in smoothies when you are on the go!

Sleep

Staying up late is an incredible temptation when you feel like you’re at the end of your rope. And as your mind races, it can be almost impossible to get to sleep. A little alone time can be rejuvenating but staying up too late just perpetuates the cycle.

To break the cycle, melatonin helps your body relax, so you can get to sleep without the side effects you’d expect from many other sleep medications. With melatonin, you wake up refreshed and ready to face the day!

Exercise

Sure, you’ve heard it all before, but when things get hectic, the gym drops off your to-do list, too. So, how do you make sure you still get some exercise when you really don’t have the two and a half hours a week the experts say is best?

For the short term, slip some activities into your regular life. Take the stairs. Do a few chair yoga exercises. Walk around the block (or the office hallways) during your lunch hour. Dance in the kitchen as you prepare a meal. Then add your gym visits back in gradually. Just keep moving!

People

Even during lockdowns, it is important to have some interactions with others. Take time for video calls with co-workers, friends, and family members to catch up when circumstances keep you apart. Video conference sing-a-longs, shared meals, and informal chats help fill the void created by not spending as much time with people in person.

But often, when things get hectic, it’s alone time you need. Snuggle up with a good novel, have a bubble bath, or watch a guilty pleasure reality show. Add a healthy snack, and you’re all set! (Remember that as tempting as it is, social media time flies past without refuelling your need to get away from it all.)

In Conclusion

Self-care creates its own self-fulfilling cycle. When you feel good about yourself and how your life is going, chances are your self-care routine is well balanced, too. When things get out of balance, self-care gets harder, and the routine breaks.

So, when you find your self-care cycle suffers, break the cycle to get back on track with these tips for self-care when you’re busy.

About the Author: Health First Network

Health First Network is Canada’s leading membership group for independent health & wellness retailers and the exclusive supplier of the premium Health First supplement brand. There are over 140 independently owned and operated retail Members across the country. Click here to learn more about Health First.