Looking for a physical self care routine that will give you a pick me up and not make you feel guilty about it? This post will give you some self care activities you can do everyday!
There are so many misconceptions about physical self care. All too often it is mistaken to focus only on diet and exercise.
Yes, nutrition and staying active play a large role but there is so much more involved in taking care of your body.
Having spent too many years neglecting my body and physical self care I have learned the hard way that making self care a priority is far simpler than neglecting it.
This post will give you ideas for physical self care practices and physical self care activities you can do at home, on a budget and make you feel energized!
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Self Care Routine
Having a healthy self care routine is vital to both physical self care and all 8 areas of self care. Each one affects the others. Read my post on 8 Self Care Essentials Every Woman Needs to Know here.
Physical self care addresses the importance of movement of the body, health, nutrition, getting enough sleep or rest, and more.
We are going to work our way through some physical self care activities that are quick, easy and accessible to everyone! Having a routine for self care provides good health, endurance, confidence and a feeling of satisfaction that is undeniable.
Neglecting Physical Self Care
Ladies, we have a tendency to put ourselves after all of the people we care about as well as the priorities we have in our lives. It seems like a noble thing to do, right?
The reality is, if women continue to put our self care last we are shifting the norm and the expectation that this is ok.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Neglecting physical self care leads to feelings of frustration, exhaustion, and defeat. None of these words describe a strong, healthy woman.
All too often neglecting your self care is completely unintentional. It doesn’t change the outcome though.
Even people who are very health conscious can fall victim to this. Little by little it is very easy to stop doing the things that provide your body the care it needs. Provided below is a great example of this.
Importance of Self Care
Let’s take a journey through the life of a wife, mom, and independent woman to highlight why physical self care has to be a priority.
She was in excellent shape, working hard and smart to compete in fitness competitions and she was almost there! In her mid 20’s, mom of two great kids, happily married to her high school sweetheart. Life was GREAT!
One surgery later life was changing and it was changing fast. You see, her priorities shifted completely away from her goals. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but it happened nonetheless.
Next thing you know, she had gained 30 pounds. Another year later ~ another 30 pounds. It just kept creeping up.
Fast forward several years, countless failed fad diets and mornings of choosing the baggiest clothes possible… she gained ALOT of weight. Tears were shed, often, and the feeling of failure was real.
How did she get there? Every other aspect of her life she exuded confidence, intellect and most importantly ~ compassion.
She forgot that taking care of herself had to be a priority. Her self care routine was nonexistent.
Slowly but surely over the course of about 18 years she went from 130 pounds to over 300. She had lost her confidence and felt defeated when it came to her body. Most significant, she FELT horrible.
Physical Self Care Changed My Life
This woman is me.
I’m not proud of it, but I hope and pray that my experience will help others to avoid making the same mistakes I did.
The bottom line is, having a healthy lifestyle improves all aspects of life. This was the only area of my life I felt helpless in. It was the first thing that everyone sees first. And I was completely defeated even though I had control of my choices that were keeping me there.
The great news is, I realized that I needed to change and came up with a plan to improve my health. I am proud to say I no longer weigh over 300 pounds. Not even 200 pounds. 20 pounds away from my goal, I’m almost there.
Most important though… I feel great! I went from a 3x to a size 10. Control over what I eat and what I do is mine again. That is the best part. Food no longer drives my life! The days of being embarrassed and disappointed from being winded when walking a very short distance are gone!
No more avoiding events because finding the right outfit is impossible to find. No more eating unhealthy food with no care for my health and no more getting winded trying to complete the most simple of tasks!
It is so easy to feel overwhelmed when the goal is so far away that it feels impossible. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to you doctor or find a doctor that will help guide you through the process. I am not a doctor, weight loss professional or personal trainer. This is just me sharing my journey, the experiences and knowledge I have gained and information to inspire you. Keep in mind that everyone is different. They key is knowing what you are actually putting in your body, what activity you are engaging in and what works and what doesn’t.
Ok, let’s get into how to go about making your personal wellness a priority ~ one choice at a time ~ the healthy way!
Self Care Activities
Below are 7 ideas to help you get started with making your physical self care routine a priority in your life.
Drink Water Regularly
It is vital to provide your body with the hydration it needs. One of the easiest ways to improve physical self care is to drink an appropriate amount of water daily.
There are so many drinks out there that tempt you away from water. Drink your water first. The recommended amount of water for a woman to drink daily, according to Mayo Clinic, is 11.5 cups or 2.7 liters.
Did you know that drinking water boosts your metabolism? It’s true! All too often dehydration masks itself as hunger. Next time hunger hits you, grab a glass of water before you have your meal or snack.
Want to learn more about how much water you should drink? Read this article on Web MD.
Balanced Nutrition
Eating nutritious foods fuels your mind and body.
Decreasing the amount of processed foods in your system is very important. It will give you more energy and allow your body to go through the digestion process more naturally.
Find natural foods that you enjoy. Replace chips with vegetables or fruit. Consume plenty of green vegetables.
Decreasing the amount of oils and sauces in cooking can kickstart your body. Try using more fresh herbs and seasonings to replace condiments that are full of artificial additives, excessive sodium and added sugars.
Consume lean proteins to fuel your body! One way to do this on a busy schedule is to prep grilled or baked chicken ahead of time. Add it to your favorite salad and voila, you have a nutritious meal! It’s important to remember that having prepared and planned healthy choices will make it easier to avoid reverting to unhealthy habits.
Try Thrive Market for healthy balanced options! Get nutritious and organic food shipped right to your home.
Another option for meals delivered to your home is Freshly. This company sends healthy, cooked meals to your home!
Like the idea of eating healthy food and not having to shop for it? Try Hello Fresh! They send all of the ingredients for your meals right to your door. Super healthy, delicious and EASY! You still get to cook but don’t have to do the shopping.
Get Moving
One way to positively impact your health and self care routine is to get up and move every hour. If moving around every hour isn’t an option due to your work environment here are some options.
- Take the long way to and from the bathroom each time you go
- Take the stairs whenever possible
- Park farther from the door to increase your steps
- Start a lunch break walking group
- Start a step challenge at work
If you are home and need to get moving there are so many options! Take the opportunity to check something off of your to-do list. Walk around your entire house three or four times. Or, you could get up and walk in place while watching your favorite show. Just get moving!
Try monitoring your steps on a day where being stuck at a desk or being sedentary is required. Another day, get up and move every hour and compare your steps between the two days. If you have an app or watch that tracks calories burned, it is pretty amazing the difference this one change makes!
Looking for a watch to track your steps? Check out these Garmin watches. I absolutely LOVE my Garmin Instinct! I finally took the plunge and purchased this watch to track my steps, activity and love the functionality. It has the ability to track specific types of activity (and there are a ton) and calculate everything based on GPS if you choose to use that feature.
I got the purple one because… why not?!?!
The battery lasts 24 days and it has solar charging! To make it even better you can monitor your sleep, stress level, body battery, heart rate, weight, BMI and more with the Garmin Connect app (totally free)! This, along with many of their other watches are designed to sync with My Fitness Pal which allows nutrition information to be linked as well. I am so glad I splurged for myself on this. It’s amazing!!!
Exercise
Well, it seems that exercise is something a person either loves or hates. Regardless of which side you are on, the one thing we know is it is a necessary part of our lives.
Getting up and getting moving is very important. To see the impact that exercise has on your body just journal your activity and food intake for a week on your normal schedule. Then, journal a week where you add in intentional exercise each day. 20-30 minutes is plenty of time if you don’t normally workout.
Remember the Garmin Instinct I just showed you? Well, that was telling! It didn’t matter if I walked, did a walk/jog or went swimming. Regardless of the activity ~ the change in how I felt, how many calories I burned and my change in weight at the end of the week proved I needed to exercise.
The more you do, the better you get. The better you get, the more you want to do! The great news is there are a TON of options! Most of which you can do never leaving your home!
One of the easiest and cheapest ways is by creating an account with BeachBody. Find workout videos for every level of fitness on every type of workout. Kickboxing, yoga, pilates, aerobics… you name it, they have it!
Whatever you choose to do, just add some exercise to your daily routine. You won’t be sorry!
The Power of Scent
There is something therapeutic about walking into a room that smells amazing. Take a little time to place scents that make you feel good in your home.
One way to do this is by using Essential Oils. There are so many options and the best part is they can be mixed to create your own personal scent.
Each one has different healing power. Seven options are listed below!
- Peppermint: promotes energy and alertness
- Bergamot: boosts and enlightens mood (great for hard times)
- Rose: promotes relaxation before sleep and soothes
- Jasmine: creates a positive atmosphere and is known to be an aphrodisiac
- Myrrh: warming and calming
- Lemon: refreshing, energizing and supports healthy immune system
- Sandalwood: relaxes the mind
Looking for some Essential Oils or a diffuser? Pick yours up at Plant Therapy.
Skin Care Routine
Take the time to take care of your skin. There are so many options to do this and they are available at any price point!
Do what you can afford but, take the time to nurture your skin. Doing so will provide your skin the nourishment it needs as well as start and end your day with a bit of pampering.
My “go-to” when we were just starting out was Olay. There are a ton of options in their line, they smell good (non-scented available) and feel great! Here are a few options to get you started.
Now that I am in my 40’s my skin care line of choice is Prevage by Elizabeth Arden. The luxurious feel of the Prevage products is absolutely unparalleled. I have had so many comments on how I look younger and I attribute it to this amazing line! Click on the picture below to purchase Prevage products at SkinStore at a discounted rate!
Pamper You
Finally, take some time to pamper yourself. Massage, nails, hair, you name it. Pick something that makes you feel good and do it!
There is something so refreshing, renewing and relaxing in getting pampered. Whether you choose to do this once a year, once a quarter or once a month… pamper yourself!
You deserve it! Regardless of your budget, there are ways to make this happen. There are tons of options to do at home at a very reasonable price. Check out the few I provided below.
Ulta is a treasure trove for pampering that meets the needs of so many people! Check out these options from Ulta! The best part is, you earn points for free products with every purchase!
Looking to get pampered outside of your home? Try Thumbtack! Click on the picture below and type “massage” or “manicure” in the purpose and add your zip code! Discounted options near you will be at your fingertips. The best part is you can see reviews at the same time.
Self Care Plan for Beginners
Regardless of what stage of life you are in you have the power to be an example of a woman living her best life. Make the commitment to your physical self care starting today! One day at a time ~ make the best decisions for yourself. The feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction, and your ability to commit to yourself and others will grow by leaps and bounds!
Weight is only one part of the physical self care journey. It is simply a reflection of how you manage your self care. Prove to yourself that you deserve the best you have to give… to yourself! And remember, there is nothing selfish about it.
Taking care of yourself allows you to be there for the people that you love and care about more fully.
Looking for a journal for your Self-Care journey? Check this one out!
Be sure to comment on how you make physical self care a priority and go “all in” for your life! Just remember, make a plan, stick to it and when you have to adjust (life happens) get back on track right away because YOU ARE WORTH IT!
This post was all about making physical self care routine for women a priority, tips on self care, having a self care routine and living your best life!
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