Happy You Year from LaVida Massage! While it is fun to dream away at what 2020 could bring, it is important to make sure you’re ready to take the next steps in your life. Self-care had a spotlight shone on it in 2019 and there is absolutely no reason to leave it there. There are thousands of ways that you can improve yourself. They can be done daily, weekly, or monthly, and the best part, is that most of them won’t cost you a dime. While there is no umbrella self-care method that everyone can benefit from, here are a few of our favorite ways to get in the right mental state.
Plan out your day/week
One method that can get you ready for each day is laying out what each day of the week looks like. Take a few minutes on Sunday evening to mentally plan out what your week looks like. Ask yourself, “Do I have any days off?”, “Do I have any errands to run like getting groceries, doing laundry, etc.?”. Then, do the same thing each morning but on a daily level. It’s easy to find time to just mentally jog through your day. At work, prioritize tasks that need to be finished and then move on to after-work activities and if anything needs to get done.
Get enough sleep
This one is as close to an umbrella self-care method as it can get. Everyone needs good, quality sleep. Waking up sleep-deprived can throw your entire day off. You will have a tough time focusing, being alert, and being in a good mood. Establishing a nightly routine (clean room, brush teeth, nightly skincare) or getting a massage can help you get to sleep quicker but also sleep more soundly.
Cleaning your home
I know how tough it can be to maintain a clean living space with all of the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. Something is calming about living in a tidy space though. Whether it is just tidying up the clutter or doing a full deep clean, just 10 minutes of cleaning can make your home feel that much better. Listen to a podcast or some music while you clean to help make it less mundane. Another strategy that can help is cleaning during commercial breaks if you are watching tv. Instead of using that time to just scroll through your phone while the ads play in the background, tidy up a closet or put dishes away. Tackling one small task at a time will free up more of your time later on.
Make time for friends
After a long week of work, I like to go to the local watering hole with friends and unwind. I’m not necessarily saying you have to go grab a drink, but small indulgences are key to keeping a healthy mental state. You work hard and it’s beneficial to enjoy the many fruits of your labor. It can be dining out, getting a massage, or even taking a small trip somewhere. It’s fiscally irresponsible to do this every single day but you have to reward yourself for all the great things you’re doing out there.
Schedule a Massage
Since receiving regular massage therapy, I have been significantly more relaxed and focused. Even just the anticipation of a massage helps me get through the day by knowing that I will have at least an hour to just forget the outside world and relax. The physical benefits are plentiful and very well known, but the mental benefits are where I get the most value out of my massage at LaVida. I also love that LaVida allows me to schedule with ease through their app. My life is a little bit different day-to-day so being able to make appointments on the fly helps me focus on other areas of my life and gives me the fluidity to shift my schedule around.