Face masks, water, working out and Netflix?? These are the popular ideas circulating around the idea of self-care. Recently, taking care of yourself has been a powerful force that has a voice on every platform. The idea of working yourself to DEATH is not intriguing to millennials . The value of putting your health first before your responsibilities is a passionate movement in 2020. So, what exactly is self- care and how do you practice it on a daily basis for a balanced mental , emotional and physical life.

1. Observe + Explore Your Feelings

Before you can start practicing self- care you have to understand your own needs. Tracking your emotions and triggers throughout the week can help you understand what is causing you so much stress. Sometimes we easily write off our feelings as just “waking up on the wrong side of the bed” , but when we examine these feelings we notice that this is not the first time they’ve appear or the last. Here are some questions to ask yourself to understand your feelings:

• I feel challenged when ______. I feel supported when ______.
• I have been paying a lot of attention to ________. I would like to pay more attention to ________; I can devote more energy to the better-feeling alternatives by ______ .
• What is your first response to stress?

2. Time Management + Consistency

It takes two weeks for you to start feeling better, it takes 4 weeks for you to notice changes and it takes 8 weeks for others to notice. This is how long it takes to form a new habit. For self-care to positively change your life you have to practice taking care of yourself on a daily basis. Having intentions with every action throughout the day makes them purposeful and contribute to the life you dream of. Managing your time and incorporating relaxation into your day will help you show up as your best self everyday.

3. Be Nice to YOURSELF!

Did you compliment yourself this morning? Are you congratulating yourself through your progress? It’s important that when you introduce new habits into your life, you are your own cheerleader. If your best friend wouldn’t say it to you why would you say it to yourself? Actively motivating yourself is a harder habit to obtain than you think but it is the driving force behind consistency . Start by writing down positive affirmations about yourself and repeating them throughout the day. Here are some examples:

• I am and will always be enough.
• I am a powerful creator. I create the life I want.
• As I take on new challenges, I feel calm, focused and confident.