If your working long hours or have a to-do list thats literally the length of your body or probably both you know exhaustion. I am a firm believer that you are at your best at work when you’re also at your best physically and mentally. I think it’s important even in the busiest seasons of life to practice self-care.

This can be different for everyone. You can schedule 5 minutes, a day a week, or a few days a month to practice self-care. It can mean taking an actual break at lunch or waking up an hour or even 30min earlier than normal to have time for you in the morning.

Self-care can seem like a whole event that we don’t have time for but really its small habits some that don’t take much more time just a change in our lifestyle. Here are 7 ideas of how to implement self-care if you on a time crunch or if you have a bit more time.

1. Movement

I didn’t want to necessarily put down exercise because we know eating right and exercise is important. But aside from that, movement is so important, especially if you sit at a desk all day. 

I am very stationary all day so I try and make a point to walk my dogs every day, pace around when I’m doing something on my phone or walk to a coffee shop to work. 

Short on Time: Walk while you answer emails on your phone

I’ve Got Time: Pop on your headphones and listen to podcasts and walk for 30 on your lunch break

2. Read

I’m a firm believer that reading does the mind so much good, yes even if it’s fiction. Extra brownie points if it’s non-fiction.

I try to leave 30 minutes at the end of the day to read because if I don’t it can easily slip my mind. If you need some book recs checkout this blog post here with 5 books that will help you with your business mindset.

Short on Time: Listen to an audiobook on your commute or as you get ready in the morning.

I’ve Got Time: Set aside 30min to read at night before bed.

3. Get Your Sleep

I can actually tell such a difference on days that I rest well and days I don’t. I don’t usually feel that sleepy during the day I just can feel my mind not being as engaged as normal.

Like I can’t tap into my mental resources like I normally can and that’s SO frustrating, I hate it. I’m a terrible sleeper it takes me forever to fall asleep and I wake up an ungodly number of times.

If that’s you, get to bed earlier because sleeping from 11-7 doesn’t equal 8 hours of sleep if you keep waking up and it took you half an hour to pass out when you turned the lights off at 11.

Do small things to prepare your mind for sleep to help get the most of it. Try sleeping without your phone in the room, using a diffuser, white noise or making sure the room is the right temperature. 

Short on Time: Make time. I know it’s hard I suck at it too but make a schedule and go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day (yes, even on the weekends). Your body will learn when to get tired and you’ll get better quality sleep.

I’ve Got Time: Get your full 7 or 8 hours.

4. Learn to Be Still

I’m a go-go-go kind of person. My mind doesn’t stop I never want to stop but I think there’s something to be said about being okay with just being still sometimes.

Just taking those moments to stop your body and stop your mind from running. To relieve your body and mind of stress in a moment and let it go.

Some people like to meditate but it could be as simple as just taking 5 minutes with your coffee in the morning without your phone without distractions and just appreciate the moment. 

Short on Time: Take 5 minutes in the morning and enjoy your breakfast or coffee sans phone, noise, people, etc. Practice gratitude or think something positive that’s NOT work-related.

I’ve Got Time: Find activities that are very quiet and relaxing and don’t involve technology. Take a bath, listen to music and be quite.

5. Un-plug

I love technology as much as the next person but I don’t think it’s healthy to depend on it as much as our society does. It’s super hard when it plays such an instrumental role in our work but setting time either in the morning or at night to get away from the phones and the tv and just do something else is so important.

You don’t have to cut everything off all at once. Start with 15 minutes in the morning tech-free if your tendency is to scroll through Instagram and build up from there.

I swear there is a big mental difference in the mornings I cave into my phone versus the days I force myself to stay away from it. 

Short on Time: Practice not looking at your phone for the first 15 minutes of the day.

I’ve Got Time: Stay away from technology the first hour after waking up and the last hour before going to bed.

6. Get Outside

Our bodies need Vitamin D, it’s nothing new. But a lot of us work either at an office or our home office and hardly see the light of day.

During your lunch break go on a short walk, listen to a podcast and just get out, get away from the noise of life and enjoy time by yourself. 

Short on Time: Drink your coffee outside on your porch or balcony.

I’ve Got Time: Go for a walk in the park or on a new hike.

7. Eliminate Stress

I have become VERY protective of my mind and stress. I have anxiety and it can be so destructive sometimes. You can’t just snap your fingers and make it go away, I get that, but there are some things you might be able to do to avoid moments of stress and anxiety in your life if you know of things that trigger those responses.

I’m really hardcore about this I literally quit my job and moved across the country to get away from this. Disclaimer this didn’t happen overnight (I freaking wish) I wanted to quit my job probably since the day I got it and I worked to get out of it for years because I knew I needed to have my own business and do things on my terms and not work for someone else.

I understand not everyone can cut things off like that but big or small identify what gives you stress and find ways to either cut it out, avoid it or cope with it.

Another HUGE thing that helps me with anxiety is CBD, nectar of the gods I swear. If I’m feeling anxious it is so calming. CBD is honestly a whole thing I can discuss later but if you have anxiety or get stressed easily try it and thank me later.

Short on Time: CBD CBD CBD CBD

I’ve Got Time: Write down where you want to be and what is holding you back. What do you have to do to get to your goals and eliminate your stress? Make a plan.

Hope these self-care tips were helpful and we can all start making even the smallest changes to start taking care of ourselves.