Top Ten Tips to Up Your Self Care Game

It’s getting to that time of year now where we’re all a little bit sick of winter. We’re all painfully desperate for spring to arrive but still have to endure the chilly and stormy weather for that bit longer. If you’re still struggling to shift those winter blues, now is the perfect time to treat yourself to a little self care. Becoming one of the most popular forms of stress management over the last few years, It’s a term we’re all familiar with, and many of us have our own interpretations of what it means - the most common associations being a hot bubble bath with some scented candles. However, if you dig a little deeper, self care is a whole more than that, and it can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. The important thing? Do something for YOU. Still not sure how you go about it? Read on for our top ten self care tips to get you started.

1: Books, Boxsets & Films

If you have a whole load of TV shows and films waiting on your Netflix watch list or a big stack of books building up, diving straight in is one of the ultimate forms of self care. Curl up with that book you’ve been meaning to read for months or smash through a couple of episodes of that Netflix series everyone’s talking about. Even better, opt for a comedy - having a good laugh has been shown to have numerous benefits, such as reduced stress levels and a boost to your immune system.

2: Pamper Yourself

While a hot bubble bath and a little pampering isn’t the only form of self care, it’s still a good start. Why not treat yourself to a pamper evening? Enjoy a hot shower, a face mask and some luxury skincare products to get yourself feeling great. For an ultra luxurious finishing touch, wrap yourself up in one of our fabulously cosy Bedroom Athletics dressing gowns afterwards.

3: Exercise

While it’s not everyone’s idea of relaxation, exercise is a great form of self care. From a physical point of view, regular exercise will keep you feeling fit and healthy, but there’s also a whole load of mental health benefits too. According to the Mental Health Foundation, physical activity has been shown to boost your mood, relieve stress, and even increase our self esteem. Whether you go hard with a full on gym session, or just pop out for a walk once a day, getting a little exercise is a simple way to get on the self care bandwagon.

4: Have a Lazy Day 

While we all know the importance of exercise, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a lazy day now and again. On a day where you’ve no plans, make the most of it and kick back! Lounge around in a pair of our super comfy Bedroom Athletics slipper boots, such as the Monroe, which are superbly soft and perfect for treating tired feet. Why not go the whole hog and turn it into a pyjama day?

5: Switch Off Social Media

These days we’re always glued to our phones, constantly scrolling through Facebook and snapping pics for the ‘Gram. However, excessive use of social media has been shown to negatively impact our mental health. How often do you get hit with severe FOMO when you check Facebook? What about the amount of time you check your Twitter feed when you’re watching TV or spending time with a loved one? Constantly checking in with social media is great for staying in the loop, but often it causes us to forget about the here and now and can often result in us comparing ourselves or getting increasingly anxious. Give yourself a break once in a while and switch those notifications onto silent. Even better, leave your phone in another room.

6: Get an Early Night

Often we deprive ourselves of sleep just to get in an extra hour or so of work, or again to have a scroll through social media. However a good night’s sleep is one of the best forms of self care you can give yourself. There’s a whole array of benefits that come with getting the right amount of sleep, such as stress reduction, improved memory, and helping your body to repair itself. Create the ultimate relaxing environment for that early night with fresh sheets on your bed, or perhaps even treat yourself to some new pyjamas. Our Ella pyjama trousers are a wonderful addition to your nightwear collection, with an ultra comfy fit as well as supersoft material, they’ll keep you nice and warm during a chilly night. Or, you could opt for our Lillian T-shirt dress, which is ultra soft and perfect for bedtime. It’s also a great option if you tend to get a little warm during the night thanks to the lovely lightweight material.

7: Enjoy Your Hobbies

If you’re the kind of person that gets frustrated by just sitting and watching a film, making the most of your spare time is still a way to incorporate a little self care into your routine. If you have a hobby that you love, setting aside some time to really get stuck into it will get you feeling productive and get those creative juices flowing!

8: Treat Yourself

Giving yourself a treat every now and again is one way to show a little self love. Of course we don’t mean splashing out on a new car or booking yourself a lavish holiday (not that there’s anything wrong with that of course!) but getting yourself a little present is a great way to give yourself a boost. Whether you treat yourself to an indulgent piece of cake when you buy your morning coffee, that book you’ve been wanting to read for a while, or even an extra 10 minutes’ lie-in, it’ll be sure to put a smile on your face. We think that the perfect treat to give you a pick-me-up is a pair of our extra cosy Bedroom Athletics slippers. Our bestselling Marilyn slipper boots are the ultimate treat with their luxurious faux fur lining - perfect for a little indulgence!

9: Meditate

An increasingly popular form of stress management, meditation is perfect for giving your brain a little self care. It doesn’t have to be for hours on end either, just setting a few minutes aside every day to practice your breathing will get you feeling grounded and allow you to clear your mind. In addition, meditation has been found to have plenty of benefits, such as enhancing your self awareness, reducing your stress and helping you to manage anxiety.

10: Learn to Say No 

How many times have you gone to a social event that you didn’t really feel like attending because everyone else was going? That pesky FOMO is one thing that’s likely to get us feeling flustered, and sometimes it can be hard to ignore. However, you can learn to counteract it with the aptly named JOMO or ‘joy of missing out.’ JOMO and self care go hand in hand, as it’s also about putting your needs and happiness first, and feeling content with what you already have. So next time you don’t really feel like going out for those post-work drinks, politely decline the offer. Head on home, put your pyjamas on and do whatever the heck you want. 

Remember, self care isn’t selfish. By indulging in a few self care activities, or even a whole self care day once in a while, you’re giving yourself a well earned break that your body and mind will thank you for. So what are you waiting for, slip on your Bedroom Athletics slippers, and indulge! Written by Amy Jackson - Content Writer at My Favourite Voucher Codes - 12th February 2020