6 Summer Self-Care Tips for Busy People

Photo credit: www.pexels.com

Nowadays, most of us lead our lives in the fast lane. We live by the schedule without a minute to spare. And balancing between our career and personal life is not an easy job. In the twirl of all our to-dos, we forget to take care of the most important thing - ourselves. And in times like these, we often feel selfish or guilty if we take some time off for ourselves. Thus, it's no wonder we're exhausted, stressed, and tense all the time. That's why it's not only good but necessary to make time for self-care. And before you say you don't have time for that, we're here to talk about little daily habits everybody can incorporate into their schedule. So, here are 6 summer self-care tips for busy people!

​Start Doing 4-7-8 Breathing Technique 

Many people think self-care is all about going to spa retreats and getting massages, but it definitely isn't. The best self-care practice is all about the little things you do every day to make yourself feel better and stronger. One of these little things is a 4-7-8 breathing technique. This is something you should start each day with before even stepping out of your bed.

What is the 4-7-8 breathing technique? It's a breathing exercise where you take 4 seconds to take a deep breath through your nose, 7 seconds to hold that breath, and 8 seconds to slowly breathe out of your mouth. This may seem pointless or even silly, but quite the contrary. This technique will help you start your day on a good note - relaxed, content, tranquil, and ready to crush at your job. And it only takes 19 seconds to do it!

So, as far as summer self-care tips for busy people go, this is by far the easiest one, but among the most effective ones as well.

Embrace Mindfulness

Another great breathing exercise that found its spot on our list of self-care tips for busy people is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a technique that will help you refocus and start or go on with your day more calmly. All you have to do is close your eyes and think about your breathing. Concentrate on every inhale and exhale. You can even focus on how your stomach and chest move during practice. If your mind starts to wander, just go back to your breathing.

The best thing about mindfulness is you can do it wherever you are and whenever you feel overwhelmed. Additionally, it can take 60 seconds or more. So, you can't say you don't have 60 seconds every day to restart yourself.

For example, if the chaos in the office is making you anxious, just find a quiet place and focus on your breathing for a minute or so, and you'll be good to go.​

​Take a Walk Every Day

We all know the positive effect physical activity has on our health. However, if you're a workaholic, you probably don't have enough time for a gym. Luckily for you, you don't need the gym to stay healthy or practice self-care. It's enough to take a short walk around your neighborhood every day. You can do it after work, with your family or alone. Taking a walk is a great way to clear your head and boost your mood and energy. Of course, if you like jogging more, go for it! A run around the block is a great stress reliever! As a plus, it won't take much of your time.
All in all, physical activity is a must, no matter if it takes 15 minutes or a whole hour. Therefore, you should turn it into an everyday routine for your well-being to improve your health and practice self-care!

​Acknowledge Gratitude

With all the chaos and rush we deal with every day, we tend to focus only on negative things that happened to us. And it truly is hard to focus on positives in situations like these. Unfortunately, this is something that brings us down and makes us anxious more and more every day.
That's why we recommend documenting your gratitude. Set aside 3-5 minutes of your day and write down 3 good things that happened to you that day. This doesn't have to be something big, just simple things that make you happy. For example, you went to your favorite café, ate the most delicious lunch, or bumped into your old friend. Focus on these little things and let them make your day. Acknowledging your gratitude this way can be highly therapeutic, and it's definitely one of the top summer self-care tips for busy people. 

​Make Sleep Your Priority

Everybody knows how important sleep is. It's vital for your health and general well-being. Therefore, you mustn't neglect it! Even though you're a busy person, you have to get those 7-8 hours of sleep every day. Otherwise, you will feel the consequences on both your physical and mental health. You'll feel tired all the time, you'll become demotivated, you won't be able to focus, etc. This all will harm both your work and personal life. 

Additionally, power naps are all the rage now, and for good reason! You'll need not more than 15 or 20 minutes of sleep to recharge your batteries and go on with your day like you just woke up from 8 hours of good sleep. These power naps can do wonders, so make sure to put them in your schedule.

​Include Self-Care Time in Your Schedule 

Just like you schedule everything in your life by the minute, you should do the same with your self-care time. Put a self-care marker on both your personal and work calendar. And once it's marked there, there's no going back - you're going to have to do it, just like everything else. It will be just another one of the goals you set for that day. 

Again, this doesn't have to be anything significant. It can be everything from breathing techniques or talking with a friend to reading ten pages of your favorite book or watching an episode of your favorite show. Practically anything that makes you happy and stops time for a minute or two.

Final Words

Now that you read all 6 summer self-care tips for busy people, is your answer still 'I don't have enough time'? We don't think so! These simple tips will take a few minutes out of your busy schedule, but they will help you thrive in both your personal and professional life. As you can see, taking a deep breath before starting your day or going for a short walk can make a huge difference in your everyday life. It's simple routines like these that give us strength for bigger things. So, don't neglect them - embrace them!​