In partnership with The Fresh Toast

Self-care is more important than ever. Here are some simple and effective ways to put it into practice and boost your mental health.

These days, when things are so stressful and difficult, there’s no limit to the amount of self-care activities we can practice. It’s just tough to remind ourselves to commit to them, especially since it’s easier to spend our free time scrolling through our phones.

Still, no matter how much life has changed over the past year, it’s important to carve space out for yourself. Going on workouts and eating healthy are worthy goals, yet ones that aren’t easy to comply with when going through a rough or busy time. The following self-care activities can be practiced whenever: in the shower, as you have lunch, before going to bed, when stuck at work. Check them out:

Meditate 

Meditation can be practiced whenever you have some quiet and the ability to close your eyes and breathe deeply for a few minutes. If you live with roommates or with kids, the shower is the perfect space to do this, setting aside a couple of minutes where you can contemplate life in silence. Focus on the feel of the water and avoid turning on music or podcasts. Use this time to stay in the present, reconnect with yourself and let your feelings and thoughts roam.

Go outside

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Sometimes what we need most, especially when feeling particularly stagnant, is to go out of our homes and hit the road. There’s no need to over complicate things by inviting friends over or finding a good spot to hike. Take a walk outside when feeling stuck at work, after eating a meal or as a way of getting some me time. Do anything that makes you happy, whether that’s reading a book, listening to music or talking with a friend. Just use this time to get outside and connect with yourself. This means avoiding scrolling through Instagram and looking at your phone when you should be practicing some mindfulness.

Avoid your phone

Again, one thing we could all do more of is to spend less time looking at our phones. Find a time of day when you don’t need it, like when you’re focused on something, such as reading, stretching or watching a show. Put your phone down near you or keep it out of sight completely. While our world demands us to be constantly connected, when you’re at home, there’s no need to spend all of your time there. Your anxiety levels will dramatically decrease by limiting your screen time.

Read more on The Fresh Toast

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