Sometimes we’re under a lot of stress from school or work, and it can affect us negatively if we don’t do anything to help ourselves. A lot of people struggle with the feeling of being burned out and have difficulties finding the motivation they need to improve themselves as individuals. It’s very important for us to take the time out of our days to spoil ourselves with love and joy, because we are all very hardworking, and we deserve it! Self care is one of the best ways for us to take care of ourselves, because we are positively influenced physically, mentally, and socially. This helps us feel better about ourselves, and it is very good for our health. Here are great ways to take better care of yourselves:

Physically:

1. Exercising: There are great benefits from exercising, because it allows us to become stronger and healthier. These benefits include an increase in moods and energy allowing us to feel more awake, and it also lowers the chance of heart disease. There are many great ways to exercise such as playing sports, going on a run or walk, and following at-home exercise routines on YouTube!
2. Eating healthy: Eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables helps us gain more vitamins and nutrients that we need to grow healthier which can help us live longer and not have to rely on sweets all the time. It can also protect us from illnesses we don’t want to get.
3. Sleeping well: Many people develop unhealthy habits by sleeping too late and waking up too early for school or work which can cause them to feel burned out, because they need enough sleep everyday to feel energized and awake to accomplish important tasks and goals. Teenagers should try to aim for 8-10 hours of sleep per night while adults should try to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Mentally:

1. Engage in hobbies: Having hobbies is a great way for us to express ourselves with creativity and is a healthy habit. They can make us feel happy and confident in our interests which can also help us decide our future careers. Hobbies such as painting, playing an instrument, and more can bring us a lot of excitement which reduces stress and anxiety.
2. Journaling: This can help us become more organized with our thoughts and future goals we want to achieve. Journaling can help us have a better understanding of ourselves and is a great way to remember positive memories we’ve experienced.
3. Limit screen time: This is very important because nowadays many of us are glued to our devices which can isolate ourselves from other people and going outside. This can help reduce stress and allow us to connect better with others and ourselves without many distractions.

Socially:

1. End toxic connections: Many of us without knowing sometimes are in toxic connections with someone such as a friendship, relationship, etc. This is very unhealthy for us because if we don’t do anything about it we would feel more drained and increase stress which can unfortunately lead to depression in some cases. We should surround ourselves with positive connections since we can feel good about ourselves and ending these connections can allow us to invest more time in ourselves, grow more as individuals and with others who truly support us.
2. Connect with friends and family: This can help reduce loneliness and can allow us to feel more loved and supported by people who care about us. This can boost our happiness a lot and help us forget about stressful situations, as well as having stronger connections.
3. Volunteering: Volunteering at places such as animal shelters, fundraisers, and food banks are nice ways to create connections with other people who also want to find ways to help their communities. Volunteering can help you feel more used to connecting with others you never met before, who also share similar goals and experiences which can reduce any social anxiety, especially when trying something new