MY TOP 5 SIMPLE SELF-CARE ACTIVITIES
Many people who seek career counselling are in the midst of a major life transition. This can be a challenging time. While a little stress can help us learn and grow, it's important to keep it in check! Here are a few of my favourite simple and affordable self-care activities:
GET OUTSIDE
Finding a way to connect with nature every day is important to me. Depending on how much time I have, this might be a leisurely stroll through the park, a quick walk around the block, or even spending a few minutes sitting next to an open window.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
The prospect of starting a gratitude journal can be daunting when facing an overwhelming to-do list. I've found it helpful to start small and focus on building the habit - a single sentence, or even one word each day is better than nothing. And now, I'm grateful for the daily opportunity to spend a couple of minutes reflecting on what's good.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
In times of stress, practising mindfulness helps me find a bit of calm in the swirling sea of thoughts. Again, adding more things to the to-do list can feel like a burden, so I've incorporated mindfulness in a way that feels manageable. A free guided meditation app (I use Simple Habit but there are many options out there) allows me to access exercises to fit my needs and available time. I've found that even 5 minutes can be enough to help bring some focus and calm when I need it most.
GET LOST IN A STORY
There's nothing like a good book. Sometimes, I just need to "check out" from everyday life for a bit in order to recharge my batteries. I generally prefer light and funny material when I need to de-stress, but I know others who want to sink their teeth into page-turning thrillers or epic fantasy. A few of my all-time favourites include Stardust by Neil Gaiman, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, and the Harry Potter books (which - I know - aren't exactly "light" by the end of the series, but reading them feels like visiting an old friend).
CONNECT
Speaking of old friends, sometimes all I need is to be in the presence (whether in-person or virtually) of someone who knows me well. This could be a quick video chat with my parents, or laughing with my kids as we make up ridiculous moves to 90s dance music. There's joy and comfort in the shared experience, and connecting - even for a few minutes - can help put things into perspective.