Terri Ramsey Beavers 
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When was the last time you felt truly well-rested and relaxed? It’s easy to go through life feeling constantly exhausted, unwell or unmotivated. This why self-care matters so much!
As you get older you realise that you need to make sure that you take good care of your mind, body and spirit every single day. Not just when you feel really stuck. It’s important to learn how to eat right, reduce your stress levels and to take time out when you really need it. It’s a great idea to build a routine that allows you to keep yourself healthy, fit and more mentally resilient when it comes to life’s stresses.
We all know that practising self-care isn’t always easy. Most of us are crazy busy, have stressful jobs, or are too consumed with technology to make time for ourselves. ‘Me-time’ is usually last on the agenda when running a busy household. It can sometimes make you feel guilty about taking the time required to take care of yourself.
How Do You Engage in Self-Care?
It can be important to take the time to learn what may be the most helpful route to self-care for you. It can be different for everyone. There are self-care groups, coaches or therapists who can help you reach your goals.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Sleep or lack of it can have a huge effect on how you feel during the day; both emotionally and physically. We also know that not getting enough can even cause quite serious health problems. But going to bed, stressed, anxious or worried can really wreak havoc with our rest. Start by thinking about creating a nightly routine, to let your body and mind know that it’s time to rest. Also start paying attention to what you eat in the evenings. Caffeine, sugar and alcohol are known to affect your quality of sleep so try to keep them at bay.
Also make a conscious effort to reduce stress. Make an effort to visit the best doctor or practitioner that you can afford to make sure that any small niggles like an underlying ear infection or back problem can be rectified. Learn more here. If you have work-related stress, think about the best ways to calm yourself after a hard day or talk to your colleagues about how to more fairly distribute your workload.
Next, make sure your bedroom is the most peaceful place for you to get a really good nights sleep. It should be free of noise, clutter and too many distractions. Be sure to grab a pair of blackout blinds or curtains to keep the sun from waking you up too early in the mornings.
Look After Your Gut Health
The state of your gut health can have a huge impact on your well-being and feelings of vitality. Eating certain types of food can crucially affect the quality of bacteria that lives in your stomach. Eating greasy, or junk type foods can have an ultimately negative impact on your overall health and the way your body functions. An unhappy gut can lead to gastrointestinal issues that can increase any negative health symptoms you may have.
Get Out And Exercise
We all know that exercise is really great for us. Reports show that daily exercise helps both physically and mentally. It is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety and also can help with weight loss. Of course, with our busy lives, it may be hard to go to the gym daily, but try to incorporate things like tennis, jogging or even yoga to stay mentally and physically at the top of your game. Create a routine that works for you!