What small healthy habits do you have that make a noticable difference to self care

[useragsj]

For me it’s been washing and cleansing my face daily, drinking more water and having lots of veg. It is hard to keep it up when you feel low though!

A walk on the beach every day with my ddogs whilst listening to Bruce Springsteen..
A good start to the day before work..

You know how they say make one small change and it will become a habit ?
I’m not a water drinker but now I have a large glass of water when I get up in the morning, while I browse MN. It’s become a habit.

I have started taking vitamin D again as it might help against Covid, but I’m going to keep taking it.
Also, I’ve been taking cheap Evening Primrose Oil for years to help with my increasing PMT but it wasn’t doing anything so I stopped. Then I bought a more expensive, quality one from Boots on the 3 for 2 and it’s really made a difference. I’m not saying I don’t eye the knife rack up from time to time but it’s definitely helped 🤣

Lots of fruit and veg. Ideally some Veggie only meals a few times a week, as I also find the chopping quite therapeutic, but even if having a freezer dinner I try to add at least 2 veg options on the side as I genuinely feel the difference.

Bit tmi, but taking time to do a proper poo and not putting it off til I'm bursting cause I'm doing x, y, z or rushing it etc.

Taking vit D.

Going for a walk without my phone, usually with ddog and or toddler, so it's time with just them to pay attention to the world.

Multi vit with iron and a melatonin just before bed.

Every morning drinking hot boiled water with lemons squeezed in. Eating a small handful of different nuts every day. Never walking slower than maximum walk speed...and while waiting for the kettle to boil i jog on the spot.

Lots of little bits make a big difference

Lots of water and lots of sleep

This is a great thread, thanks for starting it OP!

Writing a To Do list every week in a little book and crossing things off - its very satisfying. If something is bothering me I try to break it down into smaller tasks so I can at least complete some things. I don't beat myself up if I don't finnish the list but just put them on a list for another week (not always the next one - sometimes I spread out the hard stuff).

I can't remember who said it, but even making your bed in the morning is an achievement that should be recognised when you are feeling down.

I find as someone said upthread that doing adult not Instagram things help. This would include making the bed every morning and being religious about changing it once a week rather than being a skank, doing boring life admin on time and so on...

I make sure I spend some time outside every day, either gardening, walking or cycling. If it's pouring with rain, I will work in my greenhouse.

I ensure each night I know what I am going to have for tea the following day so that I can pull it out of the freezer where necessary (I tend to batch cook every couple of weeks or so) or at least know what I need at the supermarket.

Keep the house clean. I'm much more relaxed and able to cope with the rest of the world when I'm not sitting in a tip.

Try to do some meditation every other day. Easier when working from home. Light some incense too

Try and write in my gratitude journal

Need to get back doing some kind of exercise 🙈

Definitely feel better when I get to go outside even though I do forget this a lot

Changing the bed linen once a week
Always cleanse and moisturise am and pm
Regular hair treatments and face masks
Drinking lots of water
A great sleep routine every night, might be boring but 8 hours sleep has become my new hobby. I feel so much better for it
Intermittent fasting, really appreciate food more

a daily probiotic

Yoga every day. Reading a book when I go to bed (rather than scrolling on my phone!) . Taking ground coffee to work and making one really nice, ‘proper’ coffee in a coffee press, rather than having several cups of instant throughout the day. Massaging my face with jojoba oil, feels lovely and sorts out my spots.

The last two winters I took vitamin D and ate an apple or an orange each day (I don't enjoy fruit so this is an effort for me). Barely had any colds/illnesses.

@ladybee28 I love your post.

I go in phases of doing things that make me feel good but I am not consistent. I wish I was.

I take care of my feet. I keep my nails short, and take care of hard skin and moisturise. I do it regularly. Then for some unknown reason I leave it for a while. i don't know why I do it because when I do I feel good.

I clean the house from top to bottom and then i relax on it and watch the place go down the nick. I spent all that time cleaning, and don't keep it up. I feel great when the place is neat and tidy.
I am my own worst enemy :)

Love this thread and am following for ideas.

Yoga daily has been a revelation. I do one and normally two yoga with adrianne sessions a day. They are mostly 30 mins each but even if I only do the 10 mins neck and shoulder one it makes a huge, huge difference.

Been doing it for 6 months and my posture and flexibility have changed beyond d recognition. I've also toned up and have muscles in my legs.

I did couch to 5k and while not a serous runner I do run about 3 days a week and being outside doing this or walking the dog makes me feel great.

I'm actually super lazy and al almost never push myself or get out of breath. I have a share horse and ride 3 times a week - I'm dreadful, but it's good for the soul.

I don't many carbs and I'm no longer bloated all the time. I take loads of vit b, d, magnesium and iron (prescribed).

A year at ago I was very ill and it was touch and go so I now take good care of myself. I gave constant gratitudes because I literally could not walk 59m or climb a flight of stairs.

I don't recommend near death as a reason to start to pay attention to self care, but it's worked for me!

I recently read that book @LadyLooLaa and have started using gratitudes too. Every morning I start the day by writing a jumble of thoughts, a journal of sorts and these now include a few things I am grateful for. I also do yoga with Adriene to get me going and stop me from procrastinating.

I listen to Audible when I am doing chores, to let my mind drift from the tedium.

I joined the gym earlier this year, so I can run indoors and go for a swim. I like setting myself small goals each time I go, so upping my speed running, or doing more lengths.

Multi vitamin and iron on prescription, though I still seem tired at night.

Getting out during the day.

I haven't touched alcohol since New Year and have no intention of do so.

great thread..following :)

Daily yoga. Done via YouTube on the telly in the comfort of my front room.
Daily five minute breathing meditation, usually first thing in the morning when sat up in bed. Repeated if I need to, if I get stressed or just fancy grounding myself.
Pelvic floor exercises, with relaxing breathing.
Getting the shitty jobs out of the way first, doing the bins, making crappy phone calls, life admin.
And a lovely bowl of chopped melon, grapes and blueberries for breakfast.

Dr Rangan Chattergee's bk 'Feel Good in Five' has lots of suggestions about doing bite-sized activities that will change the way you feel over time. His podcasts are really good too.