What little things do you do to look after yourself?

[NoUpcomingDramas]

I really need to look after myself more. I am mid 40s, feel tired and headachy all the time. What little things do you do, at any age, just to prioritise your health and mental wellbeing?

51 and a full time teacher so exhausted by end of the week.

I prioritise sleep.

I come off a screen at 9 pm in the week to read before sleeping.

Do weights at home every other day, sometimes every day for 20-30 mins. Just follow someone on line.

Try and eat fairly healthily. I do eat chocolate every day though.

Rest when I need it.

Loved the orgasm every day a pp wrote! This might have to be added to my list

Body exfoliation and moisturiser at least once a week

Cleansing routine AM and PM

Read daily

No caffeine after 12 noon

I wear the nice perfume, use the nice make up, burn the fancy candles....I'm not keeping them "for a special ocassion" anymore.

Some lovely ideas thanks

Phone away an hour before bedtime-lately I’m on mn more so need to kick that and get back to actually sleeping!!!

Saturday night I have a shower as if about to go out (with conditioner left in longer) but then get into comfy pjs

jigsaws!

reading more but books I really want to read

phone family/ friends

Since Christmas I've had a bit of a reset:

I have been getting up 10 mins earlier and doing a kettlebell routine, I can really see a difference.

Drinking more water

New vitamin and supplement regime (good quality multi vit, vit d, pre and probiotic and collagen) no idea which ones are helping but too scared to stop any, as I'm feeling less rundown and have avoided any illnesses.

Better skin care (Elemis, Dermatica prescription)

Eating better

Spending more time with people who bring me joy

Facial routine and brush teeth morning and night. Whilst I'm doing this I give myself a facial massage and do breathing exercises.

Phone/text family and friends

Write poetry

Therapy

What vitamins do people recommend?

Forgot really important one. Saying no and goodbye to people who have hurt me/lost connection with

Facials every other month. Pedis about three times a year. That's it really. The used to have a PT but can't afford it now.

Eat well

Spend time in the company of the people I love

Gardening

Reading

Joined a community choir

Daily vitamins

Time to myself with a coffee to regroup

Vitamins and a nap where possible

Every Sunday I do a deep condition of my hair, put on a sheet mask and paint my nails makes me feel ready for the week.

Facial and lash lifts every couple of months

I get these multivit

Eat less crap, have a fruit salad in the fridge, jar of mixed plain nuts.

Buy a few different herbal teas so there is one for whatever I am feeling like

Get out daily to enjoy daylight

Drink water

Take time out to enjoy a coffee with a newspaper article

Just the usually advised basics make a big difference

Sleep, fresh air, exercise/movement, good or better food, water. Time offline. Chat with friends and family.

Liz earle cleanse and polish morning and evening. It has totally transformed my skin. I used to have blackheads, spots, and dull looking skin but it's really improved my face and I feel so much better as a result.
Also getting my nails done every 3 weeks too 🤩

I suspect I have the wrong attitude here but I read this thread as about being good to yourself, making yourself happy....but dawn workouts, no alcohol, no carbs, restricted diets, all sounds like hell!!! I need to understand the difference between looking after yourself and doing what you like. I sometimes think I'm destined for misery, either I stay overweight and exhausted with little daily or weekly routines I look forward to, or I become fit and healthier with a horrible daily life and nothing to get me through it. I just need to somehow find a balance but have never been successful so far. Well done to everyone doing it right.

I know dawn workouts sound like hell… sometimes I don’t want to drag myself out of bed but I always feel great once I’ve done it, & usually reward myself by going to the coffee shop down the road after.

I definitely wouldn’t be up for it in the evenings, but that’s just me, not necessarily everyone else.

Are you drinking enough water? I use to have a lot of headaches and found out I had sleep apnea, I have a Cpap machine now and don’t have as many headaches.

I take time in my room on my own to decompress. DH will keep the DCs away while I have 30 mins to myself. During which I will pamper my skin, cleanse tone, treat and moisturise and just close my eyes enjoying the quiet. I never use to care for my skin, but I now feel like it’s an important part of taking care of myself, I’m 48. I also make sure I take regular vitamins, mainly to help with joints and brain fog.

Avoid ultra processed foods as much as I can.
Drink water.
Pursue hobbies and don't feel guilty if they take up all day - obviously I don't have small children!

I’m really bad but I eat broccoli three times a week, drink loads of water, get a pedicure every 6 weeks and take naps with my cat.

If you feel tired and headachy you could also have something a bit wrong that needs tweaking? Low vitamin D, low iron? Under active thyroid? Even untreated hay fever can produce a hormone that makes you feel incredibly tired and run down and the pollen count recently has been off the charts. I would ask my GP for some blood tests?

Exercise most days, first thing in the morning. Outdoors whenever possible.
Generally as much outdoor time and fresh air as possible.
Bedtime story podcast every night.

Mantras to live by:
You are responsible for your own happiness (Adriene Mischler)
Whatever you did today, it was enough (Cathryn Nikolai)

Oh I will never get up any earlier than I absolutely need to in the morning. Any workouts are after work and short

HRT
2 x antidepressants
Lift weights twice a week
Bed by 10pm
No alcohol
Long outdoor runs twice a week
Daily vitamins
Walk in nature every day
Make kids (teen and tween) do light chores
Cleaner once a fortnight
Loud music in the car on my way to work, good for the soul.

I love a good routine! Up at 5 for half hour yoga, end my shower with cold water. Hrt and mutivit, walk to work. Aim not to judge anything to negatively at work, I'm aiming for calm acceptance, not blind optimism. I gave up alcohol 513 days ago, still counting! Listen to some great podcasts and books. Take time for myself, long walks at the weekend.

i was out by 6 this morning and had a beautiful walk. Evening yoga, trying to add some yin yoga in now not just power. Read. Meditate. Tretinoin. Foreo Bear.

I'm a very happy 50 year old woman even though there is lot's in my life to worry about. Most of the things I do are free or not too pricey.