Five self-care tips to take into 2021

What a mess 2020 has been, hey? What started out like any normal year has unfortunately ended in divided families, social restrictions, supermarket rationing, and weekly press briefings led by various members of parliament. We turn on the television to see stats of rising hospital admissions, positive test results, political quibbles and the god awful, ever ongoing dramas surrounding Brexit. Now, more than ever before, it’s important that we take time away from the world’s doom and gloom to focus on ourselves and our mental wellbeing.

When things are all getting just a little too much, refer to this article for inspiration. We’ve seen countless stories of women finding peace through their self-care routines this year, so let’s continue that trend into 2021. Afterall, who doesn’t love a good old bubble bath?

1. Take a step back from the digital world

Close the Tik Tok app – I know you’ve been scrolling through that For You Page for the last hour and a half. We’re all guilty of relying on our phones. It’s been one of the only ways to stay connected with friends, families and loved ones during this unimaginable year. But it’s important to remove yourself from the digital space every once in a while. Whilst many see social media as a means of escape, the digital world never stops moving. There’s always one more post or one new notification to check. The truth is with digital, there’s never a real break.

Take just one hour out of your day to spend away from the digital world. Leave your phone at home whilst you go to do the shopping or read a book in the bath rather than the news app. Our self-created need to be constantly in-the-know is not healthy for our minds. Take a step back from the digital world and see how you get on.

2. Discover a hobby away from the screen

This follows on nicely from the previous point. If you’ve been working from home, then you’ll have been spending more time than ever before glued to your laptop or phone. Where there was once a distinguishment between work time and home time, the pandemic has now blurred these lines. Indulging in a hobby away from the screen allows you to re-define your work/ life balance once that laptop is closed. The rest of the day is yours to entertain.

Although I’ve just preached about time away from the screen, social media this year has shown us how hobbies transform lives. From the girls making tote bags on Tik Tok, to the women embarking on their fitness journeys, ‘real time’ as some like to call it, has far more benefits than you may imagine. Hobbies often force you to take time for yourself, allowing you the space to de-clutter your mind and focus on something you’re truly passionate about. Who knows where a hobby may take you.

3. Practice mindfulness

After the year we’ve just experienced, it’s easy to get caught up on the negatives. The ever-changing world is moving faster than you can keep up with and it feels like you’re being left behind. Taking some time out of your day to practice mindfulness will help to keep you feeling in control. Perhaps you could do this whilst doing your screen detox? Kill two listed birds with one stone.

Mindfulness is all about keeping yourself in the here and now, rather than the past or the future. If the constant speculation of the next national lockdown is ruining your vibe, take ten minutes to think about it and unpack your worries and fears. You’ll thank yourself afterwards.

4. Set boundaries (and actually sticking to them)

Michael Porter once said that we can’t be all things for all people. It’s easy to be agreeable in life, especially if you’re a people pleaser, but the mentality of always saying “yes” can, if you’re not careful, set you on a path to self-destruction. By setting boundaries for yourself, you’re more likely to reduce stress levels, feel in control, be calmer, and have a better quality of sleep according to a number of recent studies. Who wouldn’t want all of that? The tips and tricks we’re discussing in this article mean nothing if you’re unable to draw the line for yourself, whether that’s in your professional or personal life.

Continuing to work from home in 2021? Define your working hours and don’t respond to messages after six o’clock. Tell your co-workers that you won’t be attending the after-hours meeting they’ve called, and DON’T open work emails late at night. Set yourself those boundaries whether it’s work or home-related because you can’t be all things for everyone in a regular year, let alone a pandemic.

5. Accept help if needed

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a challenging year. Life in March did a complete one-eighty with little-to-no warning, and we’re still here, nine months later. The dialogue surrounding mental health has certainly come to the fore this year with all that Covid-19 brought, and it’s important to remember that there’s no shame in asking for or accepting any help. People will be looking out for you, just as you’ve been looking out for them.

When asked how you’re doing, it’s easy to glaze over your feelings with the reply, “I’m fine”. But if someone checks in and you’re not doing so great, tell them. I was taught something growing up that has stuck with me right through to my adult life, and it’s that a problem shared, is a problem halved. Sometimes, just talking through your worries makes you feel so much better inside, offering the clarity you needed to address and move past those feelings successfully.

So, if you’re offered any form of help, whether it’s from a friend, family member, or even a trained professional, take it. There’s no shame in asking for support after the year we’ve just had, and it may make a huge difference to your overall wellbeing.

Just remember to give yourself some TLC in 2021, because fuck, you deserve it.

There’s absolutely no need to struggle in silence. If you’re in need of confidential help and advice, there’s always someone ready to listen.