5 Self-Care Tips to Take With You Into 2018

This past weekend I asked you guys on Instagram what you wanted to see on the blog next. I got a lot of request for blogging, career, life style, and time management related posts. Though these posts are coming soon, I wanted to take the time to share a few self-care tips I’ll be taking with me into 2018.

Why focus on self-care?

I’ll be in grad school full time with a two classes this winter quarter. I’m also working towards being promoted this year in my project management role and still create content for the blog and Instagram. On top of school, blogging, and working full time, I still try to spend as much time I can with family, friends, and my dog Boone. Oh, and I still try to exercise at least 30 min to 1 hour a day. So these self-care tips are going to be essential to finding balance in my life and I hope they are also helpful to you!

Here are 5 self-care tips to take with you into 2018:

Self-Care Tip #1: Celebrate Your Wins

Honestly, we are our own biggest critic and it can be so easy to focus on our shortcomings or mistakes in life. We have to stop being so hard ourselves. Take a step back, recognize, reflect, and learn from your failures, and focus on the positives.

Personally with blogging, I’ve struggled to not be brought down by being shadow banned or not growing as fast as I’d hope to. I’m going to take a pledge to not let these things get to me and to focus on my wins. This past year I need to remember that I’ve been able to work with incredible brands, written some of my favorite blog posts ever (“Let’s Turn Our Losses into Lessons” and “The New American Girl“) , went to NYFW twice, and made some amazing friends within the blogging community!

Have you taken the time to reflect on your wins of 2017? If so, what were they and what did you learn from them?

Self-Care Tip #2: Don’t give up your alone time

Everyone defines their alone time differently. Some people watch Netflix, while other people golf or do yoga. Personally, I run, exercise, or walk my dog Boone. I won’t give up my workout times because it’s my ME time. I process through work, blogging, and everything else going on in my life while I’m running or cycling in the gym. And I always feel so much better after a workout.

The busier you get in life, the more important your alone time becomes.

You won’t be able to perform well at work or serve your clients to the best of your ability if your exhausted or over worked. Carve out time in your schedule to rest and recover.

Self-Care Tip #3: Learn to be present where you’re at

A recurring theme that has been present in all my life is always thinking about my next step. When I was in high school, I was focused on getting to college. When I was in college, I was focused on getting a full time job. While working a full time job, I was focused on getting into a master’s program. I’ve spent so much on my life just trying to get to the next step.

While it is good to have goals and aspirations in life, it’s also important to be present on where you’re at. It’s important to find the joy of the moment. One way I recommend practicing being present is to pay attention to the sights/sounds around you and where your mind is at. Where is your mind? Are your thoughts racing? Are you taking in the scenery? Or paying attention to the person in front of you?

Don’t be afraid to do daily mental check in to see if your mind is where you are physically at.

Self-Care Tip #4: Log out of social media and take a break from your phone

This probably sounds funny from someone who’s trying to build an online brand and community… but as someone who spends a lot of time online/on their phone, it’s essential for your sanity. Whether you’re a blogger or a person constantly texting their friends about football, a social media/phone break is important to have.

Why should you take a break from social media? It’s easy to forget that people are sharing the best parts of their lives. The constant announcement of achievements and stream of travel photos is not a real representation of everyday life. All of these photos and status updates lead to both the comparison game and sometimes even low self-esteem or higher anxiety.

Taking a break from social media allows you the time to get back to reality. I personally have logged out of Instagram and my blog on a few weekend trips so I could focus on spending time with the people around me. Not only did it help me be more present, but it was also was so refreshing! Don’t be afraid to leave the online world is –since it is available 24/7 and won’t disappear overnight. You have the power to log out, take breaks from it, and log in when you’re ready.

Self-Care Tip #5: Pick a Positive Mantra & Repeat

I’m a big believer that our thoughts construct our reality. So if we think positive thoughts we experience a positive reality. But if our minds are clouded with negative thoughts, we experience a negative reality.

What I’ve found helpful in 2017 and what I’m taking with me into 2018 is to have a few positive mantras to repeat to myself when I’m feeling low. One thing I always repeat to myself when I’m feeling defeated or challenged is “This is just where I’m at right now. I will learn from this experience and tomorrow I will feel better/it will be a better day”. I take the time to acknowledge where I’m at, but I also tell myself that I will feel better and be better tomorrow.

I recommend searching quotes or positive mantras that resonate with you. Write down in the notes section of your phone or maybe a sticky note for your computer. And revisit when you’re feeling down to help you bring yourself back up.

Here are a few quotes that I’m going to come back to over and over again this year:

“Art, freedom, and creativity will change society faster than politics” – Victor Pinchuk

“You change the world by being yourself” – Yoko Ono

“Things do not change, we change” – Henry David Thoreau

What are some of your self care tips that you’re taking with you into 2018?

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Thank you for reading!

Love,

Emma

P.S. Let’s connect over Instagram if we haven’t connected yet! And subscribe to Emma’s Edition by clicking here!

Photos: Holly Phan