30 Ways to Take Care of Yourself when You’re Too Busy

At some point in all of our lives we will all experience being too busy. We have a lot going on and you just cannot catch your breath. We are given deadlines, goals and due dates at our jobs. This is only followed by going from working employee to working mom. Sometime in between your work schedule, you need to take the kids to sporting events, school functions and doctors appointments. On top of playing mom, you also want to hit up the grocery store, get in a quick work-out as well as running other miscellaneous errands as well as doing housework. Where oh where do you find the time to get it all done?

We are quite literally being pulled in several different directions each and every day. It never truly gets easier, you just build a routine–rather what resembles a routine. When things go wrong and things don’t get done, the world is screaming for your attention, but the real problem is that you don’t have time to complete everything day in and day out.Some days all you want is to pee in peace, eat when your food is still warm, take a bath, relax and actually get some sleep without worrying about responsibilities and the things yet to get done for the day. Is that too much to ask? As adults, we are constantly neglecting our own needs.

Here are some small ways to take care of yourself when you haven’t got much time or energy.

1. Say ‘No’ unless it’s important to you. You do not need to say yes to every project and task presented to you. Say ‘no’ when you want too, and don’t feel guilty about your decision.
2. Ask others to lend a helping hand when you feel as though things won’t get done. Regardless of what you think, you cannot do everything. You just can’t, so don’t try to.
3. Get some sleep. Go to bed at a decent time and don’t feel the need to wake up early every day. Sleep in. *If you’re a parent, this is much easier said than done.Don’t be afraid to take a nap then!
4. Eat healthy. You will honestly feel better when you eat healthy. The more junk food you eat, the sicker you feel.
5. Hit up the gym or go for a long run/walk. Working out helps alleviate stress. Whether you squeeze in a workout at lunch or prefer to work-out before or after work, just make sure you get it done.
6. Make a “to-do” list each and every day. Making a “to-do” list helps keep your organized and on schedule. Utilize your email  and phone calender as much as possible.
7. Don’t lose touch with your friends. Make time for them. Even if you can’t see your friends like you used too, it’s still important that you let them know you’re thinking about them. Maybe plan a girls/guys night once a month just to catch up.
8. Make time to relax. Put it on a schedule. Make sure you’re setting time aside every day to relax. Whether relaxation means reading a favorite book, taking a bath or going for a walk–make sure you treat yourself to it daily.
9. Spend your lunchtime doing something for yourself. You don’t always have to have a working lunch. Run an errand on your lunch break, run home and see your family, read a book or hit the gym. Either way, you’re given a lunch break for a reason. Use it to your advantage.
10. Keep a journal. Write down things that happen in your life. Write down the good, the bad and the ugly and reflect on it later.
11. Take a hot bubble bath including a glass of wine and a good book. Once the kids are in bed, it’s time for a nice hot bubble bath to wash the layers of responsibilities and the days events off your tired body.
12. Write down something that you are grateful for every day. Before you even start your day, write down ONE thing that you’re grateful for.
13. Slow down and breath. You don’t always have to be on the go. Slow down. Take things a little slower from time to time and catch your breath.
14. Laugh a lot. Laughter fixes nearly everything. Make sure you surround yourself with people who will make you laugh.
15. Keep a tidy office. Your day will go so much smoother if your office is organized and it doesn’t take you an hour to find something within the piles of paper on your desk.
16. Take “copious” notes (Thanks Mr. Hoff, H.S. Honors English Teacher) Take notes during every meeting, that way you don’t miss something important and it keeps you in the “know.”
17. Accept that a little clutter and messes exist from time to time. Your office and home will never be spotless. There will be clutter and messes, and it’s okay to accept that. If you have kids, you already know this to be true.
18. Learn your limits. Once you have pushed yourself to your breaking point, you then will learn and know your limits. Don’t continue to push yourself to the breaking point.
19. Take the entire weekends off. If at all possible, take the weekend off. Don’t bring work home with you. Spend the weekend with your family and friends. You put in enough work hours during the week.
20. Don’t hide your emotions. If you’re mad or upset, confide in your spouse or relative. Keeping your emotions inside can result in a break-down further down the road due to a build up of emotions.
21. Have a support group. Your support group could be family members or friends, your work or church family and/or your spouse. This can be a group you confide in and share with them your life.
22. Delegate and outsource tasks and projects. When you have too much on your plate, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to others. More than likely there is someone near you that can help you get a task or project done equally if not better than you could have.
23. Get Outdoors. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. When it’s warm and the sun is out, hit up the beach. Being outdoors can greatly improve one’s mood.
24. Eat fresh fruit and veggies. Who doesn’t feel better when they’re eating fruits and veggies every day?
25. It’s okay NOT to be productive 100% every day. As long as you’re getting the job down, don’t stress about being productive every second of every day. Make sure you mingle with your co-workers and get to know them. You don’t have to sit behind a desk and be a slave of the phone and computer.
26. Take vitamins. Because who wouldn’t take vitamins? They’re just plain down good for you!
27. Meditate in the morning or evening. Taking time to just think about the days events and really let everything sink in is important for being at peace before the day has started or after the day as ended.
28. Limit your media consumption every day. The media is so negative, and oftentimes the news only relays the negative things going on in the world. Put down the remote and pick up a book.
29. Reward yourself. Every once in a while it’s okay to reward yourself for something. You work so hard, so why shouldn’t you treat yourself to a new outfit or tool for the tool box?
30. Accept and love yourself for who you are daily. You are a beautiful person. Accept everything about yourself and love yourself unconditionally. You need to take care of yourself. Don’t forget how much you do for so many people. Doing something nice for yourself daily is rightfully earned.