7 Self-Care Tips To Try Out This Week

Just some small changes to try out.

Sian Butcher/ BuzzFeed

1. If you have 3 minutes: Correct your posture.

Disney

Sometimes all you need is a prompt to sit up straighter. That's where @bestposture comes in. Every 30 minutes it tweets a reminder to fix your posture. Though it's a bit like a school teacher, I have stopped slouching because of it.

2. If you have 5 minutes: Read about this professional therapy dog.

Instagram: @anythingispawzible

There is so much to enjoy in this story about a dog that works in a hospice. From the fact that it is such a gentle pup, to the joy that the residents get from the visits. Solidly feel-good.

3. If you have 10 minutes: Organise your morning listening.

BBC

It always surprises people when I admit that I am like Oscar the Grouch in the mornings. They presume that I eat my pre-made frittata while doing pilates before work. In fact, I wake up with the bare minimum of time to have a shower and leave. BUT one thing that has helped is making a "Morning Playlist". It's one less thing to waste time on the mornings, and it cheers me up a bit too.

Kelly suggests: "I have started listening to the Radio 4 Woman's Hour podcast on my commute to/from work – it's so soothing and it's the kind of thing you can listen to in the background, so if the train is really loud and you miss a bit it doesn't really matter. There's an hour long programme every day and I set it to download automatically, which means I never need to worry about running out / not having something to listen to, and it's one less thing to worry about when I'm trying to leave the house in the morning."

4. If you have 15 minutes: Kill 'em with kindness.

Sally Tamarkin/ BuzzFeed

Commenter Lauren Marie Brashear advocates taking the high road when you're in a pickle:

"Be aggressively nice to someone who isn't being very nice to you.

It could be a rude stranger, a condescending professor, family members, anyone.

It baffles people! They'll either change their attitude or you get to walk away knowing you were being the bigger person"

If you're not ready to take the high road just yet, distract your mind with these prompts.

5. If you have 20 minutes: Get outside.

Instagram: @woodlandtrust

During a very stressful week recently, I went for a run for the first time in ages. I REALLY DISLIKE RUNNING as a rule, but I needed to be outside. I felt so much calmer afterwards, and I even went for a run again the following week.

Commenter Aibike Esenalieva agrees:

"What helps me is to go out in the Woods or the nearest park. Just relax,feel the wind and the sensation of no one being around you. Really helps me out, especially in very stressful times."

If you can't get out, then @woodlandtrust lets you experience nature through your phone.

6. If you have 30 minutes: Make something for someone else.

Cathy Ngo / BuzzFeed

"I've discovered that having a Work In Progress with me helps. When I'm feeling stressed, I grab my yarn and hook and work on my latest blanket, scarf or hat. The projects I keep with me on the go are simple and repetitive, so I don't have to worry about losing my place, and it helps to calm me.

"Bonus points for projects that I'm planning on giving to a particular person, as I derive joy from knowing that what I'm working on will bring that person comfort and warmth" – Commenter Sarah Kimmel

7. If you have 30 seconds: Read this tweet

offended @mbeezy69

Every time I take my dog for a walk she has to stop to see her crush. It's like Romeo and Juliet

04:44 PM - 03 Oct 2016

This is a weekly series. Have a self-care tip that you think should be in next week’s post? Let me know in the comments or tweet me!