5 top tips for practicing self-care in the city- Leila Spencer
In a busy city, self-care is arguably more important than ever. Busy schedules, ever-bustling streets and the joys of busy public transport can leave you feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. There is no denying the excitement that living in a city can bring; yet taking the take time to care for yourself is essential to ensure optimum enjoyment of what the city has to offer.
Self-care, to me, is a way of getting back to myself. When stress and mental strain creep up, I often retreat to my list of self-care tips. These simple tips are focused on caring for yourself, whilst amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. The tips are also budget friendly, many costing little more than an hour out of your day.
So, sit back and relax into these self-care tips for the city.
1. Let Go
My first tip is about letting go. In a city where so much is going on every day, it is important to let go of any stress and worries that you have picked up along the way. Mindfulness is a great way to do this. It encourages awareness of your thoughts and feelings, that can often go astray amongst the busyness of the city. Mindfulness can be as simple as sitting quietly and focusing on your breath, or it could be listening to a guided meditation on apps such as Headspace or Calm.
Equally, it could be as simple as noticing how you feel when things get overwhelming. Taking a few deep breaths and continuing your day is a form of self-care as it allows you to slow down and let go of the stress that can often take hold of us.
2. Connect with others
In a city with so many people, it is still easy to feel alone. With busy timetables and endless to-do lists, we often feel pushed for time. However, scheduling get-togethers with your friends and family should be prioritised for your health and your happiness. Maintaining connections and enjoying your time off is so important when living in a busy city and can make all the difference to your mental health. Even a phone call can lift your mood and the mood of others. So, reach out and enjoy a conversation, a cup of coffee or even just a walk with a close friend and reap the benefits of connection.
3. Culture
One of the greatest things about living in a city is that there is always a great deal of culture and history to be enjoyed.
Whether you are interested in art, history, literature or theatre; cities always deliver cultural opportunities for you to enjoy. It is a great gift to yourself to get immersed and inspired by the culture of the city you are in and get curious about the world around you.
4. Green Space
Getting some green space into your life is a great way of de-stressing. In busy modern cities, it is easy to forget what it is like to breathe fresh air. But taking yourself off to a park or garden is so beneficial for the mind and body. Exposing yourself to natural light and green space is proven to boost your mood and benefit your sleep. So, when you are feeling anxious or worried or just in need of some fresh air, find your nearest park and spend some time wandering and taking in your surroundings.
5. Exercise
Exercising is one of the best forms of self-care. The increase of endorphins that follows a good workout is unbeatable for your mental and physical health. My advice wold be to find a form of exercise that you find the most enjoyable; running, HIIT, weights, boxing, climbing…the list goes on. A bonus tip is to switch up your exercise routine, so that you stay motivated and excited to keep moving. Try something new, at least once a month to keep the exercise bug alive!
I hope that you find these tips for practicing self-care in the city useful and I hope that you feel you can incorporate a few into your life. One thing to remember is that overwhelm and stress happens; often inevitably in the city. My overriding tip would be to go with the flow of what each day in the city brings, do what you love and enjoy the city that you are in.
My Experience with Offline 48 – John Henderson
“The internet used to be an escape from reality, now reality is an escape from the internet” - Unknown My smartphone is like an additional part of my body these days, its always right there in my hand or at hand in my pocket. I spend countless hours scrolling...
How to Join the Anti-diet Revolution- Sarah Glover-Smith
Diet culture; it’s been getting a lot of attention recently, but it’s been a part of our society for years. It’s the voice that screams at you as you look in the mirror and curse yourself for eating that packet of digestives. It’s the reason you can’t wear shorts,...
Dogs and how they benefit our mental health and wellbeing- Holly Snowdon
'No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich' - Louis Sabin There’s a reason why dogs are often referred to as ‘man’s best friend’. I’m confident in my assumption that NOBODY will greet you with as much enthusiasm and joy...
My Top 5 Non-aesthetic Reasons to Workout- Tori Porter
Once we leave the childhood innocence of playing football or stuck in the mud in a field behind, exercise shifts from a playtime activity to becoming, for many, about weight loss. I think we’ve all been there, trying to make up for excessive pizza and alcohol but...
How can we make our wardrobes more sustainable?- Gemma Newton
We hear the term ‘sustainability’ used a lot nowadays, but it’s not without good reason. More recently, we’ve begun to hear the phrase ‘sustainable wardrobe’. This is almost certainly a reaction to the devastating impact fast fashion is having on the environment. I...
Beating fatigue with food- Naomi Laws
We’ve all been there. It’s that time again where we’ve had a terrible nights sleep (or perhaps even no sleep!), either due to a late night with friends, or just purely from the inability to go to sleep. But alas, morning is here (how is it morning so quickly?) and we...
6 Ways to Be Live More Sustainably- Elen Mai
Sustainable living has been the hot topic of 2019. If you haven't heard of the climate crisis, then you must have been living under a rock! Following a lengthy protest in the heart of London, the UK government declared an official climate emergency. It seems as though...
How to Fit in Movement Around a Busy Life As a Mother?- Cordelia Simpson
Finding it impossible to squeeze in time to move? What with school-runs, play dates, parent taxi runs, attempting to have a social life, not to mention possibly trying to hold down a job too... I’m feeling your pain! There are so many benefits to being active,...
How To Bring More Positivity Into Your Life- Naomi Laws
I’ve come to learn from my experience, that we are all becoming more aware of the importance of happiness and time, not money. Of quality, not quantity in almost all aspects of our life and, have the growing interest to learn how to achieve this.Today’s blog brings...
Top Brain Boosting Foods- Gopika
Our brain is an organ that serves the central nervous system and it pretty much controls everything that happens in the body.60% of our brain is made up of fat and we need fat for providing vital functions in the structuring of brain cells and ensuring smooth...