This post contains affiliate links. I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

Here it is, the dawn of a new year, and you spend all your time surrounded by loved ones (or by yourself) during another stay-at-home isolation. And in all the chaos and worry about the unknown ahead, you continue to be nice and helpful to others (and even to your animals) and have most likely forgotten about yourself.

Practicing self-care and self-love used to feel like a selfish act, but in today’s world as we adjust to a new normal, it’s no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity! Besides, showing yourself some kindness and compassion can lower your stress levels, boost your immune system, and help you feel better about yourself inside and out.

Whether it’s treating yourself to dessert or simply mastering a new type of yoga, everyone can up their level of self-care this month. Not sure where to start? Check out these six amazing self care tips that you’ve likely never thought of before!

Six Amazing Self Care Tips

1. Write yourself a love letter.

Who says love letters must be written to you from someone else? If you’re feeling down, sometimes something as simple as picking up a pen and writing down all the great things you have going for you can be a fool-proof way to boost your spirit. You can also hold on to it for the next time you need a pick-me-up.

Feeling the love? How about writing love letters to your children? It will evoke happy memories of your times together, which will bring joy and gratitude into your soul. You can choose to share the letters with them or put them in a keepsake box to be given to them at a much later time.

2. Rid your home of clutter.

Being nice to yourself also means being nice to your home—and having a bunch of junk in your house only weighs you down.

Anita Burns of Be Clutter Free says, “A healthy home is a happy home.”

De-cluttering is often the first step to becoming a healthier you. A small change, like going through your clothes closet and removing all the stuff you no longer wear or that no longer fits frees you to see only the things you love, which makes you feel good about yourself. Look good, feel good.

As a bonus, if you fill up some boxes with the things you don’t need and donate them to others who can use them, you’ll be doing a double-duty feel-good deed.

3. Put your phone on airplane mode.

It’s hard for you to find extra time in your day. Quite possibly more so now, with the kids and your significant other at home clamoring for you. But it’s extremely important to plan regular self-care time. Do this by putting your phone occasionally on airplane mode to give yourself a short mental break. A little tuning out from all the texts, notifications, calls, and browsing will do you a world of good.

This time can be spent pondering the best ways to move forward in your life and keep yourself grounded.

Go for a long walk, take a hot bath, or enjoy a good movie (with popcorn and a warm shawl).

Taking self-care time is imperative. Look for small ways you can incorporate it into everyday life; for example, you might wake up 15 minutes earlier to sit with a cup of tea and practice deep breathing before the chaos of the day begins. You might take a walk around the block after lunch. The more you can work self-care time into your schedule, the better you’ll be able to grow, enjoy your life, and thrive.

4. Get proper rest.

Self-isolation has thrown many of us for a loop and our schedules are completely out of whack. Sleep can have a huge effect on how you feel both emotionally and physically. Not getting enough can even cause major health issues. But stress and other distractions also wreak havoc on our sleep. 

It might be fun to stay up late watching movie after movie, but that’s not being kind to your body—not even a little bit. Getting enough sleep every night—which, according to the National Sleep Foundation, is seven to nine hours—will help you stay fueled and feeling your best.

Start by thinking about your nightly routine. Are you eating or drinking immediately before bed? If so, it’s especially important to stay away from caffeine and sugar, which tend to keep you awake. 

Next, make sure your bedroom is the best possible place for you to get good REM sleep. It should be free of distractions (such as a television, laptop, cellphone, etc.). And make sure you have room-darkening curtains to keep the sun from waking you up too early in the mornings.

Stylish Blackout Curtains From BHF

Science has also given us wonderful tips and tricks that lead to better quality sleep. Try the Shleep app. This daily sleep coaching program developed by a team of sleep experts takes only 5 minutes a day (free with optional in-app purchases, iOS and Android). 

5. Ask for help when you need it.

Yes, you like to do it all. Most women tend to do everything for everyone but themselves. And that overwhelming feeling you have is not going to vanish anytime soon if you keep adding more and more to your plate without getting help from those around you. If you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to speak up. There are plenty of people in your life who would love to take some of those stresses off your plate, but that’s not going to happen until you ask.

6. Be kind to yourself.

It’s easy to be super critical of yourself when you do something wrong. But instead of tearing yourself apart, build yourself up. Kristin Neff, Ph.D., explains on Happify Daily. That you do this by first re-framing the criticism and accepting what happened, then figuring out a way to grow from it and have a better outcome the next time around. So, no more beating yourself up over something, be it your weight, your looks or anything else in which you are self-critical. Love yourself for just who you are because there’s no one else out there like you.

A super way to be kind to yourself is by giving yourself a luxurious gift. And nothing says, “I love ME” like a scented candle perfectly formulated just for you to light in your bathroom while you soak away your cares.

If you enjoyed these tips, please click here to follow me on Instagram and discover more amazing secrets about living your best life! This May, I’m posting self-care quotes and more tips to remind you why it’s so important. You’ll realize the value you bring to everything you do and find inner peace in this overwhelming world.

I thank you for reading Fifty and Frustrated. Until next time. Stay true to yourself.