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In the previous two posts, we’ve looked at why self-care is a vital aspect of a healthy, fulfilling life, and twenty simple ways to practice it on a daily basis.

Taking time to care for our self allows you to be most effective in caring for others. It gives us energy, high self-esteem and good self-confidence. Self-care leads to self-love, and it’s important to have compassion for our self before trying to have love for others.

Although a lot of us are mired with responsibilities—raising children, fulfilling family obligations, and satisfying work commitments—we must remember to look after ourselves. When we are sound in body and mind, we can better take on nearly anything.

It can be difficult to even consider taking a walk through the neighborhood or having a soak in the bath when your children need you, your family is beckoning, or your job wants to consume all of your time, but it’s important to take time for yourself. It is not selfish, it’s self-love.

Our needs are important, and people we care about need to understand that. Looking after of our self-conveys to others that we value our self, and in turn, that we value others.

To conclude the series on self-care, what follows are the last ten of thirty tips for practicing self-care:

21. Learn mindfulness. Find a spiritual practice that centers you and helps you feel calm.
22. If there’s nothing around that makes you laugh organically, forcing yourself to laugh will almost always result in genuine laughter, especially if you do it in front of a friend. I love watching cartoon show, comedy central, puppy/kitten or baby videos every now & then.
23. Teach someone a skill. Pass on your knowledge to your child, a student, a friend, a family member, or a colleague. Research shows that when we help someone, both sides benefit.
24. Use a soothing product. Slather any non comedogenic lotion on your skin, infuse a deep-clean treatment into your hair, or apply cream to your dry hands and your cracked feet. My all-time favorite grandma’s suggestion- dab organic milk with cotton ball on your face, let it dry for 10 minutes and simply wash it with plain water. The skin cleanses deeply and becomes baby soft!
25. Indulge in something sweet. It’s okay to treat yourself to dessert every now and then, as long as you practice moderation. Also, every few months detox your body.
26. Get a massage. A professional masseuse can work wonders for your stiff neck, your sore back, or your tense shoulders, which can in turn put your mind more at ease.
27. Dance/Sing. Put on your favorite tunes and bust a move with or without anyone. The endorphins and blood pumping throughout your body will energize and revitalize you.
28. Comfort your body. Peruse your closet for something soft, made of natural fiber like cotton, warm, or cool; slip it on and relax.
29. Take a trip. Even if you lack time/funds for an overseas adventure or a short hop to another state, you can spend a few days exploring new areas of your local surroundings.
30. Do whatever makes you happy. As long as your greatest joy does not harm you or anyone, do it as fervently and as often as you can.

Self-care is about listening to your needs and desires and then acting on them. It’s about being honest with yourself and knowing yourself. It’s about asking others to acknowledge your dreams, your goals, and your wishes. When you work on taking care of yourself, you can be a better parent, spouse, boss, employee, and friend.

Today, I feel not taking care of our self is not an option!!

When we have an aching tooth, we’ll usually visit the dentist and have it taken care of. If we feel flu symptoms coming on, we’ll typically go to the doctor and get antibiotics. So when we feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, why is it that we so often do nothing to help ourselves, or if we do, why do we usually wait until the burden is nearly too much to bear rather than taking preventative measures?

We often cite a lack of time or the feeling of selfishness as reasons for not tending to our emotional and mental needs, but self-care is neither narcissistic nor does it have to be a big time commitment. While juggling work with raising kids, for example, can make it hard to fit in personal time, it’s an essential ingredient to good overall health.

Self-care is an important factor in maintaining stable relationships, creating a balance between your rational mind and your emotional mind, and boosting your self-confidence and self-esteem, and it’s vital for your mental and physical well-being.

The benefits of practicing self-care are numerous and substantial, and there are plenty of things we can do on a daily basis to help ourselves before the metaphorical weight on our shoulders, our hearts, and our minds threatens to crush us.

In conjunction with my 12-week Mediation & Stress Management program at the Cardio Metabolic Institute in NJ, this post and the next two will provide you with habits you can incorporate into your day-to-day routine in an effort to minimize your negative energy and set you on the course to a happier and healthier life.

The first ten habits cost nothing, and are good investments of little time and effort for life:

1. Take a timeout. Spend thirty minutes, by yourself, doing something you enjoy that’s in no way related to work, family, or social obligations. If you are a very busy person then you need to practice this for 40 minutes. Yes that’s what’s needed.
2. Find a quiet place, either at home or in nature, sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and focus solely on your breath. If you feel distracted, redirect your mind by saying “Oh Well” as many times as you need to. With the time, the gap between “Oh Wells” will decrease just keep trying.
3. Write in a journal. Take few minutes daily to write what ever come to your mind without stopping the pen. No need to articulate or correct yourself, just keep writing your thoughts/emotions/words. Also, jot down something you like about yourself, something you accomplished, and something for which you are grateful.
4. Power nap. Lower the lid on your laptop, turn your cell phone to silent, and snooze for twenty to thirty minutes. People who take power naps, process information better; have better memory & focus, and are less stressed.
5. Escape in the latest fantasy book, romance novel, or an autobiography of a person you admire, your local library recently added to its shelves. When we read something that we enjoy, various parts of the brain get activated which release the “happy chemicals”
6. De-clutter your internal & external environment. Since external seems easier for most people, let’s start with your pocketbook/wallet; your kitchen; your car; your desk and then of course select a few items from your closet or your drawers that you haven’t used in a year or two and donate them to Goodwill. For internal cleansing Meditation is a good start, its totally worth it.
7. Practice yoga in its completeness. Yoga has eight Limbs. However you may start with the third limb as it is more popular in the West, called Asnas, the physical/exercise part of Yoga. It is important that you do under a guidance of a Guru or a teacher. If you don’t know about sun salutation or downward facing dog, YouTube is a wonderful source for information.
8. Give yourself credit. When you succeed at something, major or minor, pat yourself on the back and tell yourself you did a great job, start talking to your brain.
9. Go for a stroll. Whether it’s around your block or through the woods, walk at a pace that’s relaxing and comfortable. Make sure your head is straight while walking and that you are wearing appropriate shoes. Walking posture needs to be accurate.
10. Watch the sunrise/sunset. Life depends on the Sun. Wherever you are, try to observe the sunrise, it gives you energy to go on with the day. When Sun sets, it calms you down and prepares your body’s natural rhythm to go back to sleep.

Look for the next blog post, which will have ten more recommendations for how to practice self-care.