Between working full-time jobs, taking care of our families, and juggling day-to-day activities, it’s easy to forget about self-careand put everyone and everything else before our own needs. Think about it… How many times have you put your own desires on the back burner in order to cater to someone else, whether it be work, your partner, or your children? There’s nothing wrong with taking care of others. In fact, the ability to put others before yourself is a beautiful gift that not everyone has. But serving others doesn’t mean you should stop taking care of yourself. Self-care, especially when you are someone who puts yourself last, is an extremely important topic. That’s why, this week, we’re sharing with you easy tips to ensure you get the self-care you need so you can live a happy, healthy, and balanced life. Keep reading to discover a few self-care tips that you can easily implement into your schedule every week.

Schedule Weekly “Me Time”

Long work days, carpooling your kids to various activities, being there for a friend who needs a shoulder to cry on, and other similar activities eat up a lot of your time. And when you have a servant’s heart, it can be really hard to say no when someone needs you. That’s why it is so important to block time off during your week that is “me time.” Some people need an hour every night to relax and refresh, while others need an hour every other day. It’s up to you how much time you think you’ll need. The idea is that whatever amount of time you block off is for you and you only. Don’t let anyone schedule plans with you during that time. Tell your partner you will be unavailable during your “you time” so he or she can help with the chores or kids or manage anything else that needs to get done. Turn off your phone and computer so people don’t have access to you. Use your time to relax, unwind, and enjoy the things you love to do.

Cook a Meal You Love Once a Week

For those of you that have children and/or a picky partner, cooking can often be a chore. You may find yourself making mac-n-cheese 3 nights a week because your children won’t eat anything else. Or maybe you refrain from making your favorite vegetarian dish because your significant other doesn’t enjoy veggies. It’s ok to compromise and make meals that will make everyone happy…but what about you? Every once in a while, you deserve to indulge in your favorite foods, too. That’s why, once a week, you should treat yourself to cooking your favorite meal. If your kids or spouse doesn’t enjoy what you make one night a week, there’s always bread and peanut butter in the pantry. If you don’t want to search for a good recipe, check out some of our favorites: Quick and Easy Soup RecipesQuick and Healthy Meal RecipesSimple Charleston-Area Recipes

Visit a Spa

Everyone deserves to be pampered once in a while—even you! If you are able, a trip to the spa to get your nails done or get a massage is a great way to relax and take care of yourself. Let someone take care of you for a change! If you know a handful of other women that need some self-care, get a group of girlfriends together and make it a fun outing. If you’re in the Charleston, South Carolina area, we recommend theselocal spas.

Get Some Exercise

Part of self-care is ensuring your body is healthy and happy. This means partaking in some form of exercise every weekto keep your mind clear and your body strong. This doesn’t mean spending hours breaking your back at the gym. That’s no fun. We encourage you to pick activities you love, like yoga, walking, Zumba, etc. There are many forms of exercise, like hiking or dance classes, that you can do in groups. Make your self-care exercise time more fun by inviting your friends to join these types of activities with you if you enjoy having company.

Just Be

At times, life can be hard, stressful, and challenging. For that reason, sometimes the best form of self-care is to simply sit quietly and just be. This can be accomplished in many ways. Some people prefer meditation, a time where they can sit in peace, reflect, and free their mind. Others enjoy things like taking a hot bath with calming music in the background, or sitting in nature and admiring the views for a while. The idea is to lose yourself in the stillness and calmness of the moment so you can free your mind, relax, and enjoy yourself. The laundry, business reports, and doctors’ appointments will all still be there when you’re done relaxing, so take some time and just be.

What do you do regularly for self-care? Let us know in the comments below!