According to UNICEF, many women, regardless of whether they work outside the home, balance childcare duties with the larger share of the chores in their homes. Cultural expectations for women are also different. You may feel depended upon to be a carer, a comforter, and someone who gives all of herself while ignoring your own stressors.
It’s important to care for yourself at every stage of your life. Regardless of whether you’re working from home, parenting full-time, or attending daily meetings at a corporate office, consider the following tips for thriving in all of your roles, presented by Walking Through Life as Women.
4 Tips for Taking Care of Yourself During Your Daily Grind
Small personal goals matter as much as larger ones. Consider the following three tips for taking better care of yourself and improving your quality of life day by day.
- Modify Your Diet To Reflect Activity Levels
Are you sitting down for long periods of time during your work hours? You likely don’t need as many calories — or as many carbs — as you think. Change your diet to reflect how much exercise you get and pay attention to how you feel after you indulge. By controlling your blood sugar, you’ll feel more alert, awake, and less prone to mood swings that could be causing you stress.
- Discover Exercise You Enjoy
Not everybody enjoys group fitness. If you feel pressured to take a yoga or barre class with a friend but you’re not enjoying it, it’s probably causing more stress than it’s worth. Perhaps you enjoy running in the evening after work, or maybe you like walking on your home treadmill.
Consider whether your exercise goal is weight loss, better mental health, or an improvement in your overall fitness. Everyone is different and has different exercise needs and goals. Tailor your exercise plan to reflect these goals and quit going through the motions.
- Practice Real Self-Care
Self-care doesn’t necessarily mean spending hundreds of dollars on a meditation retreat (though it can). Often, true self-care shows up in smaller ways, such as learning to say “no,” setting boundaries with overreaching friends and relatives, and not pushing yourself into burnout mode simply because you’re worried about missing an opportunity.
- Take a Trip Somewhere YOU Want to Go
If you’re feeling exhausted, a vacation may be just what you need to recharge. Travel can be an excellent way to relax and forget about your every day worries. For example, if you’re a fan of Disney, there’s no better place to recharge than at one of the company’s theme parks. However, before you book your trip, be sure to do some research and look for deals using sites like MouseLifeToday.com. There are often ways to save money on travel, whether it’s by taking advantage of discounts or using points and miles. By doing a little bit of planning, you can ensure that your vacation is both enjoyable, relaxing, and affordable.
You may decide to start a business, or perhaps you need to take a step back and ask for a different role in your company. Try not to feel guilty or ashamed of quitting your grueling job or simply following your own path by requesting less work — you may be unknowingly setting an example for another woman who wishes she could live differently, too.
By Elena Stewart
(elena.stewart@elenastewart.com)
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