“Self-care is key to leading a happy and healthy life! Make sure to prioritize yourself by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and doing activities that make you feel relaxed and refreshed. Remember, you are worth taking care of!”

-Kristi Jones, Life & Empowerment Coach

Self-care is an important part of managing stress and leading a healthy and happy life. Self-care is defined as any activity that we engage in to take care of our mental, physical, and emotional health. It’s about recognizing our own needs and making an effort to meet them. The importance of self-care is often underestimated, but it really is essential for our overall well-being. Stress can cause physical and mental health issues and can have a negative impact on our daily functioning. Self-care helps to reduce that stress and its associated symptoms, such as fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Woman riding a bicycle

The Kristi Jones Podcast - Self-Care and Stress: How the two go hand-in-hand

“Self-care” seems so cliche

The term “self-care” has been floating around more and more for the past decade or so. Sometimes the term can feel so cliche and a bit…annoying! Most of us have been taught by society that busy is better. “Oh, I’m SO BUSY!” is such a common thing to hear people say. It can be hard to break those changes of societal expectations that busy means better.

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The term self-care started when society started to recognize more and more that people were getting burnt out from the constant grind. We are constantly moving, doing, and over-scheduling. But after decades of this, society began to feel the strain of the constant go, go, go and started to look for better ways to take care of themselves before they run themselves into the ground. From there was born the “self-care” movement.

What are some self-care activities?

Self-care activities can be anything that makes you feel good. It could be taking a hot bath, reading a book, going for a walk, or spending time with friends and family. The key is to recognize your own needs and make an effort to make time for yourself. In addition to reducing stress, self-care can also help to improve your mood and promote a sense of balance and peace. It can also help you to gain clarity, set better boundaries, and make healthier choices.

Women sitting on a couch while holding coffee cups

The Kristi Jones Podcast - Self-Care and Stress: How the two go hand-in-hand

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress and life’s demands, take some time for yourself. Here are a few of my go to things to do when life begins to feel a bit overwhelming and I haven’t focused enough on my self care practices.

1.Exercise regularly – it’s a great way to relieve stress and boost your energy levels. 

2. Spend time with friends and family – socializing and spending quality time with loved ones can be a great stress-reliever. 

3. Take a break from technology – taking a break from social media and other forms of technology can do wonders for your mental health. 

4. Make time for hobbies – dedicate some time to your hobbies and interests to keep your mind occupied and stress-free. 

5. Practice mindfulness – use mindfulness techniques like meditation and deep breathing to relax your body and mind. 

6.Listen to music – music has been proven to reduce stress and improve mood. 

7. Go outside – getting some fresh air and spending time in nature can be very calming. 

8. Stay organized – having a plan and sticking to it can help reduce stress. 

9. Set realistic goals – having too high of expectations can cause unnecessary stress. 

10. Laugh – laughter is the best medicine! Find ways to have fun and enjoy life.

It is so easy for many of us to put ourselves on the back burner when it comes to self-care. You may need some additional help to carve out time for yourself every day or every week. Having an accountability partner will help make sure that you schedule that much-needed rest and relaxation in your day. If you are looking to take your overall health and wellness to the next level, join me for my exclusive membership group, the KJ Inner Circle, for weekly encouragement, motivation, and tools to help you move in the right direction towards taking care of you.

Looking for more? Join me each and every week in the KJ Inner Circle for more exclusive life coaching content that will help you elevate your life to the next level.