- Eat well! Treat yourself with nutrition, not junk. Nutrition can taste great, and you deserve to nourish your body with delicious, healthful food.
- Cut yourself some slack! You don't have to be all things to all people. Go to the mirror and tell yourself you are doing OK. Now do it again, and mean it.
- Recognize all the hard work you have done. All the late nights with children or studies or both, making dinner like a zombie because you where running on empty. Good on you for doing that! Real strength is doing what needs to be done.
- Get moving. Get some fresh air. Go for a walk, bend and stretch, get out of your chair and do some yoga. Get some oxygen into that body.
- Gift yourself a massage, or a pedicure. Let go to another and just enjoy the moment. Don't fall into the trap of feeling awkward, you deserve it to be pampered.
- Get enough sleep. Easier said than done, I know. Start by turning off the TV and just getting into bed an hour earlier than normal, if you are not tired, then read. Relax.
- Practice some self care. Do an at home facial, a mani/pedi, shape your own eyebrows. Take care of your skin; make a luxurious body scrub, moisturize and and put on sunscreen. Take care of yourself.
- Schedule some time into your diary to do that thing you love but never seem to get around to. A friend you never seem to catch up with? A browse through some op shops? Do it.
- Push your personal boundaries a little! Do something you've always been a little afraid to do, you might like it. Book yourself into a class in stand up paddling, film appreciation, fire twirling, whatever your fancy. Go for it!
- Organise your wardrobe and make a list of things you need to buy. Keep the list in your diary to take advantage of sales and op shop opportunities, or a major splurge!
- Make yourself a cup of tea (or a cocktail) and sit in the garden. Sit outside at night and watch the stars and the moon, or sit under a shady tree in the heat of the day. Just enjoy the moment.
- Buy (or create!) some artwork that makes you smile.
- Write down some goals and plan to do them. Write out some actions you can take to make your goals happen. You deserve to live your life.
- Go for a swim in salt water, they say it's the cure.
- Go for a bush walk and enjoy being in nature. Breathe deeply.
- Go to an art gallery and allow yourself to be amazed and inspired.
- Light a candle and meditate, or pray. Nourish your spirit. Talk to the 'other' or yourself.
- Volunteer your time to something you believe in.
- Outsource something you hate - ironing, cleaning the bathroom. Just once.
- Read something inspirational. Buy a book or go online, if it touches your soul it's worth it.
- Stop worrying about relationship dramas. Allow other people to own their own bad behaviour, you are not responsible for it. This is especially good if you balk at forgiving the unforgivable.
- Take care of your mental health. See a therapist if you need to, ask your doctor for a recommendation. Your mental health is as important as your physical health.
- Break the negativity cycle! Don't gossip or say anything bad about anyone for a week. It's a great habit to lose, and a week might be enough to reset your mindset. You'll feel lighter.
- Laugh as much as you can. Watch a funny movie, check out some comedians on YouTube.
- Go on an adventure, in your own city or suburb if the budget doesn't stretch to plane tickets. Get out of your routine and look at things with fresh eyes.
Breathe. Relax. Feel Better.
You deserve it.