The notion of self-care has become ever more widely discussed in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While some people might dismiss it as just another buzzword used to sell products, the truth is that self-care is crucial for both our mental and physical health. Yet far too many of us ignore it completely, either because we don’t realize its importance or because we’re simply too busy with other commitments to prioritize our own wellbeing. Read on to find out why it’s vital to bring some self-care into our lives, and some inspirational ideas for how you can do so.
 
Why is self-care important?Consciously taking some time out to look after ourselves is crucial for many reasons. Firstly, it’s a great way to relax and reduce stress. This in turn is key for both our mental and physical health, because stress can lead to all sorts of negative effects, from headaches and high blood pressure to depression and insomnia. In addition, self-care can help us to maintain a better balance between our work and personal lives, improve our relationships with those around us, and even boost our self-esteem and happiness levels. All of which can do wonders for our overall wellbeing.
 
Ideas for bringing a little self-care into your lifeSo now that you have a better idea of why self-care is so important, let’s look at some ways to practice it. There are all sorts of different techniques you can try, so take some time to figure out what works best for you personally. It shouldn’t take too long before you start to feel the effects! Here are some suggestions to get you inspired:

• Take a walk on the beach or in an area of woodland
• Join a dance class or other fun form of exercise
• Reward yourself with a gift from judithleiber.com or another brand that you love
• Buy a gift for a friend or family member
• Treat yourself to a spa day, massage or facial
• Bring the spa home by taking a long soak in the bathtub
• Meditate (Calm and Headspace are great apps for beginners)
• Try a breathing exercise for immediate stress relief
• Use an adult coloring book to reduce feelings of anxiety
• Take up a new creative hobby, such as drawing, writing poetry or playing a musical instrument
• Have a go at journaling to work through difficult feelings
• Write down three things that you are grateful for every day
• Declutter your physical environment
• Bring houseplants into your home
• Light scented candles for a calming atmosphere
• Volunteer with a local charity or nonprofit organization
• Spread love and positivity through random acts of kindness
• Eat healthily and drink plenty of water, but allow yourself the occasional sweet treat too
• Spend quality time with friends and family
• Curl up with a good book
• Watch an episode of your favorite TV show
• Allow yourself to have a nap or wake up late to ensure you’re well rested
• Cuddle your pets
• Sing along to your favorite songs for an instant mood boost

Family life can be hectic, and there is always something to do. However, something that you should focus your efforts on is switching energy suppliers and cutting down household bills and spending. There are lots of reasons why you should cut down on your household spending. For example, you might want to put a bit of money aside to build a savings pot, or you might want to reduce what you spend to save up for a family holiday. So, what can you do to start making the cuts, and which areas of spending should you be looking at first?

The Essentials
When it comes to slashing your household spending and bills, you need to first look at what is essential and what is not. The essential bills such as grocery bills, car ownership, electricity, gas, and homeowner loans need to be looked at first. When you focus your attention on the essential bills first, you can ensure that you are saving money on those areas that matter the most. As you are focusing on the essential costs and bills, it is also important to focus your attention on those non-essentials too. As life gets busier, it can be easy to sign up or subscribe to services and packages that perhaps you just no longer use. These unnecessary packages or products may only be a few dollars a month, but those dollars quickly add up. Trimming the non-essentials, as well as the essentials, will ensure that you are covering all of your spendings and not just being selective.

Shopping Around
You can often reduce your spending by shopping around and finding better deals. Competitive providers and companies are always keen to get your business on board, and to ensure this happens, they offer you competitive prices. For example, when you are looking for car insurance in Colorado Springs, it is important to shop around and not just go with your existing provider. If your existing provider knows that you have no desire to move, or change, they might just charge you that little bit extra (without you even realizing it). When it comes to shopping around, you need to start the process as soon as you can, especially with things such as insurance (as you may have to give a cancellation notice). 

Negotiation is an Art
Sometimes you don’t get the best price unless you put in the work. The best prices are often there to be had, and sometimes all you need to do is push that little bit harder. Most prices and most bills can be agitated, and as a result of negotiation, you could end up on a better rate, package, or deal. Negotiating and haggling to get you the best price will ensure you never pay over the odds for anything. Good negotiation is an art, and to ensure that you do it right, you need to think about what you want to get at the end. Setting your sights on what you want to achieve out of the negotiation will keep you focused and targeted.

The wage they earn barely covers their outgoings for many people, and by the end of the month,
it’s not usual for some workers to be completely stretched to the limit. From paying utility bills to
covering rental fees or the costs of keeping a car running, the everyday expenses of life soon add
up.

If you’re one of the many employees that feel short of money at the end of each month, below are
some ideas you could try to earn a little extra money on the side while still holding your current full-
time job.

Take short-run delivery work
With the huge increase in online shopping, delivery drivers are now more in demand than ever,
and there are countless opportunities open to you to earn a little extra money working in a courier
role. Indeed, the growth of courier work has led to the development of multiple online resources
where companies can post shipping jobs for established delivery firms or individuals. For example,
on the Shiply website, subscribers can browse a vast range of shipping contracts then apply online
to win the work.

Work as an online tutor
There’s been a huge explosion in the growth of online-only education in recent years and learning
through web-based courses has never been more popular. Also, while you might think teaching
means you need special qualifications or experience, sites like TutorMe and Tutor.com feature a
wide range of courses on all manner of subjects that don’t necessarily require formal qualifications.
Ask yourself what particular skills or knowledge you have that might be of interest to someone
else, then check these sites to see if you fit the bill.

Complete surveys
Market research is big business these days as firms try to find ways to find and win new clients in
an increasingly competitive marketplace. Consequently, there are multiple opportunities to work
completing surveys in return for payment. Services like MyPoints and Survey Junkie will pay you
for taking surveys or offering your opinion on a huge range of goods and services.

Teach English
So long as you have a reasonable grasp of English, companies VIPKid will help you teach children
English and even organize your lesson plans. You will need to prove you’ve completed a
bachelor’s degree - although the subject doesn’t have to be directly related and can be in anything
- plus previous teaching experience is also seen as advantageous.

Get creative and start freelancing
The freelance market has never been bigger and now features specialists with a wide variety of
skills - anything from accountancy to marketing or design abilities.
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With firms globally now starting to realize they don’t necessarily need to employ specialist staff full-
time and can instead hire on an ad hoc basis, so the market will continue to grow. If you have skills
you’ve learned in a previous job (or even your current role), there’s every likelihood you could use
them in a freelance role. As a rule, the best type of work for freelancing is anything that can be
delivered digitally - although opportunities still exist in other roles. However, it is much easier if the
work you produce can be sent over the internet to the commissioning client.