Happiness comes from within, which is good news if you love self-care because as it happens, there are a lot of self-care rituals that feed your inner self to build a happier mind. Here, we’ve compiled ten of the most powerful daily self-care rituals.
Meditation
Practicing meditation can help you relieve stress, it’s a great way to connect with yourself, and the present, and calm your mind. What better way to clear the cobwebs and find clarity?
2 – Quality Sleep
A lack of sleep increases your stress levels, which can impact your ability to sleep. A lack of sleep and high-stress levels are an endless cycle that feed into each other, and they can make life pretty miserable. So, set positive habits around bedtime to improve your sleep routine. That means avoiding screens at least an hour before bed, avoiding caffeine and alcohol a few hours before bed, and having a wind-down routine that works for you.
3 – Detox
If you feel super-connected all the time, you know how damaging that can be to your mental health. It’s okay to take screen breaks and connect with the world around you instead of the world inside your phone. In fact, you should make a digital detox a daily routine – even if it’s just learning to put your phone down an hour or two before bed to prepare your mind for sleep.
4 – Exercise
Daily exercise is a great act of self-care, and it helps reduce stress, improve your mental health, and it helps you stay in shape. It’s also going to contribute to an improvement in your sleep routine. That doesn’t mean you need to spend hours in the gym daily. 20 minutes of walking is plenty if that’s all you can do.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Food is fuel, so bear that in mind as you meal plan, whether it’s a day or week in advance. You need a healthy diet that’s balanced with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins. The more meals you plan, the more likely you are to make good decisions around food.
6 – Connections
Reach out and talk or text someone you love and trust. Social connections are important and if you want your relationships to last, you need to nurture them regularly. In this case, daily connections are key, even if it isn’t the same person daily.
7 – Gratitude
What better way to feed your inner happiness than by cultivating gratitude – take a look around at your life. You have a lot to be thankful for, don’t you? Whether you take a moment to reflect on everything you’re grateful for or you write it in a journal, it’s a great exercise for focusing on the positive things in your life instead of thinking about things that might be going wrong.
8 – Nature
Enjoying nature is easier than you think, especially if you incorporate it with your physical fitness – a jog in the park, mountain biking, hiking in the woods… there are a lot of activities that involve nature and action. Nature can soothe your soul.
9 – Creativity
Beat stress, think outside the box, and let yourself get creative. Just give yourself the freedom to explore that part of yourself without restrictions. You don’t need to be good at it, you just need to enjoy whatever form of creativity you plan to practice.
10 – Alone Time
Even the most extroverted extrovert can benefit from alone time, and you should carve out a few minutes of it daily. It can be reserved for reading, listening to music, a hot bath, or just sitting quietly. The morning or evening is the best time to grab some alone time, it can be a good way to start your day or wind down.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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