With the busyness of today’s modern world, people often forget to take care of themselves. They work long shifts, help others around them, and do everything that is asked and expected from them, even if it is something that they do not want to do. Slowly, their weight may start to climb, the bags under their eyes become more defined, and happiness levels begin to decline. This leaves us with an overworked and unhappy part of society. If people learn to love and take care of themselves, then this effect can be reversed.

1. Get Enough Sleep

Put down your phone, your Netflix, or anything else that is preventing from you getting to sleep at a good hour. If you are not reasonably fueled to participate in your day, you will be significantly less productive. Also, your mood will be lowered with the added exhaustion. Your body will thank you!

2. Eat Healthy and Drink Enough Water

Even though it is often more convenient to grab a quick bite at the drive-thru, these added calories and harmful chemicals may taste good, but ultimately hurt your body. Your body needs sustainable nutrition in order to keep you going. The food you eat is the fuel to your body’s engine, so why give your body bad fuel? Make healthy choices throughout the day and keep hydrated so that your body can be at peak performance level.

3. Limit Your Time Spent On Social Media Accounts

Sometimes we compare ourselves to the people that we follow on social media. We are jealous of the person posting about their awesome vacation on Instagram, or tweeting about their new promotion at work. When you compare yourself to others, this can cause a lowering of self-esteem. Do not worry about what others are doing, and just focus on yourself. Your own path is different than that of others, and so feeling down about what you are not doing is not going to help.

4. Exercise

The gym is for some people, but not everyone. If you can make time to go to the gym a few times a week, your body will thank you! If not, go for a walk or run, join a fitness class like Zumba, or even try yoga. There are an infinite amount of ways that you can get your body moving, and not all of it has to be dreadful. Make exercise fun by joining with a friend, and get the endorphins pumping!

5. Reward Yourself For Hard Work

Did you work an excessive amount of hours this week? Are you proud of reaching a new goal that you have been chasing? Treat yourself to something that you have been chasing after! Buy that new outfit or take that mini-vacation. It will help you stay focused and work harder in the future to accomplish goals knowing that you will reward yourself for it.

6. Pamper Yourself

However you choose to do this, whether it be putting on a face mask, listening to some good music, painting nails, shaving, etc., pampering yourself will make you feel good and can make you more ready to tackle the tasks throughout your day. Look good, feel good, right?

7. Spend Time With Friends

Your friends are there in good and bad times. They will help take your mind off stressful situations, and lift you up and give you that extra laugh that you needed. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help, either. The support system that a group of friends gives a person can be incredibly helpful.

8. Say “No” Sometimes

If there is too much being expected of you in a particular setting, whether it be at work or with friends, etc., sometimes you just need to say “no” to that extra shift or those plans. It does not make you a bad person, and they likely will not even be mad at you for it. You do not have to be a people-pleaser. If something is being asked of you that does not work for you, you have the power to say no. That is why they were asking in the first place--they are giving you the choice.