HEY GRRRLFREEEENNNN! The list of why people are at a loss for time is at an all time high in today’s world! Having to balance demanding jobs, educational obligations, social commitments, and the occasional unexpected event could easily detract from the amount of time that you have to give to yourself. By my calculations, after I subtract beauty sleep, I’m probably working with a maximum of ten minutes to get my life together. Whoever said we all have the same 24 hours is a LIAR! No matter your reason, I think we can all agree that we are some pretty busy grrrls, which means that sometimes practicing radical self-care might end up on the back burner, or never happening at all. 

Radical self-care is about learning and doing what works best for you and it’s important that we remain realistic with introducing or reintroducing good habits into our lives. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in this endless loop of being too hard on yourself for not being perfect… which is a complete waste of your precious time. For example, A luxurious bubble bath in a diamond tub overlooking the French Riviera sounds like the ultimate self-care day. Unfortunately, we all don’t have the time for a soak, or a first class flight to France. Instead of scrambling to catch the last flight out of here, you should try to focus on small quick ways that you can make the bad days better and the good days greater! So today, I want to offer you three quick ways to practice radical self-care that even the busiest grrrl in the world will have time for! 

Breathe Out, Breathe In

The easiest way to ensure that you practice radical self-care consistently is to literally pair it with an activity that you have to do like breathing! Mindful and intentional breathing is a quick and easy way to pour back into yourself, especially when it feels like your time is limited. Deep, slow breathing is beneficial because it activates the body’s relaxation response, helping to reduce stress and anxiety levels. When you are breathing, remind yourself that you are fully in control of your body, thoughts, and feelings. Another popular practice is to use your breathing to symbolically purge negativity by breathing out a negative thought and breathing in a positive thought. *Breathe Out* Ugh, I feel bloated! *Breathe In* I’m sexy, and I know it! Seriously, how could anyone have a bad day after that? 

Sippin Pretty

I don’t even have to tell you grrrls the benefits of drinking more water. When you are dehydrated, everything just feels off, and it’s not very fun! Your tongue is all dry, your skin just looks dull, and you suddenly get that headache that feels like little fairies are throwing a rager right behind the middle of your forehead. Turn the music down! But the good news is all of this is completely avoidable and it also checks practicing radical self-care off of your lengthy to-do list. Drinking more water also helps support positive mental well-being by working to support your immune system, detoxify your body, and even boost your mood. The happiest and healthiest version of you is most likely hydrated, and depending on how fancy you get, drinking water is definitely an activity you can squeeze into any schedule. 

If you’ve already hit your water quota for the day, Trick question, the limit does not exist! or just want to add something new, you could also try to eat more fresh fruit! Watermelons, strawberries, and cantaloupe all have over 90% water content. While it is still important to prioritize drinking water as your main source of hydration, fruit can be a great addition that is not only high in vitamins and fiber but delicious too. A side of fruit honestly sounds refreshing, but if you grrrls are pressed for time, adding the fruit to your water is a way faster option. Personally, I’m a firm believer that ice-cold water with a splash of lemon is gonna hit every time.

Flex Appeal

Physical activity is probably one of the easiest things to put off because going to the gym always sounds like the perfect idea for next Monday! Also, if you already have limited free time, it’s really hard to convince yourself that you should spend what little time you do have drenched in sweat. That’s why I think that spending time stretching could be a simple solution. Stretching helps increase the range of motion in your joints and muscles, improving flexibility. This can enhance your ability to perform daily activities and various physical tasks. If you don’t know where to start, take a moment to be present in your own body and feel where the tension exists. Begin to unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, Bend over to the front, touch ya toes! You know, whatever feels natural. 

The clock stands still for no grrrl, so the time to incorporate these new radical self-care practices is right now! Having a busy schedule doesn’t mean that we have to automatically abandon becoming the highest versions of ourselves. Don’t get frustrated that your journey doesn’t look perfect because it’s already a commendable effort that you are still trying to put yourself and your happiness first despite everything else you have going on. The only thing that matters is that you are committed to pouring positive energy into yourself and showing yourself some grace. Take your time, and don’t forget to actually enjoy the time you spend with yourself. Now go and be great, you lil grrrly pop!