Self-care for busy people – how to take care of yourself on the go

• A little exercise will do you good

• Stop and breathe

• Feel grateful

• The power of affirmation

• But first…

A little exercise will do you good

Full-time education may seem like too big a commitment, but don't use it as an excuse not to move at all. Even just doing a few stretches when you wake up will give you energy and trigger an endorphin rush. Circling your shoulders or stretching those aching neck muscles after hours in front of the computer will help you feel better and do your body some good. If you're not familiar with quick stretches, it's worth looking into the so-called "Sun Salutation," a short yoga sequence that warms up and stretches your whole body in just a few minutes.

Stop and breathe

There's been a lot of talk lately about the health benefits of meditation. Yet for many people, it still sounds too complicated, mystical, or pleasing. You don't have to sit cross-legged on the floor surrounded by candles to feel good. All you have to do is pause for a moment and take a few deep breaths. You can use the 4-7-8 technique, where you count to four, inhale through your nose, count to seven, and exhale through your mouth, counting to eight. After just four cycles, you'll feel a great sense of relief and noticeably calmer.

Feel grateful

Why is it so important to practice gratitude? Often, so much is happening in our lives, and we tend to act on what's known as "autopilot." By simply writing down five things we're grateful for on a given day, we consciously choose to focus on the good. It helps us appreciate even the little things we wouldn't normally pay attention to.

The power of affirmation

Let's stay on the topic of reinforcing positive thoughts – a few words about affirmations. What is an affirmation, anyway? It's a positive statement about ourselves or the reality around us that we repeat in our minds throughout the day. It doesn't require much effort from us and brings many positive results. By consciously repeating affirmations in our minds, based on the mechanism of autosuggestion, our brain begins to treat them as real, even if we don't fully believe them at first. This not only improves our well-being but also increases our self-esteem.

But first…

... Let's be understanding of one another. Our lives will never be perfect. Sometimes we're nice and friendly to one another, sometimes it's difficult. But you can't blame yourself if things don't go the way you want. Let's do what we can and allow ourselves to make mistakes.