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Top 3 Free Things I Do for Self-Care

Today’s post is a quickie (TWSS!).

I have often gone to do the stereotypical self-care things like massages or pedicures or MNOs only to come back and be bombarded with stress all over again.

Here’s what I finally discovered. BONUS: they’re all free. (A quick summary after the video.)

Again, I am away from the computer and YouTube is hating my phone. So you’ll have to make do with my FB Live link. But I will update with the YouTube video soon!

https://www.facebook.com/MandarinMama/videos/1764031296962537/

1) Get enough sleep.

When I am tired and sleep-deprived, I am wretched. I snap at my kids, my annoyance threshold is at a minimum, and I yell at the slightest irritation.

When I have enough sleep, these things are no less aggravating, I just have more stamina and patience.

Sleep is KEY.

2) Get enough to eat.

I often forget to eat because I am lazy and hate eating with my children. Therefore, I put it off and by the time I remember, my stomach is ingesting itself and I am HANGRY already.

Then, of course, I yell and am irritable. I sound like a grumpy bear right before hibernation. There may be some truth to that comparison.

3) “Adult.”

Most of the reasons I am stressed is because I have not taken care of the things I am supposed to. Whether it’s paying a medical bill, writing a piece by deadline, or clearing off my kitchen table, a lot of my stress is caused by my lack of adulting.

It stands to reason if I stop procrastinating, I would be much happier.

Alright! That’s it for today. Hope these tips were of some use.

Author

Virginia Duan is the entertainment editor for "Mochi Magazine," a freelance writer, and an Asian American author who writes stories full of rage and grief with biting humor and glimpses of grace. She spends most of her days plotting her next book or article, shuttling her children about, participating in more group chats than humanly possible, and daydreaming about BTS a totally normal amount.

3 Comments

  1. Isn’t it amazing how our looming to-do list causes so much stress? I find that those lingering items (I didn’t balance our account statement, there’s clutter on the counter) also cause me stress. And yes, forgetting to eat is a big one, especially since I work from home.

  2. These tips are so important. Reminders that we just don’t consider when we find ourselves freaking out or stressed. Thank you for these!