If you’re a teacher, May is the official home stretch month. And while the end of the school year might seem weeks away, May is one of the busiest months of the year and it tends to go by quickly. Since May is such a busy month, it’s more important than ever to keep yourself high on the priority list with some self-care for you!
Here are 12 ideas for May:
1 – Do something creative. And remember that “creative” doesn’t have to mean artsy! If you like to draw, paint, sketch, do hand-lettering, do calligraphy – good for you. Do more of that! Or do you like to sing or play a musical instrument? That counts too. But so does writing something or experimenting with a recipe. Find something different from your everyday tasks and find a few minutes here and there to add more creative time to your life!
2 – Plan some spring and summer menus. Look for recipes that are perfect for the summer months. Anything with fresh berries, corn, or tomatoes comes to mind for me, but so does anything you can grill. Make some lists of recipes you want to try or family favorites you want to cook in spring or summer.
3 – Splurge on a manicure and pedicure for spring. You can also do your own at home, but there is nothing quite like being pampered at a nail salon!
4 – Catch up with a friend over coffee or a glass of wine. Is there someone you haven’t seen in a while but who lifts your spirits when you are with them? Make some plans to get together soon (or when you are out of school).
5 – Another fun splurge is eating really good ice cream. Do you have a favorite ice cream shop in your town or nearby? This would be another fun place to visit with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
6 – Do a brain dump in a journal. This is one of my favorite ways of getting all the anxious, swirling thoughts out of my head. Any time your head is spinning with all the things you have to do, all the things you’re worried about, just all the things — write it all down. Don’t try to censor yourself in any way or make sense of what you’ve written. Just getting it all out of your head is the point. If you then want to go back and make some sort of list of what you need to do, fine, but it’s also fine to just recycle what you’ve written after you’ve gotten it out of your head.
7 – Plant some flowers or a plant. Even if you don’t have a yard, get a pot, some potting soil, a favorite plant, and get busy! Find a sunny spot and enjoy watching something grow.
8 – Try meditation! I know you’ve probably heard this before, but meditation really does help to calm you and refocus anxious thoughts. I love the Headspace app but there are lots of good ones out there. If you prefer to just try it without an app, sit where you can be quiet and undisturbed for a few minutes, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and stay focused on your breath. Even just five minutes a day makes a big difference!
9 – Do a yoga pose or some stretching. If you need some tips for yoga, Yoga With Adriene is a great resource on YouTube. I also love the little book Office Yoga, which has lots of ideas for yoga poses you can do throughout the day.
10 – Redecorate something. This doesn’t have to be a big HGTV project (although that would be really fun). Just changing your decor or rearranging items can make you feel refreshed. Even just cleaning off your desk space and adding some pretty new items can make a big difference.
Here are some ideas:
11 – Listen to an inspiring podcast or book on Audible.
12 – Think about your daily routine and where you could incorporate some new, healthier habits. Could you go to bed earlier at night so that you can get up earlier to have some time to yourself? Could you drink more water throughout the day? Quit buying junk food so it’s not available in your house? Whatever you think would help to make you a happier, healthier person – find a time or a way to add it to your life!
What are some of your favorite self-care activities for May?