Welcome everyone to yet another week of Kim’s Monthly Motivations. It is crazy to think that the first month of 2022 has already passed! With everything seemingly moving so fast it can be hard finding time to relax or take care of yourself. So, this week’s article will mainly discuss ways to quickly but effectively take care of yourself (mentally and physically). There will also be a goal check-in and to end it off, some Valentines day facts considering the holiday is right around the corner! 

“Start prioritizing your mental health instead of adjusting to toxic spaces.” -Thema Bryant-Davis

Self-Care:

Self-care is extremely important and no matter how busy you are, you should always take the time to treat yourself. 

Some benefits to self-care include…

-Stronger relationships. 

-Happier and more positive outlook on life. 

-Improved focus. 

-Makes you more productive.

-Helps you cope with stress. 

Some quick ways to incorporate self-care into your everyday routine is to…

-Journal every morning or night (or both!) It can be a quick 10 minute entry talking about daily goals, things that went well that day or even anything you want to just get off your chest.

-Exercise! I know, not everyone is going to like this one, but exercising actually improves mood and causes you to feel better about yourself. Even if you start with a 10 minute ab workout or 30 minute walk, it is still something. You can only improve. 

-Take breaks in between homework to watch your favorite show. Even just relaxing with a bowl of popcorn and watching your favorite show will allow you to de-stress and relax. If the show is really good, you might forget about what’s going wrong in your life for a little bit.

-Repeat affirmations. Repeating statements like “I deserve to be happy” or  “I am enough” will make you believe it. 

-Finally, just do anything that you personally like. This could be online shopping, face masks, going on your phone, etc. Taking care of yourself means you do things that make you happy. So, take some time out of your day (even if it is just 5 minutes) to focus on yourself. In the end, it could go a long way. 

QUICK, STOP! It is time to check in and see how the New Year’s Resolutions we set last month are going! Answer these questions!

Did you make any progress with your resolutions? 

(If not, it is completely fine! We are still only a month into the New Year!)

Do you still feel passionate about this resolution? 

(If not, it is ok to change it! You need to really want it!)

What did you do this month that makes you proud? 

What is something you want to do this month to help you with your resolution?

Take your time answering the questions as truthfully as you can. Reflect on them yourself and think if you need to change your goal, work harder or stay on track!

Valentine’s Day Facts:

Now, I know not everyone is quite fond of Valentine’s day, but I can’t just let the whole holiday slide without saying anything! So, here are just a few facts to make this month’s article a bit more exciting. I mean, hey, you might like Valentine’s Day a little more after this!

-Valentine’s day wasn’t a romantic holiday about love until the late 14th century. 

-75% of men and women who celebrate prefer chocolate over flowers. 

-49% of adults choose not to celebrate Valentine’s day at all. 

-27% of people celebrating buy gifts for their pets. 

-Americans spent more than $21 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2021.

-85% of parents give their children something on February 14th.

Well, looks like that is all for this month! I hope everyone has a great February, works on their resolutions and takes time to focus on themselves. Times like these are stressful, but it is important to keep preserving through it! Until next time! 🙂