From traffic to emails to vet bills, the everyday stressors of life tend to build up and become overwhelming if not properly managed. Plus, advancing technology and social media haven’t made things any easier for us. But self-care is the answer – or at least part of it.

Self-care is a process and mindset that allows us to prioritize ourselves while easing burnout, lowering stress, and improving overall wellbeing. It’s only one piece of the puzzle, but self-care is a great method for coping. And don’t let anyone convince you that self-care is selfish or self-indulgent. In essence, self-care is about looking after yourself, which then allows you to show up as your best self for work, for your family and friends, and every other commitment before you.

If you’re looking to prioritize self-care in 2024, this article is here to help (pro tip: many self-care practices are even more enjoyable after a visit to your local dispensary).

Here are some of our favourite self-care practices:

Take a Long, Hot Bath

Taking a long, hot bath was a quintessential aspect of self-care long before the term ‘self-care’ was thrown around as much as it is today. There is nothing more relaxing than submerging yourself in warm water. A long, hot shower will work too, but take a load off and kick back more horizontally if you can.

In the bath, alone and with the door shut, you’ll discover some of the best alone time you’ve had in a long time. Prep your space with candles or incense and make sure you’ve got a bath bomb, soap, or essential oils.

A good bath does a few things. It is supremely relaxing, but it’s also an opportunity to clean yourself and look after your body, and it’s also an excellent space for thinking deeply about things. Leave your technology far away if possible, and allow your mind to wander, focus, or be quiet.

Prioritize Sleep

In 2024, everyone online seems to be harping on sleep. There is a lot of contradictory information out there – some say you need 6-8 hours while others say you need more. But one fact is undisputed – sleep is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and our health. According to Harvard’s Division of Sleep Medicine, “a lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information”, but that’s just in the short term. Poor sleep can also lead to “obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even early mortality”.

But getting a good night’s sleep is often easier said than done. Here are some strategies to give your self the best chance at a consistent good night’s sleep:

• Caffeine. This powerful stimulant interferes with our quality of sleep, even if it doesn’t hurt your ability to fall asleep. You shouldn’t be taking any caffeine at least 5 hours prior to bedtime.
• Your environment. In order to get the best sleep possible, your bedroom needs to be conducive to sleep. Heavy curtains or blackout shades will help, as well as keeping the temperature cool and investing in quality pillows.
• Routine. Going to bed and waking up at similar times everyday can really help when it comes to setting our ‘internal clock’ and getting quality sleep.
• Watch your snacking. Eating a ton of food before bed is never a good idea, because it means our organs must work overtime while the rest of our body is trying to sleep.

Plan Your Week

Setting some time aside to plan your schedule is one of the best ways to practice self-care, especially if you’re used to dealing with higher amounts of anxiety. Having a plan in place allows our mind to relax a bit, without the need to constantly wonder what needs to happen.

If you have anything important and time-bound that needs to happen, start with that. Book yourself some quality time before or after work to get these things done, whether it’s arranging an appointment, submitting paperwork, or cleaning parts of your home. Once you’ve got the high-priority items in your weekly plan, everything else can fall into place around those items.

In order to hit two birds with one stone, you may also find it beneficial to make a meal calendar. That way, you can ensure you’re getting better nutrition while also providing some peace of mind instead of scrambling around every night or ordering delivery.

Set Aside Time for Skincare

Caring for your skin is another great self-care practice. Whether it’s weekly or daily, set aside some time for yourself once all your obligations of the day have been met to soothe your skin. Not only is this quality you-time, caring for your skin is healthy and hydrating, which can also fight aging and give you a confidence boosting glow.

By sticking to a consistent skincare routine, you’ll really start to notice improvements – but that’s beside the point. The best benefit of a skincare routine is quality self-care time to focus on you.

Looking to take your skincare to the next level of relaxation with the help of CBD-infused skincare products? Cheeky’s Cannabis has a range of topicals, creams, and ointments that can be applied directly to the skin. Visit our Maple Ridge or Kitsilano location and get some help from our friendly staff or browse our online cannabis menu.

Move Your Body

Physical activity is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health. Exercise has been well studied, shown to improve brain function, decrease anxiety, and better our mood, so there’s no question you should incorporate some kind of exercise into your self-care routine.

The Canadian Psychological Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, but you can certainly aim higher. As part of your self-care strategy – if you can, try to move your body every day. Plus, if you have a dog, there’s a little more motivation to get out there more often so everyone can get their exercise.

You don’t need to be lifting weights or running long distances every day to get solid physical activity while feeling the physical and mental benefits. Even just taking a walk along the beach, through a park, or into the forest is excellent for your mind and body.

Don’t forget the cannabis! Cheeky’s Cannabis has a wide variety of cannabis products available, regardless of your preferred consumption method. We’ve got pre-rolls, edibles, high-quality flowers, concentrates, topicals, and more. Pop into our Kitsilano or Maple Ridge location and talk with our friendly budtenders who will be happy to help you find what you’re looking for.