With February being the month of love and family, it’s important to take the time to care for yourself and the people who mean the most to you. Here are a few healthy things you can do to care for yourself, in body, mind, spirit and finances.

Eat, move and sleep really well 

Your top three jobs in self-care are to eat well, move your body and get good, healthy sleep.  

• Eating healthy 
  There are many different approaches when it comes to healthy eating, but the key is getting the right amount of nutrients and keeping a balanced diet. For example, the Mediterranean diet consists of eating plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, while adding whole grains, nuts, beans, seafood, protein, and unsaturated fat from extra-virgin olive oil. Studies have found that this diet reduces the risk of chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, while supporting brain functions, promoting heart health and regulating blood sugar levels. 
• Moving your body (and drinking a lot of water) 
  Simply exercising outside for 30 minutes a day can stimulate your brain's endorphins and serotonin, and keep your energy up during the day. You should also hydrate your body (and brain!) by drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to keep your energy and spirits up (this is known as the 8x8 rule of water consumption). 
• Sleeping well 
  Sleep is crucial for self-care. A well-rested night of sleep promotes healthy brain function and resiliency. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Here are five sleeping tips you can try right away:
1. Take your sleep seriously and make it a priority. Protect your eight hours a night like they’re priceless gems.
2. Turn your devices off at least 60 minutes before you go to sleep. That blue light disrupts your circadian rhythm and your production of melatonin.
3. Try to get up at the same time every day, weekends too.
4. Don’t hit 'snooze' on your morning alarm—that extra 5-10 minutes of sleep will jar your circadian rhythm.
5. To help fall asleep, try a meditative technique known as a full-body scan. Close your eyes, breathe slowly, then start relaxing your face for 30 seconds. Then relax your neck for 30 seconds, then your shoulders, arms, torso, all the way down to your feet. Try the full body scan meditation where you mentally scan down your body, head to toe.

Managing your financial health 

One thing that can put your mind at ease is creating or reviewing your financial plan for the year to give you peace of mind and help manage your cash flow. 

• Making a budget  
  The best way to manage your debt and save money is to set a sensible budget. There are many methods of budgeting, such as the 50/30/20 rule – where 50% of your take-home income goes to necessities (rent/mortgage, groceries, phone bill, gas, car insurance), 30% goes to non-essentials (restaurants, gifts, vacation), and 20% goes to savings and debt repayment. When evaluating your finances, keep in mind your financial goals and spending habits to help you determine which method of budgeting will be suitable for your lifestyle. 
• Saving where you can   
  One way of stretching your budget is to save money where possible. With a BCAA Membership, you can save on everyday needs including fuel, experiences, travel, dining and more. Savings partners include the Vancouver Canucks, Playland and the PNE Fair, Park YVR, Freshslice Pizza, New York Fries, Blenz Coffee and many more. Over $1,000 in savings value per year goes a long way! 
• Creating an emergency fund  
  Your emergency fund should be three-to-six months of cash that you save in case you need to navigate and pay bills during an emergency like unexpected house or car repairs, job loss, home loss, or illness in your family. Here are some tips on building an emergency fund. 
• Considering BCAA Life Insurance  
  BCAA Term Life Insurance can help protect the financial safety of your loved ones. There are three big life moments when you might consider life insurance: when you get married, buy a home, or have a child. For more on what you should know about life insurance, check out our Life Insurance 101 article. You can rest easy knowing your loved ones are protected with BCAA Life Insurance.
• Investing in your future 
  It’s never too early to start thinking about the future, and how to best invest your money, from contributing to RRSPs to a tax-free savings account. You could even invest in the stock market once you have an understanding of the risks involved. 

Being kind to yourself and others  

To bring a wholeness to your life, schedule time each week to focus on your needs and the people who mean a lot to you. Caring for others begins with caring for yourself. 

• Making time for self-care 
  A healthy you will not only make you feel better. It will also impact all the people around you. Here are five healthy things you can do right away to have a healthier mind and body. 
• Creating a daily routine
  Set aside time to work on your own physical and mental health by exercising and practicing mindfulness. Here are the 10 benefits of meditating daily – which includes tips on how to boost your patience and tolerance, how to lower your resting heart rate, and how meditation helps your mind and body. 

 We’re with you

BCAA will always be here to help you and your loved ones move forward. However, if you find yourself struggling and need to talk to somebody, help is just a click or call away. Find out more at wellbeing.gov.bc.ca. 

Take good care of yourself. You’re worth it.