With the change of seasons comes the perfect opportunity to step back and take a look at your day to day routine. It’s a time to figure out what’s working, what’s not and where a few little changes can go a long way. One area where it seems everyone could use a bit of improvement is in taking the time to take better care of yourself. Schedules can get crazy it’s all too easy to put yourself as your lowest priority on your never ending to do list but in the long run, dedicating a little time for yourself always pays off. A few ideas for how you can take better care of yourself daily:

Switch Up Your Skincare: Your skin’s needs can vary season to season, especially when fall and winter roll around! Dropping temperatures, wind and indoor heaters can dry skin out so it’s important to add some extra moisture into your skincare routine. Lately I’ve been all about gel moisturizers vs. your typical cream – they’re way less greasy and sink in deep to hydrate and leave your skin super soft, without making your face oily or causing breakouts. Neutrogena has one of the absolute best moisturizers I’ve ever tried in their new Hydro Boost line – it uses hyaluronic acid to boost your skin’s hydration levels and can be worn night and day (even under makeup!). The line’s eye cream is also a serious life saver in the morning to help replenish the moisture in my under eye area and beat puffiness so I look well rested even before my first cup of coffee ;) 

Schedule “Off” Time: Anyone else guilty of living some days like they’re just one giant to do list? As someone who is obsessed with her Google Calendar and loves the satisfaction of checking things off a to do list, I’ve been making an effort to remind myself to take a break and relax a bit by literally scheduling “off” time on my calendar. It’s all too easy to fill every second of your day with things to do in order to get the most done but it’s never sustainable – blocking time within your day to step outside and grab a coffee or even an hour in the evening to watch Netflix can go a long way!

Hydrate & Stretch: The busier we get the more we’re likely to forget to give our body what it needs physically. Making an effort to hydrate properly throughout the day will help with focus and keep you on top of your game so you feel your best throughout the day (even if it’s a busy one!). Another thing I’ve been working on lately is making an effort to do at least a few stretches every day; it’s crazy how much time we spend at our computers or hunched over our phones. On an ideal day I love nothing more than heading to CorePower or Ritual Yoga to get my stretch on but even 5 minutes of basic stretching at home can help combat the side effects of the daily hustle.

Unplug Before Bed: Anyone else really bad about scrolling through your phone right before bed? I’m notorious for saying I’m heading to bed only to stay up for another hour aimlessly scrolling through Instagram or watching Snapchats. Not only do I end up getting less sleep than expected but I usually struggle to fall asleep even after I’ve put my iPhone down because my brain just can’t shut off. I’m working toward spending less time with my phone overall, but especially before bed and aiming to avoid screens for the final hour before bed, instead choosing to catch up on magazines or read a book.

Catch Enough ZZZ’s: Last but not least… Don’t skimp on your sleep! I’m definitely one of those people who needs a solid 8 hours of sleep to really feel my best – the night owl thing just isn’t for me! When we get crazy busy it’s really easy to sacrifice sleep for work and it’s never actually worth it because of how groggy you feel the next day. Make an effort to get 7-8 hours of rest and then work smart throughout your day to make the most of your prime hours of productivity.

What are some of the little things you do to take care of yourself? 

This post was sponsored by Neutrogena and as always, all opinions are 100% honest and my own – authenticity is a top priority and I only partner with brands I truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that partner with Pretty & Fun!