With people flaunting their lives every day on Social Media, the importance of self-care has grown over the years, and now it has become a necessary part of our lives. Be it de-cluttering your desk, writing a journal, penning down your feelings, or binge eating on your favorite chocolate pastry self-care has always been essential. Self-care does not mean you will always choose yourself over others. It implies that you are simply being mindful of your own needs, so you are better able to support the people you care about.
Even though self-care comes in various forms it can be at times as simple as taking a deep breath while you feel stress is taking over you. Self-care is a broad term that encompasses just about anything you do to be good to yourself however to look at it in a nutshell, it’s about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others. It is also about realizing how important it is to replenish your resources before letting them totally burn out. Meanwhile, it also involves incorporating self-compassion into your life in a way that helps to prevent even the possibility of burnout.
However, it should also be notified that everything that feels good does not fall under the category of self-care. We might be strongly attracted to consume alcohol because that gives us momentary happiness but it is not healthy in the wrong run. The difference between unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-care activities is that the latter is un-controversially good for you. When practiced correctly, self-care has long-term benefits for the mind, the body, or both.
Here are a few self-care tips for healthy living-
Physical self-care
- “Let’s do some workout”– Exercise and its benefits.
Exercising at least four times a week will help keep you fit and healthy. It might be hard to get off the couch and stay active after a long day, but you can motivate yourself by planning fun exercises like yoga, dancing, or running. Once we include exercise in our daily schedule, exercising will make you feel more energized and release endorphins, a chemical in your body that gives you sensations of happiness. Book a trainer if you must but keep the motivation alive.
- “8 glasses is the key to a fitter life”– Drink water
Drinking-Water has numerous health benefits. At least trying to drink 8-10 glasses of water. The all-natural liquid, the calorie-free drink is better for you than high-sugar drinks like sodas and juices. It supplies nutrients and hydration to your body. Water not only helps to maintain a healthy balance it has anti-toxin abilities that often help in clearing the toxins produced in the body.
- “More Greens in the plate”– Eat fruits and vegetables
Our lifestyle gives us very few opportunities to eat greens in our diet. Most often a burger seems to be an easier choice to grab and go when we are running late for work. However, fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants.
Emotional Self Care
Mood forms an essential part of our lifestyle. If we wake up cranky and upset we might rarely have a good day. The mood is a huge determining factor that indicates the kind of relationships we have with others. Every form of communication is judged based on our mood. Even Stress can be a crucial factor that might affect one’s lifestyle patterns. Effective stress management however is very crucial. Stress relaxations often call for self-care goals that refresh and rejuvenates us to go back to work. Going for a spa or massage, listening to music, or just having your favorite cup of coffee while reading your favorite book can be helpful in stress management. Here are some ways to deal
- Join a meditation class to feel relaxed and stress-free
- Keep a daily journal, and be totally honest about your feelings.
- See a therapist, even if it’s just for 8-10 sessions of general personal development.
- Write a list of “feeling words” to expand your emotional vocabulary.
- Make time to be with a friend or family member who truly understands you.
- Sing along to the song that best expresses your current emotions.
Sensory Self-care
Sensory self-care is essential for a healthy work-life balance. We all have days good and bad. And in times like something basic as watching your favorite movie can fix a lot.
- It could be cuddling up under a soft blanket.
- Feeling the water on your skin during a hot bath or shower.
- Lying down and listening to music with your eyes closed.
- Having a small square of the most delicious chocolate.
- Walking barefoot in the grass.
- Having a spa day.
Social Self-Care Ideas
Socialization is key to self-care. But, often, it’s hard to make time for friends and it’s easy to neglect your relationships when life gets busy.
Close connections are important to your well-being. The best way to cultivate and maintain close relationships is to put time and energy into building your relationships with others.
There isn’t a certain number of hours you should devote to your friends or work on your relationships. Everyone has slightly different social needs. The key is to figure out what your social needs are and to build enough time in your schedule to create an optimal social life.
- Sign up for a class to learn something and meet new people at the same time.
- Make a date to have lunch or dinner with a great friend.
- Write an email to someone who lives far away, but who you miss.
- Reach out to someone you like but haven’t seen in a while.
- Stop socializing with those who undermine or disempower you.
- Strike up a conversation with someone interesting.
- Join a support group for people who struggle with the same things you do.
Take time out to do things that make your soul happy!
