Self-care involves taking better care of yourself, which is essential for mental and physical purposes. It can positively impact your life, from helping you become closer to friends and family to relieving your stress. Here are some of the top benefits of self-care.
IT HELPS TO RELIEVE STRESS
If you are like most people, you probably deal with a lot of stress. This stress can be from your job, financial situation, relationships, or other personal reasons. Self-care is important for stress relief because it provides activities that help distract you, improve your mood, and help you take better care of yourself. Keep in mind that self-care can be anything from taking a bath to going for a walk, so there are tons of options available.
YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
In addition to relieving stress, self-care can also help with other aspects of mental health. Perhaps you have anxiety or depression and are trying to relax while also figuring out your triggers. Things like writing in a journal and walking help you accomplish both. You are able to focus more on your mental health during these activities, so you are practicing self-care while actually improving your mental health at the same time.
IT RAISES YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Did you know taking better care of yourself can help with your self-esteem? Lack of proper self-care often causes you to feel bad about yourself, such as from not getting a manicure or pedicure in a while or not exercising. These activities make you feel healthy, fit, and beautiful, which goes a long way with self-care. With higher self-esteem, you raise your confidence, which can help boost your mood and help with your stress levels.
YOU DESERVE SOME QUALITY TIME
Don’t underestimate the power of having quality time to yourself. There are many ways to do this, whether you allow yourself some time to meditate in the morning, get up early to have coffee alone, or have dance parties in the living room with your family. This quality time gives you a short break from your daily life and can be excellent for self-care.
Try to give yourself at least a few minutes a day for self-care. It will help your stress and other areas of mental health.
SIMPLE EVERY DAY WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Self-care is vitally important for stress relief and overall mental health. It can help after a bad day and improve self-confidence. Proper self-care doesn’t take a lot. Here are some different ways to practice self-care every day.
KEEP A JOURNAL
Keeping a journal is an excellent way to start practicing self-care every day. You can easily keep this with you no matter where you are, whether you put it in your purse or briefcase or have a digital journal on your computer. It is good to have something to write in even when your laptop is out of charge, so a journal and pen are highly recommended. With journaling, you can write in it whenever you feel stressed or talk about your day. It can be very cathartic for you.
HAVE ALONE TIME EVERY DAY
Ensure you have at least a few minutes each day all to yourself. This can be a 30-minute walk after dinner, a fun 15-minute dance party all alone in your room before bed, or just 5 minutes in the morning before everyone else gets up while you enjoy your cup of coffee. It can seem superficial and minimal, but these little periods where you are alone and doing something for yourself can make all the difference.
GET MORE EXERCISE
Helping your physical health is sometimes essential, so don’t forget about exercise. This will make you feel better about yourself and raise your self-confidence, which also helps your mental state. Plus, exercise is perfect for relieving stress; the endorphins you get from it can tremendously improve your movement. You don’t need to go to the gym for an hour every day either. Something as simple as an afternoon walk or weightlifting in the morning before your shower is perfect. You can also take advantage of other activities that include exercise, like taking your dogs for longer walks or hiking the kids over the weekend so everybody is exercising more.
In addition to exercise, you should focus on a proper diet by drinking more water and eating healthier. This is part of taking better care of yourself.
SELF-CARE ACTIVITIES TO TRY
If you are looking to improve your self-care, there are quite a few activities you can participate in. While the list of options is endless, here are some recommended activities to get you started with proper self-care.
TRY SENSORY ACTIVITIES
When working on self-care for stress relief, one thing to note is that sensory activities can have a beneficial effect. It would be best to try to find activities that use different senses, like touch, smell, taste, or sight. Perhaps you want a bonfire at the beach, which will use multiple senses. You can smell the fire and the saltwater in the ocean, see the flames, feel the warmth and the wind from the sea, and possibly even taste salt in the air. Try to find activities that awaken your senses.
EXERCISE REGULARLY
Exercising regularly is good for your body and mind and can relieve stress. If you have a lot of mental stress, releasing endorphins can improve your mood and make you feel happier. You can choose a type of workout that helps you take better care of your physical and mental health, whether you relax during yoga, have fun while dancing, or get some quiet time by going for a walk or hike. Think of exercises you enjoy doing that will also give you the time you need alone.
DO CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
Another way to practice self-care is to find creative activities that are artistic or a hobby that you enjoy. If you used to love drawing or painting, why not try it now? Just because you’re older and have other responsibilities doesn’t mean you have to let go of your favorite things to do. Bring a sketchbook to work and draw something during your lunch break. You can also get adult coloring books and some colored pencils and bring them anywhere, like the train or the bus.
You can also try different types of crafts you enjoy, like making wreaths for family as holiday gifts or baking. Try to find ways to release your inner creative energy, no matter what that entails. You will feel better by doing something you love, plus you get some quality time that helps to relieve stress at the same time. This is hard to beat.
(Link to download guide - https://p.bttr.to/3VEY8fM)