I am sure you have heard this buzzword ‘Self-care”, but what is self-care, how do you practice it, what are the benefits and how can it positively impact your life? Let’s break it down and delve into the concept of self-care. First, we must understand that self-care is a practice, something that we choose to do and making it a priority. This way, when we consistently practise self-care routines, we will turn them into new and positive habits.
Introduction to Self-care
Self-care according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider”.
It’s also about intentions and actions we do with awareness to improve our overall health, through an array or combination of mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being activities and rituals.
In the long run, self-care will allow you to stay and maintain good health physically, mentally, and emotionally, which will reflect in both your personal and professional life.
Practices and applications of self-care depend on individual needs and may vary from day to day or even hour to hour. Dr Marni Amsellem, PhD, licensed Psychologist, said: “What is self-care for one person will likely differ from someone else, and what’s self-care for you one day might not feel like self-care another day.” We can therefore explore self-care in various forms and actions depending on your most immediate needs to fill you up with energy or ground you.
Self-care initiatives that can become habits
There are physical and mental health self-care initiatives such as exercising, eating the right foods to nourish your body, getting enough sleep, having a digital detox, resting, or meditating. It can also come by ways of making personal and professional decisions like setting healthy boundaries with friends, family, or in the workplace, and being able to switch off from negative situations you don’t have any control over, but rather nourishing your passions and hobbies and check-in in with yourself for mental and body cleansing.
Mindfulness and meditation for your well-being
When dealing with stress and anxiety, we disconnect from our internal well-being. Sometimes, we don’t even realise we are stressed; we think that we are focusing on our work. This is where the importance of self-care comes into play, it allows us to take the time out we need to reflect, meditate and practise mindfulness so we can feel more centred.
Taking that time out will help you feel ‘at home’ and rooted no matter where you are. It allows you to get to know yourself better, know where you are, what your centre of stability is and decide where you want to from there.
Through activities and exercises that bring you calm, peace, joy, and nurture, you will develop a habit of dealing with difficult situations without too much stress and overwhelm. Taking time or, most importantly, scheduling time in your journal regularly for self-care can help with the cleansing of any burden, intense moments or negative situations you’ve experienced.
It will allow you to move forward without the weight of those issue pulling you back, giving you space to remain calm in emotionally charged situations and make the right decision rather than react.
Laugh, love, live
Play, laugh and have fun! Do more of what keeps you happy and feeds your soul. Discover your sparkling gems by thinking about the things you enjoyed doing as a child. Rediscover what makes you brilliant and unique, be curious, explore and get creative. Draw bliss into your life in whichever way that makes you feel joyful. Put yourself first and create a sanctuary for yourself, however that may look and feel to you, if it’s with candles, aromatherapy, crystals, etc. When you are full up with love, joy, and care, it overflows to others around you, and they get to enjoy the benefits of your self-care too.
Like we mentioned before, self-care depends on individual needs and can change from day to day. If you are struggling to start your self-care life- changing journey here are 30 simple self-care tips you can start to apply now
Why not start a 30-day self-care challenge and see for yourself all the benefit you get out of it?
Self-Care Practices During Pandemic
- Nourish your body with healthy foods and get the right amount of sleep every night.
- Pick an issue you struggle with or a topic and start journaling on it everyday.
- Create a playlist of your favourite songs and listen to it while doing your chores or when you going through a tough time.
- Go outside in nature and exercise for at least 30mins everyday.
- If you feel lonely or isolated call or video call a supportive friend or family member.
- Meditate for 10-15 minutes or stay still and silent, just listen.
- Make a list of all the things you have been avoiding to do but you know when add value to your life and improve you well-being and do one a day
- Practice self-compassion
- Do a digital detox.
- Set healthy boundaries with friends and family.
- Create a healthy daily schedule that works for you.
- Schedule check-in with yourself time in your dairy.
- Say no to things that you don’t like, want nor bring you value or ads value in any way.
- Create and follow a healthy morning and evening routine.
- Make a list of all the things you enjoyed doing as a child and explore each of them
Self-Care Practices Before Christmas
- Do your Christmas preparations early to avoid stress and anxiety.
- Practice daily gratitude
- Show yourself some compassion and do not put too much unnecessary stress on yourself.
- Give yourself permission to say ‘no thank you’ to gathering and invites you do not want to attend.
- Take short breaks for yourself amidst the pre-Christmas
- Let go off things for a moment, enjoy yourself, treat yourself and celebrate more.
- Give yourself a social media break
- Incorporate mindfulness throughout the winter season.
- Be intentional: know your wishes, set actions, establish outcomes.
- Redefine abundance, don’t focus on the things you don’t have and don’t compare with other people.
- As it is winter remember to hydrate, drink lots of water.
- Make a self-care kit for yourself with things that bring you joy and pleasure.
- Plan ahead so you do not get overwhelmed but leave some room for some flexibility
- Don’t push for perfection.
- Take and schedule time to reconnect and check-in with your feelings.
Celebrate with us MY Self-Care Friday on the 13th November 2020. We will be offer up to 50% discount on MYnd Map Products.
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