Treat Yo’ Self: Ways to Practice Self-Care
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to forget to prioritize our own well-being. Yet, self-care is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for maintaining our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by work, bogged down by responsibilities, or simply in need of a little "me time," integrating self-care practices into your routine can make a world of difference. Let's dive into some simple yet powerful ways to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul, reminding ourselves that we deserve moments of peace and joy amidst the chaos.
What is Self-Care
Before we begin discussing the how, we must first go over the what. What even is self-care? Well, it’s as the name suggests - it’s you caring for you. Self-care activities can be big, luxurious acts, or small and quick ones. Self-care is not what any corporation perpetuating consumerism via advertisements is, it’s not even what Jenny down the block is doing. Self-care is what you want it to be. Whatever activity or pastime brings you comfort, relaxation and peace - that’s your ticket to a fulfilling self-care routine.
When to Practice Self-Care
The short answer is anytime. The longer answer though, is whenever you feel you want to or need to. You could be a self-care enthusiast and do something for yourself every day - or it could make more sense for you to do a self-care activity on the weekends. Whatever floats your boat, really! It is especially important to incorporate these activities at times when you feel stressed, overwhelmed or burnt out. Oftentimes, we need self-care the most when we think “everything is fine”, which really means we’re at our wits end at work or school, we’re overstimulated and lashing out at loved ones, we’re either sleeping more than usual or not at all, and we feel generally frazzled with a sprinkle of exhaustion. Remember, self-care can be practiced at any time and for any reason.
What Happens When We Don’t Do Self-Care
Take a moment to imagine yourself in a desert with no water. The sun is blazing down on you with no shade in sight. We know that our bodies need water to survive, and going long periods without it especially when we need it most can have a not so great impact on us. That’s kind of the idea with self-care. Just like water, we need self-care to thrive. When we don’t practice self-care we run the risk of burning out and not being able to do anything for anyone, including ourselves. Self-care, like water, helps to flush out any stress and regenerate our bodies mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
How Can I Practice Self-Care
Now we’ve finally got to the part I’m sure you readers were waiting for. The how. I previously mentioned that self-care is something that should bring you comfort, relaxation and peace. It should be something that helps you process and move through your stress. So when we go off of that, there is no wrong answer for how you can practice self-care. These activities can be more luxurious things like going to the spa, getting your nails done, going on vacation or going to a sports game. Self-care can also look like taking 10 minutes to meditate, doing breathing exercises during bathroom breaks, journaling at the start or end of the day, or reading a good book. Think about your interests and what makes you feel better. Then, you can start incorporating those self-care activities one baby step at a time until eventually it becomes a part of your routine.
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