Guest writer: Brad Krause @ selfcaring.info/
While self-care may be a recent term, it’s a fundamental concept based on the virtue of right and wrong. It’s about treating yourself right by attending to your physical, emotional and mental needs. Since we all have these aspects, everyone needs to embrace self-care — it’s not reserved for people struggling with mental disorders. The practice involves doing healthy things for yourself.
Why Is Self-Care Important?
Self-care improves various aspects of your life which are all vital in your overall health. By doing good things for yourself, you affirm your self-worth and build your self-esteem. Regular self-care also enhances your self-awareness. It helps you to direct your life to what you enjoy, and avoid things that drain your positive energy. When you love yourself, you’ll figure out new interests and shun your dislikes easily.
Self-care also triggers self-improvement. You create time to connect with different people, develop healthy relationships, and heal your body. It brings about a positive effect on your mindset and enables you to take better care of your loved ones.
Let’s look at some self-care ideas you might want to try.
Exercising
Besides boosting physical health, Psycom explains physical activities are beneficial to your mental well-being. Working out improves cardiovascular health and burns extra calories. Additionally, it releases endorphins known to boost the mood in the brain. Consequently, it reduces stress, helps to manage depression, and suppresses stress hormones like cortisol. Exercise is also an excellent tool for releasing anger and frustration. If your routine could use some tweaking, consider signing up for Body Awareness Coaching with Essentrics. This dynamic strengthening and stretching program targets all the muscles, joints, and bones in your body to help you gain a better understanding of it and to achieve better balance.
Healthy Eating
Nutrition is a cornerstone of health for a reason, the right foods fuel our body and supply the vitamins and nutrients we need to keep us healthy. It’s easy to fall into poor eating habits because of stress, but this can be a slippery slope. Studies have also shown a connection between depression and eating too many processed foods. To help you stay on track, look to meal plans or meal delivery services. You can also find an abundance of healthy recipes online that will give your mental health and your waistline a boost. In addition to eating healthy, taking a supplement can also improve your health. For a brain boost, try nootropic supplements, which can help you stay sharp, focused, and calm.
Limiting Financial Stress
Many of us are stressed by the state of our finances. If you’re having trouble paying your bills, make saving money a part of your self-care routine. Your first steps should be establishing a monthly budget and looking for areas where you can save. For example, instead of spending hundreds on your cable bill, look at streaming options like Netflix or Hulu. You can also plan your meals ahead of time each week so you spend less eating out (and eat healthier). For homeowners, refinancing can help you save on your monthly mortgage payments. There are fees involved, so make sure to discuss refinancing with a qualified lender.
Saying “No”
You can’t reject every obligation and request, but it’s vital to say “no” when appropriate. Just as KCParent explains, it’s crucial to avoid overcommitting yourself in order to prevent issues like stress and depression. Overcommitment can also contribute to health problems, including migraines, ulcers, and low immunity. Many people pile obligations on family and friends, and while staying engaged is good, overdoing it is not.
Similarly, many people overstretch themselves at work to maximize their income. But did you know that too much work can cause heart stress and premature death? Ensure you make time just for yourself. For instance, spend time listening to music, meditating, reading, and just relaxing.
Getting Enough Sleep
We often deprive ourselves of enough quality sleep because we associate slumber with being unproductive. However, inadequate sleep hurts our waking lives immensely.
A few benefits of a quality snooze include:
- Stress reduction
- Better mood
- Sharper memory
- Healthier skin
- Weight management
It’s essential to have uninterrupted sleep for about 7 to 8 hours every day. Ensure your bedroom is comfortable and your mattress provides the right spinal support. If your environment isn’t conducive to sleep, adjust it accordingly. For instance, if outside sounds are sneaking in, consider adding a white noise machine to drown them out. If light is peeking through your windows, install blackout curtains. Better sleep can mean better mental health, so take whatever measures are needed.
Self-care is all about quality of life. It revolves around better overall well-being, more strength, and being satisfied with the events around you. It’s a daily routine involving simple things such as relaxing, sleeping, working out, and more. Embracing a healthy regimen is the key to a happy life.
For optimal health in every aspect — mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual — consider Body Awareness Coaching with Essentrics. Sign up for a group class or personal training today!
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