The concept of self-care has been making the rounds for a while now, but real self-care isn’t always what you might think, or practice in reality.
Taking the time to look after yourself is crucial to both your physical and mental well-being, but are you practising it correctly?
Unfortunately, when it comes to self-care, it can be easy to think of the superficial treats that make us feel good for a few minutes, without leaving much of a lasting impact.
The usual popular suspects include face masks, a bar of chocolate, a shopping splurge, or indulging in your favourite vape juice from vape hedz. And while there is nothing wrong with a little indulgence from time-to-time, an effective self-care routine goes much deeper than that to include those things that we know we should be doing, but sometimes don’t want to.
Whether you are run down with a cold or are mentally stressed after a tough week at work, you need to learn how to take care of yourself properly. Read on to find out with these three simple and effective tips.
Check-in on your emotional and mental health
Mental health problems can be just as harmful, life-changing, and debilitating as physical illnesses and should not be overlooked.
Learning how to check-in with yourself regularly and becoming more in tune with your emotions will help you cope with stress and anxiety while making you feel happier.
Sometimes the pressure to feel positive constantly can be draining and overwhelming, so it is important to remember that all emotions are useful and needed – even ones like anger, which help identify your boundaries.
Take positive action to secure your long-term mental health by taking regular breaks from social media, practising yoga or meditation, getting enough sleep, or starting a gratitude or mindful journal.
Stay active
Exercise is not only crucial for your physical health but also your mental health and should be included in every self-care routine.
Not only will it help make your body feel good on the outside, keeping your weight at a healthy level and improving your fitness, but it will also make you feel good on the inside due to the production of the feel-good hormone Serotonin.
While the concept of a regular fitness routine can feel overwhelming, and sometimes impossible to maintain, simply moving your body around for thirty minutes each day is enough to help you stay strong and flexible and as you age.
Start improving your fitness slowly and find an activity that you enjoy, such as daily walks, running, yoga, or join a class for a healthy heart and overall body.
Eat well
The power of eating well is not to be underestimated and is one of the most significant forms of self-care that there is. Your body needs nourishing food full of vitamins and proteins to stay healthy and feel its best, preventing severe health conditions as you age, while keeping the immune system strong.
Even though it is easy to think of self-care as indulging in various treats such as chocolate or a Coke, the number of processed foods and drinks high in sugars and unhealthy fats should be limited and replaced with healthier alternatives.
Instead of reaching for that bag of crisps, add more wholesome foods into your diet and experiment in the kitchen with some new recipes to leave you feeling good and full of energy.