Work, everyday tasks, and numerous responsibilities can all build up to stress, anxiety, and even panic attacks. If you can’t get a good night’s sleep, it’s quite possible that stress is the main culprit. Also, chronic stress can lead to anxiety, which, in turn, might result in panic attacks. So not addressing the issue of stress and not dealing with the problem, as you can see, can create more issues and more serious problems.
To prevent all those stress-related issues from piling up, you need to take a break. Shut down that computer, leave your phone aside and schedule some me-time.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care is a general term that describes everything you do for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It can be something as little as not checking your emails before bedtime because you know it’s going to disturb your sleep. But self-care also involves more important decisions like taking that vacation or even leaving the toxic job you’ve been working for years. Essentially, everything that’s going to bring that much-needed balance to your life can be considered a self-care treatment or a decision driven by self-care.
The Benefits of Self-Care
Even though self-care can look different from one person to the next, the benefits of practicing it are the same:
Improving Your Mental Health
Mental health has been quite a popular topic in recent years, and rightfully so. We overwork ourselves in order to achieve more, when in fact taking a step back can have more benefits than pushing ourselves to the edge. So reading a book, having a hot bath, or simply taking a walk is sometimes all it takes to be more prepared for the battles that await.
Keeping Stress and Anxiety at Bay
As we already mentioned at the beginning, stress increases the risk of developing anxiety and depression. Taking some time off to relax and de-stress will allow your body to repair itself so that you can think straight and make better decisions.
Boosting the Immune System
The immune system plays a vital role in defending the body against diseases. When our immunity is compromised because of burnout or extreme exhaustion, things can go sideways. Taking care of your diet and exercising regularly can boost your immunity and prevent illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
Enriching Relationships
When you feel good, you glow. You bring the best version of yourself wherever you go. For some people, taking care of yourself can look like a selfish, self-indulgent act, but it’s never about that. It’s just filling your own cup before you can pour into someone else’s – simple as that.
Practicing Self-Care
There are so many ways to practice self-care and incorporate it into your everyday life. Here are some ideas that we chose for you:
Exercise Regularly
Research has shown that regular exercise increases the levels of serotonin in your body, which improves mood and energy. So staying fit, healthy, and energized will help you feel your best, and the focus is on the physical activities that make you feel good.
Don’t go to the gym if you’ve tried it long enough to know you hate it – instead, look for a group class, dancing lessons, or a sport you’ll genuinely enjoy participating in. You can even include friends or family members in this routine of yours. Maybe swimming or a morning run would suit you better. The important thing is that you do what you love, so taking some time for it will never be a problem.
Challenge Your Mind
Just as you train your body, you should train your mind. Learning something new or pursuing a new hobby can keep your mind engaged and sharp. You’ll meet new people and engage in new relationships, and who knows where that can lead to. Not to mention it’s going to boost your confidence and improve your self-image.
Practice Mindfulness
Being conscious of our feelings makes it easier to process them in a healthy way. You can do that by meditating, journaling, and practicing positive self-talk. Being kind to yourself and to others can help you be more aware of your own power. Practice gratitude and always be thankful for the little things in life.
Eat Healthily
Food affects your mood, and that’s a fact! Everything you incorporate into your daily meals will have a positive or negative impact on how you feel. Healthy food not only gives you fuel for exercise but also lowers the risk of chronic illnesses. Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast, and slowly introduce some new unprocessed foods to your body and see how it goes.
Make Sure to Get Enough Sleep
Sleep affects both your physical and mental health, so you can’t skip this one. People generally need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep, and it’s very important to go to sleep and wake up at the same time. You need comfort and routine to keep a healthy circadian rhythm, so invest in a good mattress and crispy sheets, turn off your phone at least 30 minutes before sleep (no scrolling), and sail into slumberland.
Learn to Say No
Of course, this had to go on the list, because most of us often accept things that are not good for our mental health in order to avoid conflict. Although we’d rather say no to something being asked of us, we accept just to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, but we end up hurting ours. It’s important to check within yourself how you feel about certain things, and if you’re not feeling good about it, just don’t do it. You’re only human – you can’t make everyone happy, but you can make yourself a (happy) priority.
In Conclusion
Whenever the world seems like too much, it’s time for you to take a break. “I don’t have time for self-care” should be seen as an issue of its own. You would find the time for your best friend if they were in trouble, right? So you should always be there for the person that is always there for you – no matter the situation – the magnificent YOU.
About The Author
Sarah is a life enjoyer, positivity seeker, and a curiosity enthusiast. She is passionate about an eco-friendly lifestyle and adores her cats. She is an avid reader who loves to travel when time allows.