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| Img Source: https://feminisminindia.com/2016/10/26/self-care-mental-health-feminist-warriors/ |
These days, we are all busy. There's work to do, errands to run, bills to pay. It can be easy to let the simple things fall by the wayside during all this chaos and for us to forget what is really important. Taking care of ourselves!
"Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health...It is not something that we force ourselves to do, or something we don’t enjoy doing. As Agnes Wainman explained, self-care is “something that refuels us, rather than takes from us.”Self-care isn’t a selfish act either. It is not only about considering our needs; it is rather about knowing what we need to do in order to take care of ourselves, being subsequently, able to take care of others as well. That is, if I don’t take enough care of myself, I won’t be in the place to give to my loved ones either."
Here are a few basic ideas to help you get into the self-care habit...
EAT & DRINK
Obvious, right? Yeah it is. Food and drink are magical things when it comes to making you feel better. It's a basic check you need to do with yourself - have I eaten and drank enough? The world seems a better place with a full stomach and no thirst.
Of course, it's also wonderful to indulge in your favourite food and drinks too. If you need cheering up, a take away or a big portion of whatever you like can help a stressful day just melt away. (Maybe try a slot some fruits and vegetables in there too...)
PAMPER YOURSELF
Long baths or showers, shower gels, face masks, exfoliation, moisturising, nail polish - take some time just to focus on your body. If you are not the pampering type, try instead to take a little more time with your washing routine if you can. Use the time and relax.
Some days, I will wash my hair and feel like a completely new person. My mood will lift and I will feel more confident - it's such a small thing, but it really matters.
If you have the time and money, you could even book yourself in for massage, facial, pedicure, manicure...go for it!
MUSIC & READING
Music can take you to another place and can be a real source of escapism. Whether you are dancing and singing out loud, or just putting it on in the background. It can make a real difference to your mood and take you out of your own mind when it is buzzing away with nonsense and won't shut up.
Obviously, another big form of escapism can be found in reading. Getting involved in another world can make us forget about the stresses that are bogging us down. If you aren't into reading, there are some fantastic audio books out there that you could try.
DO SOMETHING CREATIVE
Another excellent way to distract yourself is to do something creative. Cooking, baking, drawing, writing...Try not to look at it as something that needs a specific outcome, but rather, try and enjoy the process itself and get absorbed in it. You may not be great at it and it might come out completely rubbish, but that's not the point! Just have fun with the activity if you can.
SOCIALISE
Humans need time with others, we just do. So, spend time with your family and/or friends. Even a phone or Skype call makes a difference, even just watching television together and talking about silly, every day things!
REST!
This one is another important thing that tends to be overlooked in our constantly busy lives. We need to rest and recharge!
We need to sleep, to sit on our bums in our pyjamas and have days in front of the television. Try not to feel guilty about this - we live in a society where your worth is often determined by your productivity. What utter rubbish!
Someone I know once referred to taking naps during the day as a form of protest against capitalism which really made me laugh. So, go forth a rebel against the system!
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
As aforementioned, you need to ask yourself questions. Am I hungry? Thirsty? Tired? Aching? Our bodies send us messages all the time and it's easy to push it aside while we concern ourselves with other things. Try to go against this habit.
We need to listen to our bodies more, as sometimes they tell us the things our minds haven't caught onto yet.
If you need to go to your GP for something - go. If you need a day of rest - take it. Once again, it's the simplest things that we don't do that can actually make a big difference to our physical and mental health.
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These are just suggestions, but the main idea is to do things that are good for you and things that you ENJOY, My version of self-care might be different from yours. Try things and find out what works for you!
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