Most of us will have heard of self-care but that doesn’t mean we all understand exactly what it is or how to practice it in our daily lives. Over time, self-care has been conflated with self-indulgence or the idea of pampering ourselves and ignoring our responsibilities but self-care is much deeper than bubble baths or binge-watching Netflix. Here’s why self-care is important and how you can make it part of your everyday routine.
What Is Self Care and Why Is It Important?
Self-care is, as the name suggests, concerned with taking good care of yourself. Self-care is about checking in with yourself on a regular basis rather than bottling up your feelings or turning to distractions to numb them. It’s also about accepting your limitations and allowing yourself time to rest.
At its most basic, self-care is about making time for all those things that you know keep you mentally and physically well, whether that’s a long walk in the fresh air or a cuppa with a friend and about seeking help with difficult feelings or situations when you need it.
When it comes to implementing a self-care routine that works for you, here are some of the major factors to consider.
Sleep Routine
Every area of your life is impacted by your sleep, meaning that implementing a consistent sleep routine is crucial to staying healthy and feeling at your best. If you struggle to drop off to sleep then you should reduce your screen time before bed and take measures to help you feel sleepy, such as reading a book rather than watching television, not eating too late and trying to stick to a consistent bedtime. You could also practice relaxation techniques before bed or try meditation or yoga. There are also lots of sleep aids designed to help you nod off, such as sound machines, blackout blinds, herbal remedies and even sleep podcasts.
If your sleep is disturbed, you need to identify what is waking you so you can best remedy it. It might be that your bedroom becomes too hot overnight, in which case you could try sleeping with the window open or invest in a fan or breathable bedding to help you stay cool. Or if you’re waking because you’re hungry then a small snack before bed might prevent your blood sugar from dropping in the night.
Mental
Staying mentally well requires regularly checking in with yourself rather than repressing emotions to make sure you’re being honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. Many of us are so tired after a full day of work that we want to switch off in front of the TV or do something to take our minds off things, such as hitting the gym or pouring ourselves a glass of wine. There’s nothing wrong with any of these things but be careful that you’re not using them as a way to distract from your problems or in place of healthier coping mechanisms.
You also need to take time to celebrate small wins and reflect on what’s going well in your life. We all deserve a treat from time to time so indulge yourself as your budget will allow, whether it’s a bunch of fresh flowers to brighten up your workspace, a full weekend off to do whatever you want to do or treating yourself to some diamond earrings.
Eating Right
There’s no denying that there are huge benefits to eating a healthy, balanced diet but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get it right all of the time. Expecting perfection from ourselves in any area of our lives can create negative tension when we fail to live up to our own exacting standards. Instead of setting yourself such narrow parameters, focus on small, consistent changes where you can and find a diet that works for you and improves your relationship with food and how you view your body.
