5 Steps to Self-Care
While stress is a normal part of our daily lives, it can build up and cause many mental and physical health problems. That’s why we believe self-care is an essential part of any mental wellness routine. Practicing self-care isn’t always easy, but putting yourself first is certainly something you’d encourage a good friend or a child to do, so why not try it yourself?
Here are some tips to help you make space for yourself and practice good self-care.
Take Time For Yourself
Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes from the end of your day, taking time for yourself is the first step to good self-care. It’s not always easy to do so, but eventually, you can make it into a good healthy habit. This can be a walk around the block, listening to music, or even meditating.
Exercise
This doesn’t necessarily mean running for 60 minutes on a treadmill. Exercise can take many forms, but the best one is one that you enjoy! Finding an activity you like can take time, but it’s a great way to stay physically and mentally fit once you find one that works. The important thing to remind yourself is that any time you’ve done exercise in the past, you rarely regret it afterward. So do your best to show up to your exercise routine.
Talk With Friends
As we (hopefully) enter the final throes of the pandemic, it’s essential to stay connected. Whether meeting safely, over phone calls or video calls, playing online games, or socially distanced events, remember that we are social creatures. It’s easy to avoid connection, but it’s often crucial to exercise the ‘social muscle.’ It’s a great way to promote your mental well-being. Even just talking about our problems with friends can make us feel much better.
Play With a Pet
If you happen to have your own furry friend, spending time with them can be a great way to reduce stress. Playing with a loved pet and feeling the bond you two share has been shown to boost your mood.
Give to Others
Sometimes the best gift we can give to ourselves is to give to others. Studies have shown that giving to others can promote a high feeling of satisfaction and happiness. Whether it’s helping out friends/family or volunteering with a local cause, don’t forget to temper your desire to help with an understanding of your own limits and need to have your own time and space too.
While this list is not all there is to self-care, we hope that it gives you some ideas on how it’s possible to take a little more time for ourselves.
