Self Care: Taking Time for Yourself
Self care is being good to yourself and is something everyone will benefit from doing. It is having compassion for one-self, and helps to decrease burn out. It is taking time to concentrate on your physical, mental and emotional self. Self care often fades away in the face of a busy life. Stress and anxiety can take over and we find ourselves pushing forward, ensuring that each task is done.
Being kind to yourself, just as you are with others, has many positive benefits like self satisfaction, improved confidence, happiness and physical health and mental health improvements. There are many healthy ways to practise self care that will benefit your well-being and help to prevent fatigue.
Self care does not have to be complex nor does it need to take a lot of time out of your day. Self care can be inexpensive and as easy as taking a warm bath or walking around the neighbourhood. On average, it takes 66 days to form a habit.
Where should you start? Think about what you would like to do. Maybe it is something that you used to enjoy doing or maybe it is something that you always wanted to do. Set a start date and evaluate how you are doing each day. If something gets in the way one day, don’t quit, try again tomorrow. It is never too late.
Physical self care practises: Go for a walk, play with your children, organize your environment, go for a hike, workout at the gym or take a fitness class, go for a swim, get enough sleep at night – on average an 18-64-year-old requires 7-9 hours of sleep a night, practise good sleep hygiene – turn your electronics off 2 hours before bedtime to promote your natural sleep/wake cycle.
Mental self care practises: read a book, ask for help when you need it, take a social media vacation, turn off your phone, keep a journal-write down you’re your thoughts and feelings, draw or paint, set boundaries to create a work life balance.
Emotional self care practises: meditate in a quiet area, avoid triggers, slow your breathing down by taking 10 slow deep breaths, watch your favourite show, avoid triggers, spend time with loved ones.
In a time where the demands of living are high, be sure to take care of yourself in a healthy way.