What is SELF CARE?
Self-care is the practice of involving yourself in activities that aim to provide happiness, relief or catharsis. This practice involves the kinds of things that people enjoy doing. What is intriguing about self-care is that it’s so easy to do yet most of us don’t give it adequate importance in the guise of being busy.
Ways to incorporate this into your life
Self-care can be grouped into activities that take care of your physical (needs) and emotional needs. Below are few examples of what this would look like:
1. Eating healthy
Having good food habits leaves both your body and mind ready to fight off diseases and energized to get through your day. Of course, it doesn’t mean you can’t also enjoy your favourite foods or desserts once in a while
2. Turn up the music
Both listening to or playing music allow us to tap into our creative side, while also being a source of fun or comfort. It gets us in touch with our emotions and is also a form of self-soothing and care.
3. Night time routine and a good snooze
A good night’s rest is key to ensuring the proper functioning needed to carry out all the tasks of your day without wearing yourself out too much. It’s important to get at least 7-9 hours’ sleep every night. Putting away your phone or engaging in some mindfulness before bed would be helpful.
4. The Mind, Body and Soul connect
Engaging in practices like yoga or mindfulness or connecting with a higher power through means of prayer or meditation has been shown to reduce stress and enhance well-being. Practicing this would foster better emotional health and reduce stress.
5. Get that journal going
Journalling usually involves either writing on thoughts on a particular subject, or on anything that comes to you as you sit down to write. But a general rule of thumb is that there really are no rules and you can freely write whatever you feel at that moment.