When you hear ‘self-care’ what is the first thing that pops into your head? Bubble baths, relaxing, laziness, selfishness? There are many misconceptions about self-care, that it is something only young hipsters use to get out of responsibilities, that people don’t have the time to incorporate it into their day and that it has to be earnt.
Self-care can be incorporated into every day as there are many ways to practice it, they may include, talking your dog for a walk, reading your favourite book, starting and sticking to a new sleep schedule, going on the swings at the park, walking in nature, meditating, cooking a meal from scratch, mindfulness, the possibilities are endless as long as it is serving a purpose in helping you physically, mentally, socially, spiritually and emotionally. Over the past couple of years I have found that in order for me to process my emotions and regulate my body I need to be creative. That is a big part of my self-care, painting, sculpting, writing poetry, they all feed my soul on a higher level and help the balance in my life.
Self-care can improve your physical health, reduce stress and anxiety, boost your self-esteem, protect your mental health and can lead to better relationships. We spend a lot of time looking after others and in doing so we can sometimes neglect ourselves, so we need to have self-care plans in place and practice them daily, if possible, to keep our equilibrium.
Something to ponder: how often do you practice self-care?
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