By Zane Josie
Our everyday hustle-bustle of life rarely allows us to pause to think, feel, and reflect. Over time, continuous chasing without taking out time for yourself affects you – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
But there’s a little something that can help you take a break and allow you to pause, even if it’s only a brief one. We are talking about ‘Self Care.’ Self-care is a form of self love. Remember self-love is a skill that can be learned. It involves working proactively to improve your psychological, physiological, or social well-being.
It is an art that requires practice because we tend to put others first, but it is far more nourishing than that superficial approach. Taking care of yourself should be more of a habit you engage in daily to maintain your energy, happiness, and ability to be present for other people.
And for this reason alone, here are 5 self-care tips you can practice daily to do something for yourself!
5 Self-Care Tips To Swear By
1. Journaling
Journaling is the art of recording how you feel and what you think. It may be the easiest way to track your thoughts. And the best part? There is no rule book to swear by! You can start pouring your heart out right away. This way, you can identify your emotions and see what makes you feel that way.
Eventually, the practice will lead to self-awareness, allowing you to be more mindful of yourself. Furthermore, if you feel distressed, journaling can calm you down. It is scientifically known to foster greater psychological well-being, improved mood, and reduced blood pressure
2. Moving Your Body
Ask yourself: How often do I move my body?
Exercising, in any form, improves not only physical health but also psychological health. You will be surprised to know that exercising, as per research, was found to reduce anxiety and depression (acute effect).
Also, you do not necessarily need to exercise for long. Exercising for 15-30 minutes 3 times a week can be enough.
3. Meditating
A steady meditation practice may be life-changing. It’s even been scientifically proven to lower stress, raise emotions of empathy, and improve attention. To begin with, you can practice simple breathing exercises, eventually exploring progressive meditation, other kinds.
4. Setting Boundaries
The reason behind feeling stressed, restless, or anxious often stems from our inability to say ‘No.’ It may also cause you to feel that you’re not in control of your life and that your actions are being dictated by someone else, leading to a failure to recognize your needs and wants.
Setting boundaries is essential. It not only saves you from all the unnecessary stress and anxiety. The bottom line? It’s okay to say no to things that don’t serve you or your energy.
5. Getting Enough Sleep
Our bodies follow a certain rhythm. Any disruption to it adversely impacts your functioning – physical and emotional. Lack of sleep affects your ability to think and make decisions. It also impacts your memory and increases psychological distress.
Wrapping Up
Self care will eventually help you develop a self help mindset that focuses on placing yourself in the center in a good way. These tiny self-care habits keep us going, pushing us to introspect and become a better version of ourselves. Finally, it helps to reduce stress and calm our minds, promoting positive mental health. There are many apps these days that help you in invest in your self care & make it your priority.
