A Real Guide to Self Care
The term “self care” has become a buzzword in the wellness community in recent years. And for good reason. Taking care of yourself should be a priority in everyone’s life.
When we think of what self care is, we often associate it with indulgence: bubble baths, face masks, ice cream, etc. In some ways, this is self care. Treating ourselves to our favorite foods and activities is essential for our happiness. However, self care is more about the way in which we live our day to day lives and what we do to be our happiest and best versions of ourselves.
Find someone to talk to. Whether it’s a best friend, parent, or therapist, it’s important that everyone has someone to turn to who will listen to how you are feeling. For some, therapists can be a great resource and are designed to fit your needs.
Listen to your body. Tune in to what your body is telling you each day. When you are hungry, eat. If you are tired, make time to take a nap. Move your body every day, even if it’s just a walk outside. If you are craving some chocolate, eat some, but try to fuel your body with proper nutrients as well. When you give your body what it needs and what it is asking for, it is able to function better and you create a healthy relationship with your body.
Allow yourself to process and feel. Sometimes when we are feeling negative emotions it feels like the best solution is to ignore these feelings or shut them out. Suppressing our feelings will only prolong our healing. However in order to heal, we can’t suppress our feelings. It’s perfectly normal and okay to be sad, angry, or need to cry sometimes.
Unplug. The internet and social media are amazing platforms with endless amounts of information and forms of entertainment, but they also can be a distraction and can sometimes serve as a platform of negative influences. Unplugging from the online world allows us to get better in touch with ourselves. Spend time offline to clear your head and spend time with the people around you and yourself.