Self-Care

Self-care.

It’s a word that’s been thrown around lately. We see videos of someone with a towel wrapped around their head wearing a charcoal mask and holding a cup of tea. Then they say:
“Today’s for self-care.”

So, what is self-care, really?

According to WHO, self-care is “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”

It’s easy to get swamped with the daily rigors of life that we forget to make out time to take care of ourselves.

Benefits of Self-care
1. Reduces stress
2. Helps manage anxiety
3. Builds better relationships
4. Increases energy
5. Helps you have greater self-awareness and self-compassion
6. Improves your physical health.
7. Increases productivity

Note: self-care doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of your day. There are little habits you can add to your daily or weekly routine that will improve your general well-being.

These common self-care practices include:

1. Drink water first thing every morning.
2. Practice gratitude: this helps you maintain a positive attitude. You can start by writing down two things you’re grateful for each day.
3. Switch off devices thirty minutes before bedtime.
4. Listen to music that excites, calms you, and improves your mood. E.g you may listen to classical music when stressed.
5. Practice mindfulness: Spend a few minutes doing nothing. Just focus on breathing and observing your surroundings.
6. Have a technology detox: take a few hours or minutes away from your phone, TV, etc.
7. Take a stroll
8. Spend time with friends
9. Exercise, dance. Move your body!
10. Perform a spiritual activity: meditation, fellowship, attending a religious service, praying.
11. Emotional self-care: set aside time to process your emotions, or speak with a friend.
12. Eat healthily.
13. Cultivate healthy sleeping habits

You can add whatever activity makes you feel refreshed and energized. For some, it’s reading a good book before bedtime. For others, it’s dancing. There’s always room for flexibility.

Self-care isn’t about making huge changes overnight, spending lots of money on vacations, or indulging in things that make you feel better in the moment (even if they’re detrimental to your well-being in the long term).
It’s about inculcating habits in your routine with the aim of improving your mental, emotional, physical, and social wellbeing.