Invest in Self-care, Invest in YOU!
Posted by Naturelova on 10th Jan 2022
Self-care, as a concept, has sparked a lot of controversies in today's health trends. It is often misrepresented as selfishness or an excessive gratification of one's wants or desires. And sometimes, its perimeters are only measured within the physical manifestations of love and care for oneself.
But self-care is so much more than that.
What is Self-care?
Self-care refers to the practices that we do regularly to improve our overall physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health. Self-care routines can be short-term or long-term activities. For example, they can simply be your skincare routine every night, your diet program, or your me-time.
It is an essential aspect of our lives. But, like plants that need enough sunlight and water to survive and live a healthy life, we need much more than that. We need to take care of ourselves from every aspect possible.
Through self-care, we get to recharge and feel more energetic. It can make us see things from a different perspective, help us become more productive, and make us more independent and resilient.
If we fail to take care of ourselves from time to time, we can end up feeling an awful burnout after a long day. We would feel restless, hopeless, and ultimately miserable for not giving ourselves the rest our body needs and the rewards we deserve. After all, we are humans, and we need to recharge and enjoy things once in a while.
We can maintain healthy well-being and a balanced lifestyle through a more holistic health approach with self-care.
Ways to Care for Yourself
The good news is that holistic self-care approaches don’t focus on only one aspect of our lives. Instead, there are several ways you can care for yourself. And even if some of them require a lot of resources, time, and effort, investing in self-care means investing in yourself.
Me Time
Usually taken for granted, your me-time is actually a vital self-care habit. We always try to make time for others, and we often forget ourselves and get lost during the process. A lot of people may also misunderstand that being free means being available. And the pressure that comes from making time for your significant others can add a lot of stress to your life.
However, making time for yourself is crucial for taking care of yourself. We should invest time and effort in reflecting within ourselves, learning how to process our emotions independently, and ultimately becoming self-sufficient.
We should always try to help others during calamities and crises and show altruism too. But we should find a way to do this without burning ourselves out. After all, we can't pour from an empty cup. Moreover, how can we help others if we are in bad shape, physically and mentally? However, This doesn't necessarily mean giving more to ourselves than others.
So pick up a brush, read a book, learn an instrument, discover a new hobby, or simply lie down under a tree and reflect upon your own thoughts.
Skincare Routine
We want to keep our skin healthy, not only to stay away from skin problems but also to feel a little more confident and good about ourselves. We all want to keep our heads high when walking through a crowd. And we want to show the best version of ourselves, whether it's a good or bad day.
Yes, using your cleanser, applying toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen every day or every night may seem like a lot of work to some. However, once you make this a habit, it's going to be pretty easy moving forward. Nonetheless, consistency is the key, especially when you're only starting your own skincare routine.
It's important to note here that having your personal and unique skincare routine is crucial to your self-care program. We all have different skin types, so we recommend that you go all-natural with your makeup and derma skincare products. Try out one product at a time first and see which one works for you best.
Eat Clean
You may think that caring for yourself means buying all the food you're craving. Eating delightful sweets and savory meats will surely make us happy for a short while, but eating clean foods for our long-term health is a very significant way to take care of ourselves. Definitely not an easy change if we are used to "fast" foods. But switching to healthier alternatives can lessen our risks of getting health problems in the long run, not to mention the money we can save from hospital bills.
Self-care also means seeing ourselves in the future - healthy, happy, and financially stable.
Exercise
Regular exercise is a great way to keep our bodies active and healthy compared to a sedentary lifestyle. It increases your blood flow that helps improve the circulation of antibodies and white blood cells (WBC) in your body. It basically builds your immunity and detects and fights the disease-causing microbes while they are still in their nascent stage. Exercising also flushes out bacteria from your lungs and air passage.
Another great advantage of exercising is that it helps in reducing stress hormones. You are sure to feel more energetic and happy after every exercise session.
The best time to go for walks is in the morning. Go alone or with someone and experience the early sun for a fresh dose of vitamin D. Also, don’t forget to complement it with a healthy breakfast.
Meditation
Every day comes with its own set of challenges, and simply taking a deep breath can help you put things into perspective. Meditation can also help with overthinking, and overthinking can be a very annoying stressor. So just relax your body, calm your mind, and free your thoughts. Don’t let stress take over your emotions.
Go to Therapy
There are a lot of stigmas surrounding modern mental health issues that have made it very hard to address them. But reaching out for help can be the bravest thing you can do yet because you are not afraid of judgments. Mental self-care is just as important as taking care of your body. So whenever everything feels a bit heavier than usual, talk to your family, your friends, maybe even a stranger, or go to therapy. You will be surprised how talking to someone, even to a stranger who bears no judgment, can sometimes lighten the burden. It will make all the difference.
Health Supplements - Healthcare in a Bottle
There are now tons of health supplements that can help you with your self-care program. These supplements are not only meant to cure specific health problems but can be taken to stay away from them. Invest in organic health supplements that are natural as well as plant-based. You will feel healthier and more energetic, without any side effects at all.
Remember, you don’t have to feel guilty for taking out time to take care of yourself. We all need it, and it’s high time we and others around us acknowledge it. To live a healthy, peaceful, and fulfilling life, pay attention to your overall well-being. Invest in yourself from all aspects - eat right, exercise regularly, indulge in recreational activities, and socialize with your loved ones.
There is no doubt that self-care routines require effort and time. But anything you invest in yourself is worth it. So don't spare a cent for your health and well-being.