Collaborative Post¦ Self-care can be defined as the conscious action a person takes to promote their mental, physical and emotional health. Self-care is vital to your overall well-being and builds resilience to deal with some of the stress-causing factors that are difficult to eliminate.
Unfortunately, few people are uncertain about what self-care entails. They view it as a luxury rather than a necessity. Unlike the common belief, self-care doesn’t have to take hours or break your bank. There are a few practices that you can incorporate into your life to achieve self-care. They include the following.
Find a Healthy Balance Between Your Work and Life
Unlike popular belief, being a workaholic isn’t a virtue. Overworking yourself can lead to exhaustion and stress, which in turn make you less productive. Not taking a break can also make you disorganized and leave you feeling emotionally depleted. Conditions such as depression and anxiety are also associated with a lack of adequate rest.
Taking intermittent breaks is, therefore, a form of self-care. You can either opt to talk to a loved one, take a stroll or have a meal as you break from work. Remember to set professional boundaries and avoid overextending your hours at the office.
Take Care of Your Mental Well Being
The information you fill your mind with and the way you think have a significant impact on your overall well-being. That is why you should consider incorporating mental self-care into your routine. You can achieve this by doing things that keep your mind sharp such as learning a new language or taking a puzzle.
Practicing self-acceptance and compassion also aids in improving your mental health.
Better Physical Health
Self-care involves more than just taking care of your mental health. You should also consider taking care of your physical self by improving your hygiene, eating healthy and getting adequate sleep.
Ensure that you get a full-body check-up at least once a year. Doing this can help you to discover any signs of illness and curb them early enough. Additionally, your doctor can advise you on the best time to change accessories such as glasses or upgrade hearing aids.
Practice Stress Management
Life as a mom can at times get stressful. While a little stress is beneficial in pushing you to meet deadlines at your job or complete some chores at home, being constantly anxious or stressed can have a detrimental effect on your physical and mental health.
Therefore, it is advisable to incorporate innovative self-care practices such as catching up with a loved one, meditating or engaging in physical activity to reduce your stress levels. Doing this will also boost your confidence and energy levels.
Keep Your Emotions in Check
It is essential to find healthy ways to cope with uncomfortable emotions such as anxiety, anger and sadness. You can practice emotional self-care by engaging in activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings, such as art, dancing and more.
Finding time to talk to a close friend about how you feel or engaging in leisure activities can also help you deal with uncomfortable emotions.
Self-care is essential for every individual. Incorporate some of the habits mentioned above into your routine to achieve physical, emotional and mental health.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.