The concept of Self-care has become so distorted as the social media industry and the beauty industry has continued to grow the past few years. We focus too much on our physical appearance that we forget our mental health is most important. When you think of self-care, you probably dream of sitting in a hot bubble bath with a face mask on while watching Netflix and drinking a glass of wine.
Don't get me wrong, I love would kill for that right about now. But that's not self-care and you shouldn't let your body believe it is either.
So, what is self-care?
I would define self-care as personal daily tasks deliberately aimed at helping us achieve the best version of ourselves. It's not something we force ourselves into or don't enjoy doing. They are all positive actions that help our physical and mental health. There is no such thing as being selfish during the self-care process. Your mind and body come before anything. If you aren't healthy, you can't fulfill obligations to anything else.
How should we practice self-care?
Not that face masks and bath bombs don't do wonders for mental health, there are other things that we can incorporate into our daily routines to relieve stress and anxiety in a more long-term manner. Here are four main ways to practice self-care in a healthy way;
Writing in a journal
Writing is proven to be a therapeutic way to relieve stress. It allows you to get your thoughts in order and allows your Brian to process them in a healthier way then spending weeks over-thinking something. The most popular therapeutic journaling methods are morning pages and reflection.
Morning pages consist of journaling immediately when you wake up and writing down whatever comes to mind, not requiring you to make sense. Reflection is writing organized thoughts right before you go to bed, reflecting on the past day, week, etc. Adopt both of these methods or just one, and you will notice a difference in your stress levels.
Exercise how YOU want.
some people find joy on getting on the treadmill and running 10 miles. If you're not one of those people, I don't blame you, but exercise increases serotonin levels which makes you happier. Work at finding a form of exercise that you ENJOY. My best recommendations are to try Yoga, Barre, Zumba, Cycling, etc.
Set a weekly schedule.
If I have my week organized in a planner before I go to bed on Sunday's, I am already less stressed for the week than if I don't. It prevents you from getting overwhelmed and helps you schedule your self-care routines the best! As a very visual person, it calms me knowing I'm aware of where all my obligations fall during the week. Most importantly, it helps me focus on one thing at a time instead of looking ahead. Spend time at the moment!
Find time for YOU.
If you're in college like me and rarely get any time completely by yourself, it can be frustrating. If your classes go all day or your roommate never leaves the room, you are probably itching for alone time. Quiet can be good to recharge.
SELF-CARE IS A LIFESTYLE.
Self-care is not a phase. You don't put on more face masks only when you're stressed. Okay, maybe you do. Your self-care routine should be aimed at a long-term lifestyle to better your physical and mental health. Proper self-care will open your mind to new opportunities, adventures, and a bright future.