We all know how important it is to lead an active, fulfilling, and sociable lifestyle – but just how often do you pause to take a moment for yourself? Whether it’s deleting your social media apps to reclaim your own time or starting a new skincare routine, there’s always something available to help you look after yourself. Read on to find out exactly why putting aside some time for yourself is vital.
What Is Self-Care?
From understanding and addressing your own mental health to following essential daily care routines, even down to basic habits like brushing your teeth, self-care is made up of the approaches, efforts, and routines you make to look after your own physical and emotional wellbeing. There are various different types of self-care, and these can include:
- Physical – including exercise and nutrition
- Emotional – such as stress management
- Social – like setting boundaries
For anyone to live a truly fulfilled, productive and successful life, it’s time to accept that purposeful self-care is crucial. It doesn’t what that looks like – it’s more important to choose habits and routines that work best for you.
What Are The Benefits Of Self-Care?
If you don’t take some time to put your own needs first, you’ll quickly start to feel burnt out, fatigued, and stressed. Immediate and long-term benefits of an established self-care routine include:
- Improving your mental health
- Enhancing or rekindling creativity
- Boosting self-esteem
- Feeling more empathy for others
How Can I Make Time For Myself?
Even if the benefits and positive outcomes of self-care are overwhelmingly clear, it can be tricky to know where to start. Whether you work long hours, have young children running around the house, or you’re totally invested in a sport, it’s still imperative that you schedule time out. There are no hard and fast rules on how you should approach self-care, but if you’re lacking inspiration, we recommend:
- Just saying no – Setting boundaries with friends and colleagues is absolutely essential, preventing the risk of social burnout
- Going on a holiday – Relaxing by the pool or flaunting colourful women’s’ holiday skirts on a sandy beach could just give you that much-needed serotonin boost.
- Taking a long walk – Stretching your legs and getting some fresh air will always help you to reset and process your day – why not try it during your lunch break?
- Restoring your work-life balance – do you struggle to leave the office on time? If so, it could be time to improve your discipline with your working hours.
Overall, the wider benefits of self-care should never be overlooked or underestimated. If you’re starting to feel burnt out, it’s time to cross out that extra function in your diary – and put your feet up instead.