SELFCARE:

Hello, its been a bit, welcome to exoticbella, where we don’t only care about your skin, but also care about your wellbeing, we would be talking about selfcare today, yes, selfcare, which some people misconstrue as selfish or attach some negativity to.

Selfcare is about anything you do to be good to yourself, it means that you are simply being mindful of your own needs, so you are better able to support the people you care about. When you take care of yourself and are not stressed, you are better able to meet the needs of others (so selfcare is not been selfish).

As women, we usually put our needs on the back burner, so as to make room for other things that are demanding our attention, forgetting that, no matter how indulgent the word selfcare sounds, selfcare is crucial for our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. It is common to have a plethora of things to do, like having a busy week at work because we are preparing for the annual general meeting of the company, preparing a social media campaign for a new product launch in the organisation, shopping for the home, making a week’s supply of food for the family, doing your 30 mins of cardio work outs, and the odds are that you would complete all the previous tasks, except ‘the 30 mins cardio work out, because you are tired, fatigued or there is just no time.

The sad news is that, if you are in the habit of doing this, then you really really need to change your ways and[AA1]  re-prioritise, making sure that you don’t forgo activities that involve taking care of yourself.

Benefits of Selfcare:

Understanding the benefits of selfcare might help you value selfcare better, and maybe convince you to always find time to take care of yourself  

1.        Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings and boosts your confidence and self-esteem.

2.       Contrary to common belief, workaholism is not a virtue. Overworking and the accompanying stress can make you disorganized and emotionally depleted. Selfcare like taking a stroll, doing yoga or just taking yourself to lunch can get you motivated and healthy, it also helps with your mental health

3.       Smart self-care habits like eating healthy, connecting with a loved one or, taking long walks within the neighbourhood, or window shopping cuts down the toxic effects of stress by improving your mood and boosting your energy and confidence levels.

4.       Yes, you have a lot of responsibilities like taking care of the home, meeting work deadline, paying bills etc. But it’s important to remember that selfcare habits like taking a nap and day dreaming or reading a book are essential for your daily happiness.

5.       Self-care is not just about your mental health. It’s also about caring for your physical self, by eating healthy, taking adequate sleep, caring about your hygiene, exercising regularly, etc.

However, it’s important to note that not everything that feels good is self-care. We can all be tempted to use unhealthy coping mechanisms like unhealthy spending habits, alcohol and over-eating, These self-destructive activities help us to regulate challenging emotions, but the relief is temporary.

So here are 15 small, simple self-care habits that anyone can get into:

1.     Go for a walk or a light jog.

2.    Take a break when you need it.

3.    Avoid emotional eating.

4.    Start a journal - Keep a daily journal, and be totally honest about your feelings.

5.    Learn to say ‘No’ to invitations when you’re simply too tired to enjoy them

6.    Stop overthinking

7.    Nap when you need to, j8ust 20 minutes can make you feel mentally and physically refreshed.

8.    Don’t push yourself to do your exercise routine when you’re run down or unwell.

9.    Commit to 7-9 hours of sleep per night, barring exceptional circumstances.

10.  Lying down and listening to music with your eyes closed.

11.  Sing and dance along to your favourite songs

12. Write down a new affirmation.

13. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

14. Go to the cinema on your own.

15. Do something for charity

These simple but effective selfcare tips can be useful in ensuring that you have a balanced and fulfilled lifestyle

Tags: selfcare mental health well being