Self care isn’t all bubble baths and manicures! More of us than ever before have reported feeling lonely and anxious over the course of the last year, and it’s not surprising when we consider the lock-down restrictions, furlough and working from home. There is no denying that connection with others is incredibly important, but many of us overlook the fact that the connection that we have with ourselves underpins everything else. When you learn to truly enjoy your own company, you won’t feel the same void of loneliness just by virtue of simply being alone. Looking after yourself is also extremely important when it comes to our relationships with others, as it is through this time and focus on ourselves that we are able to re-center and reinvigorate ourselves, allowing us to be the best possible version of ourselves for others. We’ve all heard the old saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and it’s so true. If we’re not tending to our relationship with ourselves, our relationships with others will suffer. Below I will share my four pillars of self care, along with some ideas to help you incorporate them into your own daily life.
Physical Physical health is a core element of self care. Our body and mind are linked in ways that scientists are only just beginning to discover, but I think we can all relate to finding it hard to be in good spirits when we feel tired, sluggish and generally not great! Here are some simple ways to give your physical health a boost:
Make yourself a delicious, healthy meal
Get outside for a walk, run or cycle
Stretch - it doesn’t have to be fancy yoga!
Get enough sleep
Set aside time for hygiene and grooming, whilst looks aren't everything it helps boost your self esteem by sending a positive message to yourself that you are worth it
Plan ahead so that these things can become more and more consistent
Mental Now that we’ve addressed some of the basics of physical self care, let’s take a look at some of the things we can do to take care of our mental well-being:
Turn off the news - you don’t need a constant source of negativity and fear!
The same goes for negative people, assess how you can limit their impact on you
Make time for meditation, prayer or simply some quiet time
Journalling - start with a daily gratitude list if you’re a beginner
Reach out to a loved one
Treat someone with a random act of kindness, this could be a stranger or someone you already know, and doesn't have to cost anything
Don’t bottle things up, talk to someone even if it’s just in a forum online!
Joy Don’t underestimate the power of doing something that brings you joy every single day, even if it’s just for five minutes! In a world where it seems that so much of our lives have been temporarily cancelled, take back control by finding things that make you happy, that you can do at home. Here are some ideas that don't cost a thing if you’re really stuck:
Take a walk or drive and admire your surroundings
Put some music on and dance
Smile and say hello when you pass someone
Run a bath and have a pamper evening
Get crafty
Read a book
Put on your favourite film, bonus points if it makes you laugh!
Goals What can you do to stop every day from feeling like it rolls into the next one? Get yourself a sense of achievement by having something to work towards! Your goals can be whatever you want them to be, but below are some ideas to get you thinking:
Take up a new hobby
Improve your fitness
Raise money for charity
Start a side hustle
Learn a new skill
Create a new healthy habit
What do you do as a form of self care? Let me know in the comments!
Have a great week,
Cheryl
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