Self-care is often one of the most misunderstood areas in health and wellness.
Most people think of it as doing something extravagant like, going on a cruise or taking a trip to an exotic island miles away from home, rather than understanding self- care for simply what it is, Taking care of you, and by you I mean your mind, spirit, soul, and body.
In 2012, Michelle Obama said during an interview with Women’s Health,
“Sometimes I give myself a break. So I will retreat a moment from the fray, just to breathe.”
Contrary to what you may have thought, some of the best self-care practices can be carried out anywhere, from your bedroom and living room, to open spaces outdoors.
Being conscious of that fact you need to do better to improve your health is the first step of living a better life, and since you’ve read this far, I’m giving you a virtual high five because you’re on the right track.
To help you along your journey, here are three self-care tips for a better life,
TEST YOUR SENSES
Sensory care is the easiest and quite frankly one really important practice to carry out because not only does it calm your mind, it allows you create and relive memories whenever you’re in need of an instant mood booster.
The first step to using this care tip is discovering which senses you respond to the most, for some people, its smell, while others it could be sight, sound or touch.
Doing things like, running your hand through water, perceiving therapeutic scents, looking over a scenic view or listening to music, help you figure out which of your senses help you relax.
TAKE TIME TO FEEL
You must have heard someone in your life say something closely related to this,
‘After I cried, I felt better.’
Emotions are powerful, and locking away them away creates a wall that puts us in a space mentally where we become either stressed or leave us feeling undue pressure, it’s in times like this that opening up our emotional junk drawer helps relieve these feelings.
You may find it hard to express some of the more daunting emotions because the timing makes it impossible, which is why keeping a journal comes in handy, and if you can, take out time during the weekend to emote.
It is also important to know when to seek outside help or schedule to a see therapist.
GET MORE PHYSICAL
Thoughts about physical activities and exercise are often limited to losing weight or wanting to look a certain way, and while both are good, it undermines the power it has on our minds.
Perhaps hitting the gym isn’t your kind of thing, other activities like, Yoga, cycling, swimming, going for a walk, or dancing no matter how uncoordinated, activates the production of serotonin in the body, which is also known as the happy hormone.
Positive reinforcement and being affirmative are also great ways to live better, think of them as a way of taking your mind into a relaxed state.
Great satisfaction comes from sharing, share this post with a friend and don’t forget to add some of your personal care practices that have been effective in the comments section below.
