What does self-care mean?
Self-care is a concept that has been around for decades, but it's grown in popularity only recently. It refers to the ways we take care of our physical, mental and emotional health. Self-care can include anything from eating well to getting enough sleep to saying no when something doesn't feel right for you. If you have a hard time finding ways to incorporate a little extra self care into your days, then this blog is for you.
Self-care can also be about making time for activities that rejuvenate you or help you feel empowered. These might include going on a walk outside, drawing, writing in your journal, going out with friends who make you laugh, playing music while dancing in your kitchen like no one is watching —the possibilities are really endless!
One major misconception about self-care is that it means taking time away from others and people think or have been lead to believe that self care is selfish. On the contrary: Self-care is not selfish; it's actually an act of love towards yourself and others because it helps us be more present and engaged when we're interacting with them (instead of feeling overwhelmed, if you are in abundance of something, you are in dehydration and or lack - no bueno).
So why is self-care important?
Self-care is important because it helps you to maintain your mental and physical health. It allows you to cope with stress, build resilience, and manage your emotions.
When we are stressed out or anxious, our bodies release cortisol which can cause health problems such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Self care can help decrease the amount of stress hormones in our bodies so that we feel less anxious and stressed out.
Self-care is also important for maintaining physical health because it gives us a chance to rest after a long day at work or school; this reduces the risk of getting sick during stressful periods in life when people need their energy most (like the holidays or milestones). This means that self-care helps us feel better physically because we are taking more breaks throughout each day instead of just working straight through without doing anything else besides eating lunch at noon time--which might not even happen if they're too busy being swamped by responsibilities!
I don't have time for self-care
This is something that as a self worth coach, I hear ALL. THE. Time. Maybe you even believe that self care is a luxury reserved for those with time on their hands. But it's not! Self care isn't about doing things you don't want to do; it's about making time for the things that you DO want to do, that make you happy, even if they seem silly or indulgent. Things that create MORE JOY.
If you're still not convinced, try telling yourself: "This is exactly what I need." If a few minutes of reading helps calm your nerves and puts your mind at ease before bedtime, then do it! Treat yourself like an adult who deserves some relaxation every once in awhile. And if someone asks why you're doing something so "silly", just say "because I want to, imagine that concept!"
I don't know how to do self-care
Another common statement, but self care doesn't need to be complicated, it's really anything that makes you feel good. It can be something as simple as watching a funny video on YouTube, or it can be more involved like going out to dinner with friends. Self care is whatever you need it to be, because it's totally personal.
If you're in pain and need to take a day off work to rest up and recoup, that's self-care!
If taking a bubble bath helps reduce your anxiety levels so you can start the day off right, then take one!
No matter what form it takes, self-care is something everyone should practice—without it, we tend to start feeling like we're not worth our own time or attention.
Self care isn't always easy though—it feels good but doesn't always come naturally (that's why I put together this list of tips). It definitely takes practice; but once you get into the habit of taking better care of yourself every day, I promise your mood will improve dramatically!
How do I start doing self care?
Now we are getting to the good stuff and something that you can start actioning today - Just make a list of the things that make you feel good, and then do at least one of those things every day. For example:
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get plenty of sleep
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eat healthily
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have regular exercise (even if it's just a walk around the block)
- have a dance party for one
If you think about it, these are all things we're supposed to do anyway—they're just good for our bodies in general, not just for making us feel better when we're feeling down.
So start small. If taking care of yourself seems like too much work at first, consider doing one thing on your list and then adding more as time goes on.
Self-care is good for your mental health, and it's easy to incorporate into your already busy schedule.
If you're still here, it means that you REALLY care about how you FEEL more than anything and that in itself is a form of self care. Don't complicate it. It isn't #spadays #spa #prada #privatejets.
Self care is simple. Does it make me FEEL good? It's not just a luxury, ( I am all for spa days don't get me wrong, but that's not what self care is ) it's essential. And it doesn't need to cost a lot of money or even take up much time.
If you're feeling worn down and stressed, it's time to start making self-care part of your routine. There are so many ways we can all incorporate self-care into our lives — from treating yourself to a massage or getting some downtime at home, to simply taking time out for yourself in the middle of the day or calling a friend who makes you feel good about yourself when things get tough, or reading something useful like this to remind you that YOU MATTER and it's time to add yourself to the top of your own TO-DO list.
Sending you all my love and pure positive energy!
Do it! Take some time out for yourself, you're worth it after all.
Amanda xo
Chief Worthiness Officer + Self Worth Coach
Worthy Wands
