Self-care is a major trend in the wellness world right now, and for good reason. It’s something we all need to stay happy and healthy, but it’s also easy to neglect.
When life gets busy, practicing self-care can be hard. Slowing down and doing things you enjoy is often the last thing on your mind. A hectic lifestyle fuels this “busy-ness” — and we’re all guilty of it. Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. Sometimes we spend time on things that aren’t urgent or even necessary.
We should let go more often, relax, and enjoy the moment. Stop stressing — things usually work out. Do more of what makes you happy. That’s the heart of self-care, though there’s more to it than that.
Self-care includes physical, emotional, and even spiritual parts. You don’t need to understand all of that to start. The first step is simple: slow down and just be. Be present, be mindful, and pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. Let your body and spirit tell you what they need.
Why is self-care important?
Self-care matters for our health because it helps us manage stress and boosts the immune system. Taking time to rest, enjoy activities, and be mindful activates the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” mode. This relaxation response lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety, strengthens immunity, and helps you feel more energetic. It also eases stress-related problems like poor digestion, headaches, and insomnia. Self-care is essential to staying healthy and preventing certain illnesses.
Ignoring self-care has consequences. Constant stress and nonstop activity can harm your health and lead to burnout. Your body needs rest — honor that.
Ways of practicing self-care
There are countless ways to practice self-care. Lately I’ve been thinking about how to improve my routine and take better care of myself. I’ve considered what matters to me, what I enjoy, and what helps me relax. That made me realize I don’t do the things I love often enough. So I’ve started taking small steps toward better self-care.
My current self-care activities
I don’t have a long list of daily self-care habits. The ones I do regularly are walking, reading, learning new things, some meditation, listening to uplifting music, and taking care of my health by getting enough sleep and eating well.
Activities I enjoy but don’t do often include watching a funny film, reading favorite blogs, cycling, browsing health magazines, and trying new recipes. Time is an issue, but I could definitely do more of these. I’ve also started following inspirational Instagram accounts to spark ideas and support my spiritual growth.
Emotional self-care
For me, self-care isn’t just about food and exercise — it’s also emotional. Lately I’ve paid more attention to how I feel and what triggers those feelings. I’ve been working on processing emotions in a healthy way: noticing them, experiencing them, and then letting them go.
Bottling up negative emotions can be harmful, especially anger. Mary Beth Janssen, author of The Book of Self-Care, says unprocessed emotions get stuck in our bodies and contribute to stress and discomfort. Learning to change how we perceive stressful situations can reduce their impact on us. It’s not easy, but learning to handle emotions is key to feeling happier and healthier.
My near-future self-care plans
I’m still early in my self-care journey, and evaluating where I am feels like a good first step. Here are a few things I want to add to my routine soon:
– Attend a meditation class: I meditate at home sometimes, but I don’t have a set routine. I’d like to join a class to focus better and learn more. Weekly classes would help me build consistency.
– Read fiction: I loved reading as a child and still do, but most of what I read now is non-fiction about health, business, and self-improvement. I want to return to fiction because it helps me escape and release stress.
– Get massages more often: Massages totally relax me and ease tension. I had a facial massage years ago and want to get another. I’ll check sites like Groupon for deals in Manchester and see if my partner and I can exchange massages to make it more affordable.
– Take baths: I’m not usually a bath person because showers are quicker, but baths with Epsom or sea salt can help with recovery, circulation, and detox. It takes effort to set up, but it’s worth it.
– Spend more time in nature: Nature recharges and calms me, but I haven’t been outside enough lately. Shorter, darker days have changed my routine, so I’m planning to move my nature walks to the morning instead of the evening. It won’t be easy, but it’s important for my well-being.
This is my approach: look at what I’m doing now and find ways to improve it.
Do you pay attention to self-care? What are your favorite self-care activities?