As I write this post, I can’t help but wonder if anyone would have been able to define self-care ten years ago. Probably not. Self-care has become a phenomenon. As significant as the resurgence in self-care is, it’s also a little baffling at the same time when you consider the fact that it is a necessity. We all need to practice self-care to nurture and maintain our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Nobody can pour from an empty cup. Self-care starts with you.
During COVID-19, it’s completely understandable to want to know how to take better care of yourself. Nobody knows how long we are going to be living in these circumstances, so finding a routine that works for you is essential. On the blog, the last few posts have been centred around self-care. Feel free to read them when you have a moment:
8 Ways To Take Your Personal Power Back
How To Deal With Disappointment
6 Things To Know About Meditation For Health
Today, the focus of this post is going to be self-care and learning how to take better care of yourself.
Here are a few self-care tips:
Do something you love – Doing something you love will bring you so much joy. It doesn’t matter what it is: whether you love to draw, sing, cook or read. Make it a mission of yours to do something you love every day. In 2011, I discovered that blogging was a great form of enjoyment and escapism for me, so I stuck with it. Play into your strengths. I think that it’s so easy for us as people to beat ourselves up about what we aren’t so good at. We all have things we could do slightly better and that’s ok, but I do believe in giving twice as much energy to the things you love to do. Here are some tips on how to find a hobby.
Pay enough attention to your health – Being healthy has probably never been more important than it is now. Healthcare professionals are doing their utmost best in the fight against COVID-19, so in addition to staying indoors, we have to do our bit to ensure that our immune systems and overall health are better than they have ever been. Health experts recommend taking Vitamin C and Vitamin D supplements to give your immune system the boost it needs. Once lockdown is over, there will definitely be a surge in the number of women getting annual check-ups. If you are feeling unwell and you need over the counter medications, The Independent Pharmacy is the place to go. Women’s health can be complex at times. We never really know what’s going on with our bodies until an expert takes a closer look, so do yourself a favour and stop googling your symptoms. Go and see a professional. From checking your blood pressure to getting STD checks, don’t be afraid to take your health seriously. Prevention is always better than cure. If you’re US based, you can get $15 off women’s sexual health tests here.
Get enough sleep – Sleep isn’t optional. We need to get enough of it to function. When my anxiety was at an all time high, I couldn’t get enough sleep. Insomnia really messed me up. When I couldn’t nod off, I’d just stay up crying. Going to therapy saved me because the therapist I was seeing at the time introduced me to guided meditations and since then, I don’t have a single problem falling asleep. Like most people, I do experience the Sunday night blues, but that’s it. If you are having sleep issues, give the Body Scan for Sleep meditation a try and see how you feel. I’m also a fan of this meditation for positive energy healing. Improving your sleep routine is a matter of trial and error. I always say this, but it really is about finding what works for you. Recently, I listened to a podcast by The Savvy Psychologist and she was talking about sleep. She highlighted a really bad sleep habit that I’m sure most people would confess to having. She said that one of the worst things you can do is go to bed when you aren’t ready to sleep, and I agree. Laying in bed and waiting for sleep to come is unproductive. Don’t go to bed until you are really tired.
Have a clear out – If you find yourself feeling anxious, look at your surroundings. Whether it’s spending a few minutes sorting out your work space or clearing a drawer that’s full of things you know you don’t need, clear outs are great for the soul. I don’t know about you guys, but I always feel so much better after a clear out, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. If you are thinking about having a clear out, don’t be afraid to plan, that way it won’t seem as overwhelming. Also, don’t put pressure on yourself to have it all done in a day. You are human and you are allowed to take breaks. At the moment, I’m experiencing Saturn Return , so I’ve vowed to get rid of anything that doesn’t serve me before I turn 30. Décor is also something that I’ve taken an interest in, so I’m currently on the lookout for a few things that can jazz up my room a little. So far, so good. Etsy have some unique and reasonably priced items.
Own your authenticity – Authenticity is another word I mention a lot on this blog. We live in a society where a lot of people don’t know how to be themselves. It’s sad when you think about it because we were born to stand out. We should all embrace and accept our authentic selves; it will make our lives so much easier. Getting to know yourself on the inside and outside promotes a sense of inner peace and confidence. It is one of the best ways you can take care of yourself. Some people aren’t afraid to be their authentic selves because they fear that they will be judged. All I can say is don’t allow other people to have power over what you say, do, think, or feel. This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is kindness. I challenge you to spread kindness by telling someone one thing you love about them. We shouldn’t only be encouraging authenticity in ourselves; we should encourage it in others as well.
Bonus tip – Something else I would like to do as part of my self-care routine is spend more time in nature. Spending time in nature has so many health benefits. I have such a beautiful garden but it isn’t as spacious as it used to be because my Uncle and I installed a trampoline in it for my brother a few years ago, and he doesn’t use it all. So, I’ve been thinking a lot about getting that space back, revamping the garden and potentially adding a pair of Hammocks in the garden instead. As I’m working from home, I won’t be able to go out for walks every day so I want to start appreciating my own space a bit more.
Thanks so much for reading this post guys. I hope you are all feeling ready and inspired to take care of yourselves in the best way you can. What does taking care of yourself mean to you? I love hearing from you all, so please feel free to leave a comment below xo
*This post may contain affiliate links
Leave a Reply