Self Care is Giving the World The Best of You – 10 things to practice self-care

Self-care is giving the world the best of you not just for your own well-being but also for others and society at large. We know it’s hard to stay present every single day, especially when our minds are constantly chattering away and we want to do everything as quickly as possible – staying in the moment seems like an impossible feat!

The good news is that you can practice self-care by doing something just for yourself with no expectation of anything in return. The old adage of “giving to those who give back” is true for your mental health and wellness.

Why is self care important?

Self-care is important because we need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our family and co-workers, friends and communities. When we are feeling down, it is hard to be the best version of ourselves for others. We all know how important self-care is but too often, we forget to add it into our daily routines. Many of us have loads of things going on and we can’t be perfectionists. We don’t want to create a sense of self-deprivation and worry that we are not doing enough. Self-care is about finding ways to feel better in the moment and long term without feeling guilty about it afterwards.

In addition to the physical aspects of self care, taking time for yourself also includes getting the work done you need to do in your life that is not fun. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t do a good job for others. Taking care of yourself also leads to better relationships with your colleagues, friends and loved ones. We don’t want to come across as neglectful and we will be less likely to be taken advantage of by people because we aren’t having to put out so much extra energy on them (especially if they are struggling themselves).

What are the health benefits of regular self care?

Self-care is about giving yourself the energy you need to help you feel better physically. It is not selfish, it’s actually a sign of self-love that makes you a better person. There are too many activities we can add into our lives to help us feel better and it is important to find the ones that work best for you.

Self-care is important because we are all human and we need time to both relax and have fun. We need time to create a healthy environment around us so that we can take care of our needs. Too many people put aside self-care because they think it is a luxury but it’s not. It’s crucial to make sure you take your own needs into account. You can’t be an amazing co-worker, friend or family member if you are exhausted from doing everything for everyone else. The best way to take care of your needs and the needs of others is by taking good care of yourself.

There are so many options out there when it comes to taking care of yourself, you can do a combination of one thing at a time. You can take some time alone to give yourself some physical pampering by doing something like taking a bath or going for a walk in nature. You can get together with friends and have fun which is one of the best ways to energize yourself.

Top 10 things you can do to practice self-care

Practising self-care as noted above is so important to get yourself back on track. These are the top 10 things you can do to practice self-care.

Slow down

When we don’t take time for ourselves, we will have a hard time taking time for others because our energy levels are out of whack. It’s important to slow down and make sure we don’t forget about our own needs. This is why we need a break from our work and hobbies so that we can recharge.

Sometimes we think we will be more productive if we don’t take breaks but that’s not true. Taking a break from your work means you will come back refreshed and ready to do the tasks you need to accomplish even faster. You will also be more aware of your personal energy levels so that you can make sure you stay healthy and balanced.

Take time for yourself

The best thing you can do to self-care is to take time for yourself. You can come up with ways you can not only relax but also have fun. You can do things that make you feel good or energize you. Practising self-care may seem like a chore but it’s important to remember that how we are treating ourselves is how we are treating everyone else. When we are taking care of ourselves, we will be able to make life easier for those around us and feel better about being human.

Exercise

Exercise should not be looked at as a chore; it should be looked at as a way to get yourself back on track.

It is important to exercise both because it helps you lose weight, leads to better eating habits and improves your overall wellness. Becoming active has been shown to reduce stress levels and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Exercise is one of the most beneficial things you can do for health, but most people don’t take time out for themselves enough to make it happen.

Eat Healthy

Did you know that there are about 250,000 food products available in the US? This is a lot of choices but do we really need so many options? Eating healthy does not have to be a chore or a difficult process. It’s about making sure we are eating the best foods for our bodies instead of eating because we are bored. You can find the food that works best for you instead of trying different meals and ending up with weight gain.

Eating healthy should be looked at as a chance to learn how to prepare new and exciting meals than to consume foods that don’t nourish or satisfy you. If you want to eat organic, try it out, but remember that eating healthy is about more than just what you eat; it’s about how you look at food too. We need to stop obsessing over what we eat and instead focus on the quality of our life.

Meditation

Meditation is something that has been practised for centuries and has many benefits. It can help you look at life from a different perspective, find inner peace and self-awareness. It’s probably the most underrated form of self-care as well. Meditation also improves your focus, concentration and helps you manage stress so that you can better take care of yourself. A lot of people resist meditation because they think it will make them lazy. That couldn’t be further from the truth though.

Meditation is like a muscle that you either use or lose. If you want something to improve, you need to exercise it. Meditation is a good activity, especially for those people who feel like they are not able to meditate because they feel it is a waste of time. Find the time and space to practice meditation and you will see that it is not only good for yourself but can be a vital part of a healthy lifestyle.

Journaling

Sometimes the biggest problem we face is our own perception of ourselves and how we see things. We may feel like life is unfair or that others are not treating us right, but writing down your feelings can help you process them. Journaling can also be a way for you to get rid of struggles and problems so that you can live a more peaceful life.

We do not have to be educated in literature to understand what journaling means to us. It means taking time out of your day to reflect on an experience, a memory or a feeling. You may want to take that time to relax and read or write down something that inspired you. Journaling can help you process what you are going through so that you can find the best way to move forward.

Therapy

There are many people out there who don’t exercise and eat healthy and think that they are okay. There are people who have problems that require therapy but think that it will be awkward or uncomfortable. But the truth is, therapy can do wonders for you. It’s not necessarily about a therapist listening to your problems, but about looking for things in yourself that you can fix so that you can feel better about yourself.

With all this technology at our disposal, we tend to forget how important talking to others is. That’s why therapy is important because it gives you a chance to look at yourself in a different light. It also allows you to understand others and figure out how to deal with them better. If you’re not yet convinced, sign up for therapy and give it a try. You may find that there are some things you need to work on and when we see ourselves or others clearly, we can begin to make changes in our lives.

Release stress

Stress can make you and everyone around you feel like they don’t have a lot of control over their life and they’re at the mercy of everything around them. You may lose sleep, eat bad or feel depressed because you are stressed out and it can get worse when other people say stuff that makes you feel bad. Sometimes we have to let go of things that do not serve us anymore so that we can use that extra time to be more productive instead.

Stress can be a good thing in your life. It can help you do things that you may not have been able to do otherwise. But when you are stressed out, you will initiate more unnecessary actions and let go of good ideas because you are too focused on the problem. The best way to deal with stress is to realize that it is an unwanted guest and that it’s up to us to control it. You can’t always avoid stress but trying helps us manage stressful situations better.

Go on a holiday

No matter what age you are, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a break. Going on a holiday without leaving your home is one of the best ways to relax. You can work at your own pace and still have fun while you’re at it. There are many things that are really important but if we don’t take time off and make sure we’re doing something good for ourselves, we may end up neglecting other things that have been taking care of us for a long time.

You don’t have to change your life if you decide to go on holiday. You can still stay at the same place you’ve been staying in but just be sure that you have a break that doesn’t involve work or other responsibilities. Doing something nice for yourself is like giving yourself a gift and it’s important so make it happen.

Reduce your use of technology

It’s easy to become obsessed with technology nowadays. It’s the way we communicate and it’s how we keep in touch with our friends and family. But everything comes at a cost, especially in the age of nuclear warfare. The problem with too much technology is that it can be distracting. It gives us time to think about things we’re not supposed to be thinking about when it comes to our health. Technology often distracts us from the things that are important but sometimes we just need a break from all the noise around us.

Sometimes, technology also makes us anxious. We feel obligated to always be connected because we have no idea when our loved ones will text, call or WhatsApp us. It’s stressful to constantly check our phones and notifications, but you don’t always have to do that. Reduce your use of technology and focus on other important parts of your life like getting enough sleep, eating healthy, taking a walk and spending time with people you care about.

Summary

Life can be a challenging experience but with enough time and effort, most people can turn their lives around and live healthy lives. Don’t you think it’s worth it? It’s important for us to do what we need to in order to become better versions of ourselves because when we do that, we feel empowered and don’t allow past traumas or mistakes to ruin our lives.

Everyone has flaws but don’t let them define you or make you feel down because you’re not perfect either. The only thing that truly matters is that we have the tools to become a better version of ourselves. Let’s use those tools and be the best version of ourselves!

The best place to start is by reading this guide. I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new. If you liked this guide, don’t forget to share it with your friends and ask them to read it too because knowing that you’re not alone can help lift up anyone’s spirits.