It seems that self care is a buzz phrase right now in the wake of the pandemic. With the stress of day to day life, we are trying to learn how to care for ourselves better. But what is self care and why is it so important to our overall wellbeing?
The Importance of Self Care
Self care is essential to managing the stress of everyday life. It has the power to make you happier and healthier, which can in turn make your relationships stronger and more fulfilling. If you do not have time for self care daily, you can still relieve stress by setting aside a few hours once a week for a self care day.
Self care can be as simple as following a healthy diet, exercising regularly or getting enough sleep. If you have a self care day, you could start your day off with a healthy breakfast and then take some time to meditate or do some yoga before you have lunch with a friend.
After lunch you could spend some time outside gardening or lounging by the pool soaking up some vitamin D. Please remember your sunscreen though! Skin care is very important.
After your day in the sun, you could follow it up with an evening of unwinding with a bath or reading a book by yourself or with your loved one.
A self care day can be anything at all that makes us feel better by taking the pressure off or giving our brains some rest. The idea behind it is to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others better. That is the importance of self care.
It’s a Stress Reliever
Stress is a part of life, but it’s important to keep it under control. There are many ways of dealing with stress, from regular exercise to meditation. It’s important to find the best way for you and make sure that you’re taking care of yourself.
Self care can be as simple as taking a bath or going for a walk. But it also includes activities that distract you from your worries or improve your mood. Remember, self care is what’s best for you!
Self care is a powerful tool that can help you get through the day. It’s important to take care of yourself so that you have enough energy and focus for your work. It is important to make time for things that will nourish you and give your mind time to rest.
The world of work has evolved considerably over the years. Technology has changed how we communicate, collaborate, network, and so much more…and yet the demands on each one of us have never been higher. With this constant pressure to do more with less time, it’s easy for self care routines to fall by the wayside.
You Can Improve Your Overall Wellbeing
Taking care of yourself is important for your overall wellbeing. Self care can help relieve stress and has been shown to have positive effects on depression and anxiety. Journaling and walking are great for improving your mood. They help you focus on your emotions, while also allowing you to take care of yourself.
It Gives Your Self Esteem a Boost
I know it can be hard to put yourself first sometimes, but you deserve some time for yourself. You deserve to take care of your wellbeing and happiness. It helps you feel better about yourself and can help you feel more confident in doing certain things. It can be as simple as getting a manicure or pedicure, or going for a jog every day. These types of activities are a great way to take care of yourself, making you feel healthier and more confident. They also help reduce stress levels and boost your mood.
You Deserve Some Quality Time
Make time for yourself. This is a crucial step in the process of self-development. We’re all so busy with our day-to-day lives, so it is important that you take some time for yourself and try new things. This will allow you to recharge your batteries.
Try to give yourself at least a few minutes a day for self care. It will help your stress and overall wellbeing. If you just cannot find time or yourself daily, then set aside time for a self care day. Even if it’s only an hour or two that day. You have to start somewhere. Self care Sunday is a great place to start!
Simple Everyday Ways to Take Care of Yourself
By now I hope you are starting to understand ‘the importance of self care.’ Self care is important for your overall wellbeing, and it can do wonders to improve your mood. All you need to do is find a few minutes of time every day to indulge in some activity that brings you joy. It doesn’t take much time or effort, but the benefits are unbeatable.
By now I hope you are starting to understand why self care is important. Taking care of yourself first is important for your overall wellbeing, and it can do wonders to improve your mood. All you need to do is find a few minutes of time every day to indulge in some activity that brings you joy. It doesn’t take much time or effort, but the benefits are unbeatable.
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal is the best way to practice self care every day. You can do this by keeping it in your bag or purse, or downloading an app that will allow you to keep it on your phone or iPad. You can also purchase a digital journal which can be used in a note taking app like GoodNotes. Check out my digital journals and planners in my Etsy shop!
If you go digital, it’s good to have a backup journal and pens in the event your laptop, phone, or iPad battery dies.
Journaling allows you to write whenever you feel stressed or just to talk about your day. It can be very cathartic for you.
It can be a helpful tool for self care because it provides the opportunity to process thoughts and emotions. Journaling has many benefits such as reduced stress levels, improved sleep quality, increased self-awareness, increased creativity, improved moods, and more confident feelings.
If you are not sure what journaling is or how to start journaling try doing some research on it or check out my blog post on how to get started journaling!
Have Alone Time Every Day
I know some of you read that subtitle and either rolled your eyes or laughed out loud. What the hell is alone time???
In a perfect world, it would be great if you could have at least a few minutes each day all to yourself. Remember I said in a perfect world.
If you struggle to carve out even five short minutes of alone time, and I know some of you do, try starting with something simple like taking spending 3-5 minutes reading before bedtime and find ways to expand from there. It’s small, but its a start.
If you are fortunate enough to have time you can dedicate to self care during the day, you could try going for a walk after dinner, doing some yoga before bedtime, or waking up early so you can enjoy your morning coffee. These activities may seem so simple, but these little stretches of time where you are alone and just doing something for yourself can make all the difference.
Exercise More
Getting more exercise is part of taking care of yourself too. Physical activity will make you feel better about yourself and raise your self-confidence, which improves your overall wellbeing.
Additional benefits of exercise are it is a really good stress reliever and the endorphins you get from it can be tremendous for improving your mood.
It doesn’t take hours at the gym either. A brisk walk or a quick weight-lifting session can be just as effective. You can also take advantage of other activities that also include exercise, like taking your dogs for long walks or taking the kids hiking over the weekend so everybody is getting a good workout.
A little side note here: Along with exercise, you should also be focusing on a proper diet by drinking more water and eating healthier. This is part of taking better care of yourself.
Self Care Activities For Bad Days
When you have a bad day, it is tempting to rely on unhealthy habits like enjoying a drink (aka ‘mommy juice) or eating something unhealthy. While you may enjoy indulging in these unhealthy “stress relievers” at the time, they are not healthy options and come with a lot of drawbacks. When you are feeling down, it is always a good idea to work on self care activities instead. In the long run, these will make you feel better and help your overall wellbeing.
The importance of self care cannot be understated. So what is self care and why is it important when you are having a bad day? Do your self care activities differ from other days? The answer is maybe.
Ideas for self care activities when you’re having a bad day:
Find Something Funny to Watch
Don’t underestimate the power of laughing! When you are having a terrible day, watch a TV series or a movie that makes you laugh. I strongly suggest avoiding action, drama, and other genres that might make you feel miserable by the end.
Another idea is to binge-watch your favorite comedy on Netflix or turn on the TV to try something new (not something I’m good at). Laughing is one of the most powerful and therapeutic actions you can take to quickly change your mood, even after a really bad day.
Go Out!
Some people enjoy staying in on a cold and rainy day to binge-watch their favorite Netflix show for self care. Others already spend a lot of time indoors so getting out to socialize and meet up with friends is likely a better option. Everyone needs a break from work. When you find yourself doing nothing but working and going home, it may be time to take a step back and figure out what’s bothering you. Try meeting friends for dinner after work or have a girl’s night out. Get a little bit out of your comfort zone and it can be very good for you.
Spend Time with Friends and Family
As mentioned briefly in the previous section, spending more time with your loved ones can be great for your overall wellbeing. Sometimes, being around other people can be the best thing for you. It’s not always true that being alone is the only way to relieve stress and take care of yourself. When you think about your daily lifestyle, what things tend to stress you out? You might find that you feel worse when you are alone, but your mood seems to lift when you are with friends and family. This is a good sign that what you really need is to get out and spend more time with others.
As a side note, if your family is a source of stress, spending more time with them will not be beneficial.
Meditate For 10 Minutes or 1 Minute
On really bad days, try to have at least one short meditation session. Even if you can’t find a few minutes where you are alone, you can meditate while on a walk or run, or while taking a shower. Keep it simple. Check out this article from Healthline to help find out what type of meditation is right for you.
In Conclusion
This article explains self care, why it’s important, and activities you can do to improve your overall wellbeing. Self care is the process of caring for your own needs and well-being, both mentally and physically, so that you can be more healthy.
Self care can be as simple as anything from taking a few minutes to eat a healthy meal or go on a walk to anything more involved like practicing self-love or releasing anger through talking about it with someone else.
What this means is that you have to make your own health your number one priority in order to recharge your batteries.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed it, let me know and leave a comment or share on social media!
Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM)
Behavior Change Specialist (NASM)
