WRITTEN BY GRACE K-B
SELF-CARE
Self Care is looking after you and taking care of yourself. This means taking care of your mental, emotional and physical well-being. We are aware that the meaning of self-care will vary from person to person. Nonetheless, it’s whatever makes you feel happy — well, looked after and loved– but it has to be solely for you.
One of the most casually uttered comments is “take care”, but do we? It’s one of those references that we tend to ignore. However, taking care of ourselves is one of those things we really should do.
It’s overlooked because in our busy lives we tend to put others first and we put ourselves to the back of the queue. We readily recognise someone else who is in need of some care and kindness but we don’t recognise it when it comes to ourselves. More often than not, other things take priority because taking some time out for yourself isn’t considered essential, but it really is.
Self-care is so important because it allows us to be our optimum selves. However, if we forget to take care of “us” then we’re not going to be any good to those around us. Especially to those that depend on us. It’s something we all need to improve on and build into our lives so that we can be the best version of us. We need to recognise self-care as a necessity to our wellness and we should rely on ourselves to act on it daily.
HOW TO SELF CARE DAILY
Self-care can be adopted into your lifestyle by simply adding something “for you” each day. Whether it’s lighting a new candle, taking half an hour to read, going for a walk, applying a face mask, watching your favourite programme or meditating. Anything that makes you feel good, which is completely for you, comes under self-care. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be extravagant. In fact, it’s the simplest form of self-care that will be the easiest to add to your lifestyle.
If you don’t have the opportunity to do something for you every day (let’s face it, it’s hard with everything else you’re juggling), try scheduling one thing in for you, once a month. Later, increase to twice a month and then once a week. Eventually, you’ll end up adding something just for you every day. This will get you in the habit of thinking of the self and schedule something to stick to.
As we head into this year full steam ahead, let’s not forget ourselves. Don’t forget to add a bit more care and kindness into our lives by starting with the self.
Our happiness and mental wellbeing are so crucial for us to function at full capacity. A simple act of regular self-care could go a long way to improve this. It’s all about giving yourself the recognition and appreciation that you deserve.
Let’s love ourselves and embrace the simple life pleasures that make us happy. Once we recognise this is essential to living a fulfilled life and how good it makes us feel; it will be easier to bring us back to our happy place, every day.
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