self Care

In our current, busy, western lifestyles we often forget to take care of ourselves. Constantly chasing a way of life that may be out of reach, keeping up with the “Joneses” of Instagram or feeding all our energy into work, it is easy to forget to prioritise yourself, and your needs. In fact, this is often viewed as selfish. However, in my opinion self-care is not selfish, it’s about self-preservation. If you aren’t putting yourself first, who will?

So, what is self-care?

Self- care is one of the latest “buzz words” used to describe the act of prioritising your wellbeing, including the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of your health. It is a holistic approach to looking at your needs in order to promote optimal wellbeing. It is also a pathway to preventing illness and “dis-ease” instead of just managing the symptoms when they arise. Self-care is important as it can bring about both long and short-term benefits that improve, not just your health, but the quality and longevity of your life.

For many people the act of self-care is a huge mindset shift, with many people raised to believe that taking care of the family, other people, the boss etc is the top priority over their individual needs. That said, starting your own self care routines can make you feel a little guilty at first, but with time you will come to see that when your own cup is full, you have more resources within yourself to assist others without burning out.

Where do we start?

Physical self-care

We are all spiritual beings living a human experience, and while we are here on earth our body is the vehicle that enables us to experience life, so it makes sense to make it a priority.  The benefits of caring for your body include improved quality of life and management/prevention of chronic health conditions. Every body’s body is different and physical self-care won’t look the same for everyone but these are some of the basics:

·         Good nutrition-food is medicine.

·         Hygiene

·         Regular exercise-doesn’t have to be a gut busting workout but can be as little as 15 minutes of walking a day.

·         Living conditions-living in unsanitary conditions can have a huge impact on your health.

·         Regular health check ups (and not ignoring/putting off concerning changes in your health)

·         Staying hydrated

·         Getting enough sleep/ initiating some sleep hygiene practices

·         Dental care-never underestimate the impact of poor dental health on the rest of your body.

·         Caring for your physical needs in holistic/non-traditional ways:

1.      Trying alternative therapies

2.      Using herbal medicines

3.      Seeking out integrative doctors

4.      Exploring the emotional roots that underly the physical symptoms

Mental/Emotional

Mental health could not be more important, and in today’s day and age is no longer a taboo concept. Maintaining your mental health means becoming self-aware, learning to manage your own emotional regulation, and taking responsibility for the things that can trigger you and implementing strategies to manage these. Looking after your mental health can help reduce stress and stress related illnesses. These are some strategies that can help:

·         Learning to manage stress.

·         Talk therapy or counselling.

·         Beginning to process trauma instead of supressing

·         Finding activities that bring you joy and making time for them.

·         Finding your tribe-like-minded people who bring you an authentic sense of belonging.

·         Meditation and mindfulness

·         Creativity

·         Down time-giving yourself sufficient alone time to do things you enjoy, or just to do nothing.

·         Connection-maintaining healthy relationships with your spouse, family, and community. This can include joining groups, or online platforms.

·         Stimulating your brain-puzzles, crosswords, writing, board games or books

·         Seek professional help

Spiritual

Not every person feels affiliated or connected to religion. When I talk about spirituality I am referring to fostering a connection to self. To me a spiritual connection begins with an understanding of the deep and profound parts of ourselves, and then how we are all interconnected in this space and time. You are a magnificent being, and doing things to reconnect you with your innate true nature can help you manage when life gets you down. Why not give these strategies a try:

·         Meditation-remember meditation takes practice. It is not about a silent mind, but a focussed one.

·         Prayer

·         Getting out in nature

·         Sound healing

·         Energy healing/reiki

·         Timeline therapy

·         Crystal Dreaming

·         Mindfulness practices that help you stay present-

1.      Ecstatic dance

2.      Mindful colouring books

3.      Gardening

4.      Breathwork

5.      Yoga/ tai chi

·         Exploring spiritual concepts and books

·         Gratitude practices-journalling at least 3 things each day that you are grateful for-can be as simple as: your breath, clean water to drink or a comfy bed to sleep in.

·         Re-discovering your own core beliefs and values.

Self-care practices can bring about much positive change in your life. There are short term and long-term benefits to putting yourself first. These practices can all help, but it can understandably feel like a lot. My greatest tip is to take what resonates with you and leave the rest. Then, starting small, adding in daily practices that you can stack into your existing routine. This way you are more likely to form sustainable daily habits, rather than biting off more than you can chew. These practices may seem incremental at first, but over time they will help to add a general feeling of wellbeing into your life, and increased feelings of self-worth. Some of the long-term benefits of implementing a self-care routine include improved general health, reduced stress, prevention of stress related illness: anxiety, depression, blood pressure, heart conditions, stroke, stomach problems etc. It can also improve your ability to cope under pressure and manage yourself during times of trouble. Some wonderful side effects of self-care are a more positive mindset, reduced risk of burnout and a greatly improved quality of life.