How To Start A Self-Care Routine For Better Health!

It seems like everywhere we look nowadays, we’re being bombarded with messages about the importance of self-care. And while it can sometimes feel like yet another thing on our never-ending to-do list, the truth is that taking better care of ourselves is essential if we want to be healthy and happy.

Fortunately, creating a self-care routine doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Even just making a few small changes in your daily habits can make a positive impact. So if you’re ready to get started on the path to better emotional, physical and mental health, read on for some tips on how to start a self-care routine that works for you!

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In This Post

What is self-care?

According to The World Health Organization self-care is defined as: “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”

According to this definition, self-care is essentially any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our physical, mental and emotional health. This can include anything from getting enough sleep and exercise to practising mindfulness and journaling, to making time for hobbies and healthy relationships as well as being able to seek help when needed.

Self-care is important for both our physical and mental health. It can help reduce stress, improve mood, and increase our energy levels. Taking time for yourself to do things that make you feel good is essential to maintaining a healthy balance in your life. There are many different ways to practice self-care, but there are some basics that everyone should be aware of. In this post, we’ll discuss the basics of self-care and how you can incorporate them into your daily routine.

What self-care isn’t

When it comes to self-care, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions. For some people, self-care is all about indulging in expensive spa treatments or participating in strenuous workout routines. However, self-care is not about spending a lot of money or forcing yourself to do things that you don’t enjoy. Instead, it’s about taking the time to do things that nurture your mind, body, and soul. It’s about taking care of yourself so that you can be your best self.

One of the biggest misconceptions about self-care is that it’s selfish. However, this is untrue for the most part. It depends on how you define self-care. If you think of it as simply taking some time out for yourself, then no, it’s not selfish.

Everyone needs a break now and then, and there’s nothing wrong with taking some time for yourself to relax and unwind. When we take care of ourselves, we’re able to be our best selves. We’re able to be more present for our friends and family, we’re able to be more productive at work, and we’re able to pursue our passions with more vigour. In short, self-care allows us to show up in the world in the best way possible. And when we’re able to do that, everyone benefits.

However, if you define self-care as only doing things that make you happy and ignoring everything else in your life, then yes, it can be considered selfish. The key is to find a balance between taking care of yourself and taking care of others. When you do that, you’ll be able to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.

Why is self-care important

We all have a lot going on in our lives and it can be easy to let our own needs fall by the wayside. In today’s world, all of us are prone to stress and anxiety at some point in our lives, however, for many of us, stress can be a daily fixture! This stress can come from a variety of sources such as work pressures, busy schedules, strained relationships or financial hardship. Without taking time out, these stress levels can build up, leading to potential burnout as well as having detrimental effects on our physical and mental health.

As previously stated stress is a ubiquitous part of our lives. We experience it when we’re running late for an important meeting, or when we’re dealing with a difficult life event. And while a certain amount of stress can be beneficial, too much stress can take a toll on our physical and mental health. When we’re stressed, our bodies go into “fight or flight” mode, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

These hormones are can help us to deal with difficult situations. However, when cortisol levels are constantly high, it can lead to several health problems, including weight gain, stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. Chronic stress can even suppress the immune system, making us more susceptible to colds and other illnesses as well as worsening chronic conditions like heart disease and asthma.

This is where self-care comes into play, when we take time out for ourselves, we’re able to recharge our batteries, becoming more resilient, meaning we are better equipped to cope with the tough demands of daily life. By incorporating self-care into our daily routine, we’re actively introducing healthy habits that will help us become more self-aware, and mentally stronger, focus on what is important and keep the ill effects of chronic stress and anxiety at bay, in turn having a positive effect on your overall health!

Research shows six main benefits of practising self-care regularly which include, better productivity, improved resistance to disease, better physical health enhanced self-esteem, increased self-knowledge as well as being able to give more to others. Can you afford not to incorporate self-care strategies into your daily life? Even the smallest changes can have a big effect!

Types of self-care

As previously stated, self-care is all about taking the time to prioritize and focus on your well-being. This can take many forms, and it’s important to find activities or practices that work for you.

That being said, there are eight types of self-care to consider incorporating into your routine: physical (exercise, healthy eating), emotional (therapy, journaling), spiritual (meditation, prayer), financial (creating a budget, reducing debt), social (spending time with loved ones), personal (continuing education, problem-solving techniques), professional (setting boundaries at work, seeking out opportunities for advancement), and environmental (supporting sustainability efforts, decluttering).

Remember, self-care looks different for everyone and there’s no one “right” way to do it. Take some time to reflect on which areas of self-care could use more attention in your life and start making small changes for the better. Your future self will thank you for it.

Read more: The 8 types of self-care and why you need them all!

Examples of self-care activities

Physical self-care – Taking a long walk, trying out a new exercise, eating healthy meals, drinking enough water, getting a good night’s sleep, having a spa day or getting a massage.

Emotional self-care – Develop supportive relationships, step away from people who are toxic or emotionally draining, limit exposure to bad news, practice gratitude, start a journal, and have a social media clear out.

Spiritual self-care – Practice yoga, meditate, practice deep breathing exercises, clear your space, and spend time in nature.

Professional self-care – Keep work time and personal time separate, take a lunch break, evaluate your workload, and ask for help when needed.

Financial self-care – Keep track of spending habits, take action on debt, set goals and money intentions.

Social self-care – Meet up with close friends or family, Spend time with pets, reconnect with old friends, or join a support club.

Personal self-care – Learn something new, create a 5-year plan, and write down future goals and how to achieve them.

Environmental self-care – Declutter your home or workspace, create a relaxing space or light some candles.

How to start a self-care routine that works for you!

Anytime is the perfect time to start fresh, and what better way to do that than by creating a self-care routine that works for you? With a little planning and some trial and error, you can develop a routine that fits your lifestyle and helps you to feel your best. Here are five simple steps to get started:

1. Take stock of your current habits – Take a few days to track how you currently take care of yourself. What works well? What could use some improvement? What do you want to change? This will help you to identify areas where you can make changes.

2. Identify your goals – What do you want to accomplish with your self-care routine? Do you want to reduce stress, improve your skin, or just feel better in general? Taking the time to pinpoint your goals will help you create a more effective plan.

3. Make time for self-care – It can be tough to find time for yourself, but it’s important to make self-care a priority. Set aside at least 30 minutes each day for activities that make you feel good. If that’s not possible, break up your time into smaller increments throughout the day.

4. Choose activities that work for you – There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to self-care. Try out different activities and see what makes you feel the best. Some things to consider include regular exercise, relaxation techniques, healthy eating, and spending time outdoors. Why not make yourself a daily or monthly self-care checklist to help keep yourself on track?

5. Be patient and persistent – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful self-care routine. Be patient as you experiment with different activities and find what works best for you. Most importantly, don’t give up! If something doesn’t work out, move on to something else until you find a routine that works for you.

Final Thoughts

As a busy person, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. You’re always on the go, and there’s always something else that needs to be done. But if you don’t make time for self-care, you’ll eventually burn out. A self-care routine is essential for better health. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Just taking a few minutes each day to do something that makes you feel good can make a world of difference. Maybe it’s taking a relaxing bubble bath, going for a walk, or reading your favourite book. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that you enjoy and that you make time for every day. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

A self-care routine can help improve your mental and physical health, but it’s important to find what works for you. Hopefully, the tips in this post have given you some ideas on how to start taking care of yourself. If not, don’t worry, we’ve got plenty more posts on self-care coming up. So stay tuned, and keep taking care of yourself!

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