Self Care 101

Whether you’re a young adult, middle-aged, or enjoying retirement, self-care should be one of your top priorities. In modern society, many of us can feel pushed to hurry, rush, and overachieve in every aspect of our lives. This is especially true in work environments, where we often feel obligated to work longer hours than are required in order to get ahead.

However, the pressures of life should never be allowed to affect your health. Even for those of us with the most stressful and chaotic work environments, knowing how to take a step back and take care of ourselves is one of the most important things there is. If you’re not familiar with the term ‘self-care,’ it’s fairly self-explanatory. Self-care simply refers to taking proper care of yourself, and any activities or actions we undertake to care for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

So what constitutes self-care? Well, a lot of things, actually! And certain facets of self-care vary from person to person. For example, while one person might unwind by relaxing alone and reading a book, another person may find stress relief in going shopping with friends or heading out to see a new movie. Let’s touch on a few self-care basics, though, that are applicable to everyone.

Know your limits.

Basically, don’t overwork yourself! It’s important to push yourself sometimes to grow and develop, but part of self-care is knowing when you’re trying to handle too much at once, and taking steps to lighten the load when it’s too much for you to bear.

Take care of your body.

This means getting enough sleep (every night, not just on the weekends or a few days out of every month), eating proper meals throughout the day, staying hydrated, staying clean, and generally keeping yourself in a good condition. Not only is this routine body maintenance good for appearances, but it fosters better mental health as well.

Learn how to decompress.

Decompressing is a different process for everyone, but if you stop and think about it, you can probably figure out a few things that work for you. It’s not all about chilling to Netflix until bedtime or going out on a date, either! Small decompressing exercises can help lift your spirits and keep you mentally and emotionally stable. Don’t underestimate the value of sending a friendly text, getting up to stretch your legs, taking a few minutes to do some breathing exercises, or whatever helps feel you relaxed and centered.

Practice ‘unplugging’ from work.

Now, don’t necessarily ignore work when you’re off the clock, but it’s unhealthy to stay mentally connected to your job 24/7. At the end of your work day, find a way to debrief yourself and give yourself the ‘OK’ to disconnect from work. Listen to your favorite CD on the drive home – maybe stop and enjoy a coffee or tea at a local cafe. Taking a break from work will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle problems with a fresh attitude the next day!

Finally, self-care means taking care of you.

You absolutely deserve to be healthy, and with a little practice, you might find that little things go a long way! If you’re able to, go ahead and splurge on an extra-sweet caramel macchiato. Put on your favorite music and prepare some meals for your work week! Turn off your phone – or turn it on and call up your best friend. Self-care is ultimately all about you, and what you can do for your own health and wellbeing. So get started now!