The Importance of Self-Care
Self-care is so important, no matter who you are as a person. In this article, Mia Reese will be discussing the importance of properly caring for yourself.
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The Importance of Self-Care
The Importance of Self-Care
By Mia Reese
By Mia Reese
Not allowing yourself to get swept up in day-to-day tasks can be challenging. Twenty-four hours seems so long until it isn't, and the days are over, leaving no time for personal matters. Despite that, it is essential to prioritize setting time aside for yourself. Whether you set aside 20 minutes or a whole hour, at one point in the day, indulge in self-care. An article from The University of Toledo says, “Self-care activities can range from physical activities such as exercising and eating healthy to mental activities such as reading a book or practicing mindfulness, to spiritual or social activities such as praying or catching lunch with a friend.” The whole idea of self-care is listening to your body's needs. No one is capable of functioning to their full potential in a bad mental or physical state.
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Self-care is necessary because the process includes all the habits that benefit everything from an individual's mental state to their hair’s health. Specific ways self-care targets health is addressed in an article from the National Institute of Mental Health, where staff writes, “When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.” The time one is able to set aside to take care of themselves varies; so does how people take care of themselves. Find habits you truly want to implement into your life to better yourself because something that may work for someone else may not necessarily work for you. In case you need some ideas to get the ball rolling, below is a collection of self-care ideas to kickstart your journey of nourishing yourself.
top 10 self-care ideas
top 10 self-care ideas
1. Being on your phone right before bed doesn't help you fall asleep and can be harmful to your eyes. Instead, read your favorite book. Even if you can only get through ten pages, it will increase your brain power.
2. Invest in a tongue scraper! Using a tongue scraper will better your breath because it removes all the built-up bacteria from your tongue.
Credit: Samantha Linn
3. If your lips don't feel as soft as they should, then try a homemade lip exfoliator. Combine olive oil, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Then, gently rub your lips. Exfoliating your lips will help to soften them.
4. Just go outside and get some fresh air. Whether you go for a leisurely walk or a run, breathing outside can calm your stress levels.
5. Take a yoga class to get more involved with your community or just do it in the comfort of your home. Yoga can be a great way to reduce stress and increase flexibility.
6. Create a skincare routine that works for your skin type. Just using a simple cleanser and moisturizer twice a day will go a long way. Not only is skincare a relaxing process, but it will also target your skin to make it healthier.
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7. Meditate for five minutes. An article on meditation from the Mayo Clinic shows that “Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can benefit your emotional well-being and your overall health. You can also use it to relax and cope with stress by refocusing your attention on something calming.”
8. Take up journaling. Journaling can be a good activity to slow down racing thoughts and the process allows you to reflect on your day. Being able to look back on what you wrote is also exciting because of some events we forget.
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9. Take a relaxing bath or shower. The simple act of setting aside time to bathe and enjoy it (rather than just doing it quickly after or before work because you have to) makes all the difference. If you feel fancy, then add some bath bombs or blast some music and make that show your stage.
10. Call or text someone you love. Self-care doesn't just have to be focused on your being. It can incorporate caring for others, as well.
Life demands a lot of everyone and does not slow down for anyone. So take it upon yourself to take a step back, breathe, and slow down. Slow down enough to recognize you have yet to take care of yourself today and that time needs to be set aside. Even though it can be hard to put those other life tasks to a halt, self-care is just as important of a task. Remember: you will ultimately accomplish more if you take care of yourself.
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