Self-care has been all over the place this year. I don’t think a week goes by where I don’t see an article that mentions self-care. Self-care is basically taking time to take of yourself to reduce stress, enhance your well-being, & bring you a sense of inner peace. This looks like so many different things for everyone & is a very individualized practice. Some may like to be active as form of self-care, while others may enjoy alone time with a book, or shopping, or a mix of everything.
As a dietitian I believe everyone has their own version of health. And that health is based on that recipe for nourishment – nourishing your body & soul. Your mental & emotional well-being is so integral to your overall health, which is why I think it’s important to focus on self-care. By nourishing your soul with self-care, you will be able to deal with stress better & not let it consume you, be more focused, & reduce your risk for burnout. Our society can be very fast paced & it can seem like everyone is hustling all the time. But, when you stop & take that little bit of time out for yourself it can do wonders for your short-term & long-term health.
Take some time to think about activities that bring you joy. What do you like to do to relax & unwind? Maybe it’s a nature walk, going to a coffee shop, a glass of wine, or a bubble bath. Make a list of your favorite self-care activities that you can keep somewhere safe. This way you have a bank of self-care ideas to build into your routine.
It can be hard to make self-care a routine at first because a lot of times we’re so worried about taking care of everyone else. What we have to remember is that in order to be our best selves & take care of others, we need to take care of ourselves first. Because we won’t be able to be fully present for others if we are there for ourselves first.
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