To many people, the concept of self-care has become synonymous with indulgence. This may largely owe to what people think self-care is. Treating yourself to a massage, an expensive candle, or a day at the spa. A silly, frivolous purchase.
Those things may have their place in self-care, but they are far from the beginning and end of the equation. For people to thrive professionally and personally, they need to take care of their physical and mental health.
In this article, we take a look at what that looks like in a practical sense, and why it is important.
Are You Sleeping Enough?
Ha. Probably not. The average adult sleeps between six to seven hours a night, well below the average recommendation of 8-9. It may sound like a trivial difference, but it can add up to significant sleep deprivation over the course of the week.
Your body isn’t just lollygagging during sleep. It’s healing and preparing for the next day’s exertion. You can think of sleep like scheduled car maintenance.
When you go into the car place for an oil change and get the happy news that you are also due for $1000 in scheduled updates, your instinct may be to blow off the repairs you don’t feel you need. The car is driving fine, right?
But if you ignore those repairs for too long, things will start to go wrong, and the damage may not be confined to $1000.
It’s the same thing with sleep. No, occasional rough nights aren’t going to do you in. But if you are consistently depriving yourself of sleep it can result in a wide range of consequences, from inflammation to heart disease, and even a higher risk of dementia.
Sleep deprivation can also increase your stress and anxiety. Bottom line? If you want to improve your physical and mental health, it may be a good idea to first take a look at your sleep habits. A few changes can make a world of difference.
Diet
Your diet can also have a big impact on the way you feel. While the concept of treating one’s self may encourage the individual to reach for a sweet treat or salty snack, true self-care means giving your body the fuel it needs to thrive.
A well-balanced diet gives you more energy, regulates your bodily functions, and generally helps you feel better. Life is a lot harder if you feel tired and sluggish all the time. Eating the right food can go a long way toward improving the way you feel physically, which in turn gives your interior life a nice boost.
Exercise
Most doctors recommend getting around an hour of exercise a day. Which can sound like a daunting prospect, until you begin thinking about how much of the day you spend being completely sedentary. Many people reading this, for example, will log their forty hours of work each week from behind a desk. They will drive to work— or maybe walk from their bedroom into a home office.
When they get home, they will watch television, or play a video game, or surf around on their cell phone.
All of that inactivity can catch up, leading to weight gain and lower energy. Exercising helps you feel better physically, which then helps you feel better mentally. If you want to improve your mental health, this is an important step toward ensuring your body has what it needs to thrive.
Limit Screen Time
What are you, my mother? Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Limit your screen time. That’s what I tell my twelve-year-old.
Oh, you do? Why is that?
Well—
Probably because you understand that these are important aspects of protecting their development. And while good sleep and sensible screen time practices are perhaps particularly important for young children, they remain valuable for people of all ages.
Excessive screen time can:
- Create anxiety
- Lead to feelings of depression
- Hinder your ability to get good sleep
Bottom line? There are better ways to unwind. Instead of reaching for your tablet at the end of the day, try a book, or a puzzle, or a board game with a loved one. It may feel understimulating compared to your favorite screen of choice, but it will help you feel better in the long run.
Consistency Is King
What do all of these tips have in common? They won’t mean much if you take a half-hearted approach to them. One day of sleeping in and eating a salad can’t make up for a lifetime of not-so-good choices.
Many people find that routine is the key to success. If you are struggling with eating healthy, consider engaging in food preparation so that you always have a healthy option within reach. If you just can’t seem to be able to pull yourself away from Netflix in time to get a good night’s sleep, consider giving yourself a set bedtime. Childish? Maybe. But also necessary for people who are trying to function at a higher, healthier level.
There’s a reason self-care seems so hard. Life isn’t structured around giving you what you need. We live in a fast-paced world. One in which almost every normal aspect of “routine,” runs counter to what our bodies need.
If you want to thrive in this type of environment, you need to actively decide to do it. So eat right. Exercise. And sleep whenever you can. These simple changes will help you feel better inside and out, plain and simple.
Feeling significant stress? If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, self-care might not be enough. If you are concerned about your mental health, speak with a mental health professional right away. They will be able to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue while also offering a bespoke solution to your struggles.
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