These days, when people talk about self-care they are generally talking about the conscious and deliberate choice to do something that looks after you and your wellbeing.
This covers the mental and the physical, and a regime of self-care should improve the way you feel in body and mind.
We all know that it’s important to show compassion for others, but how often do we show that same level of kindness to ourselves? One of the greatest things that you can do for your mind, soul, and body is to unwind. Not sure how to unwind? Don’t worry, I have 7 different ways to practice self-care for you!
Self Care Practices
1. Unplugging
Unplugging from social media means setting time aside to spend time away from technology. You can either enjoy some peace alone or dedicate more focused time to those around you.
2. Exercise
Exercise creates endorphins, getting active increases feelings of happiness and well-being. Find a form of physical activity that makes you feel good. Maybe that means going dancing with your friends, swimming down at the local pool, enjoying a Saturday morning bike ride, or yoga. There are many online exercise options too. One of my favourite Dublin based personal trainer Barbara Kruta teaches Pilates, yoga and HITT online. Check her out on Instagram @yoga_pilates_tri
3. Eating healthy and mindfully
Sit down to a freshly prepared, simple, healthy home cooked meal. Show yourself some self-respect and kindness and let yourself sit back and enjoy your meal, no distractions.
4. Sleep
Sleep can have a huge impact on how you feel both emotionally and physically. Not getting enough sleep on a regular basis can even cause major health problems. A good bedtime routine helps, I enjoy a hot non caffeinated tea like yogi tea , a good book and a few drops of organic lavender oil on my pillow.
5. Meditation
Meditation is a great practice of self-care as it gives you that quality time with your inner self that you need to connect, reset, and reflect. In addition, meditation works as a form of physical self-care, emotional self-care, personal self-care, psychological self-care, and spiritual self-care. There are many guided meditation apps available. I recommend New York based meditation studio Inscape I practiced at the studio during my month long work placement in 2018, their app and self care shop is worth checking out!
6.Breathing
Breathing exercises reduces stress, anxiety and improves lung function when practiced regularly. I discovered breathing exercise (pranayama) as part of my yoga teacher training. There are many exercises and techniques you can find many tutorials on YouTube. I recently attended a breathworks workshop hosted by Stuart Sandeman (Instagram @breathpod). I love his free live breathworks sessions he hosts every morning on IGTV at 7.30am which has amassed a great following over lockdown.
7. Journaling
Try implementing gratitude into your daily routine can help you feel happier, more stable and more self-confident. Get yourself a gratitude journal and fill it out each night before you go to sleep. Get ready to experience better moods, more optimism and better sleep, simply by consciously giving thanks for the things that make your life better.
Self-care doesn’t have to involve a huge time commitment and it doesn’t have to cost the earth. It could be taking a bath, relaxing with a good book, taking a walk outside or eating your favourite food. It’s about making a commitment to putting yourself first, even just for a while.
Some Self Care Ideas You Can Incorporate into our Self Care Plan
*Go for a walk
*Have a bubble bath
*Time with friends
*Reading
*Get a massage
*Do a face mask
*Listen to music
*Watch a movie
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