The Benefits of Self-Care

Very often in life, it is easy to forget to take care of our own personal needs. This is particularly true of anyone who works full-time or is a caregiver, but is also true for most any profession or lifestyle.

While it's hard to prioritise your own needs when you have so many other things on the go, self-care is an important part of staying healthy, both physically and mentally.

 

It is necessary to de-stress, and it's good for you mental wellbeing

We are much more likely to handle stress badly when we are already physically and emotionally exhausted. Making sure you take the time to look after yourself reminds yourself – and others – that your needs are important.

People who forget to nurture themselves and neglect their own needs are more likely to feel low self-esteem, feelings of resentment and deeper levels of overall unhappiness.  Being well-rested can make you feel good about your life and yourself, and has the added bonus of conveying to others that you value yourself. This helps your self-esteem and contributes to your feelings of wellbeing in the long run.

 

It is good for your physical health

While not having the major impacts of exercise and a healthy diet, looking after yourself can trigger a relaxation response – which is integral to preventing chronic stress, which can have an extreme impact on both your mental and physical health over time.

Taking a break with a warm bath or a massage at a spa can help you escape the stresses of everyday life, enabling you to take an emotional vacation from stresses.

 

You will be more able to help others

Caring for yourself will make you a better caregiver. People who neglect their own needs in order to better care for others may seem heroic, but this may be having an adverse effect on their ability to care for those around them.

They are at greater risk of burning out, making it much more difficult to care for others. It is just as important to nurture your own needs in order to provide the best care for those who need it.

 

Everyone needs time alone

Some people are more introverted or extroverted than others. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, taking ‘me time' is important for the better functioning of everyone. Relaxing by yourself is easier and less likely to be interrupted, allowing you to have some time for some important self-reflection, and potentially access a state of meditation.

 

Take care

We know, it's pretty loosely defined – but it is very easy. There are many ways to focus on self-care, including ensuring you are getting enough sleep throughout your active week, prioritising healthy meals, and ensuring you are having a balanced leisure, social and work life.

A spa experience is often a great way to manage your stress or even just a regular self-pampering routine in the comfort of your own home.

Taking a bath is a great way to relax, especially with some lotions and oils, and some soothing music. As well as this, deep-conditioning of hair and cleaning of pores can help you feel cleaner and relax.

Other things you can do include caring for your feet and fingernails and nourishing your skin with exfoliation techniques.

Meditate
An often overlooked way of looking after your own mental and physical health is taking the time to meditate at times and durations that suit you. 

Mindfulness meditation can positively impact your overall health by reducing stress, improving sleep and increasing your focus – but has also been credited as improving relationships and interactions with others, by influencing your patience, reducing aggression and increasing levels of compassion. Evidence suggests that you are much less likely to burn out from stress or even fall ill while reigning in anxiety or depression using popular mindfulness techniques.

These are just two potential techniques of many, and every person will have different preferences and things that work for them. Other recommended techniques include maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and ensuring that you get enough sleep, all of which influence your ability to manage stress as well as long-term health.

Giving your body this special treatment is a natural way of relieving stress. The activities above are easy to forget but just as easy to work into our hectic schedules. 

 

Thanks for reading!

We hope you've found today's TrustTwo blog helpful! Self-care matters, and it's important to do right.

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This article was posted on: 29/03/2019