We live in a world where being busy means you are doing well in life, and you have it all figured out. Everybody is living a fast-paced life, always wanting things to be done fast, that we are all experts at multitasking. Because we want to make every minute count, we may even treat rest as leisure sometimes. For some, it is even considered a waste of time.
As Sunday Adelaja said, “A busy life is not necessarily an effective life.” We need to find time to slow down to take care of ourselves. The need for self-care became more applicable last year, with all the changes that happened to us. Individuals were caught off-guard with the pandemic, that it felt like life was put on pause and normalcy was a far-fetched thing.
Self-care is not just about buying something to reward yourself. Self-care is about taking an active role in ensuring wellbeing and happiness, especially during stressful situations. It also means that you learn to listen to what your body is telling you. Your body will always tell you what it needs, and it is up to us to decipher what we should do to give ourselves some tender loving care.
Knowing how to listen to our bodies will help us take action regarding our health and wellbeing. Our bodies are designed in a way that they will send signals to let us understand what it needs. It may be tension in your neck, backache or headache, or a feeling of restlessness. These feelings are there for a reason, and we should be able to recognize what it means.
Here are some easy self-care tips you can reward yourself with.
Meditate
Are you feeling stressed, or are there too many thoughts running on your head? Try to pause for a while and meditate to clear your head. Find your spot, clear your mind, breathe deeply, close your eyes, and be mindful of the things around you. You can also download a meditation app to guide you.
Take it slow
Do you feel like you are always running a rat race? Take a day off to take things slow. On this day, focus on yourself and just enjoy your me-time. You can hire a personal concierge to take care of your parents for some time while you spend time with yourself.
You can eat slowly, take the much-needed rest and sleep, watch your favorite series, and just do the things that you haven’t had time to do. You’ll be surprised how refreshing and re-energizing spending one day without rushing into things.
Do something that makes you happy
What are the simple things that make you happy? Do you like buying self-care gifts? Or do you delight in having relaxing massages? Or are there actions that make you happy such as cleaning your home, reminiscing by looking at old pictures, or shopping for your loved ones, like buying male skincare for your partner? Go ahead and do it! Making yourself happy is a form of self-love and care.
Exercise
When you feel weak, sluggish, or constantly tired, energize yourself by exercising. You don’t need to do a strenuous workout. Listen to what your body wants and go with the flow. You can opt for a walk in the park or yoga if you want something more relaxed. If your body misses the rush, you can go for cardio exercises. With this, you are making yourself stay healthy and happy since exercise releases happy hormones.
Feed your mind
Are you constantly overthinking? Or are you feeling in a rut? Go and learn something new! You may read a new book or enroll in an online class. Feeding your mind empowers you by widening your horizon. You may discover something new or better, unleashing a new skill that you are good at, making you proud of yourself.
Surround yourself with the right people
Practicing self-care need not be done alone. If you feel sad or alone, surround yourself with loved ones and friends who care for you. Be with positive and inspiring people so that you can get infected with their energy and good vibes. Stay with people who feel like sunshine.
Practice gratitude
Do you notice yourself worrying or anxious? Reset your brain to focus on practicing gratitude. You can start by having a journal and writing down at least three things you are grateful for every day. You may thank your body as it still functions and helps you achieve your dreams. Are you feeling good today, physically, mentally, and emotionally? You could write it down in your gratitude journal! We are receiving many blessings daily- both big and small. You just need to have the proper perspective to notice the things you should be grateful for to stay happy.
In Summary
We only have one body to use in our lifetime. We must learn to listen to it and take care of it. Self-care is a must because you cannot serve from an empty vessel. Remember, it is not selfish to love and take care of yourself. It is necessary.