This is a stressful time for many of us. Many of us have online classes and are struggling to learn from home. Many of us have also lost loved ones, or have been ill ourselves. This is why it is more important now than before that we self-care; we need to set time aside for ourselves to give ourselves a minute to slow down, to rid ourselves of the cares of life, and to just bask in momentary peace.
In a world of self-care, it is all about you; you’re all that there is.You get to focus on yourself, your wants, your needs, your feelings, your mental health, and your sanity. This focus on you is what you need to not feel stressed or overwhelmed, and to live well with not only yourself, but with others. In short, it helps you to function.
In this article, I will provide you with four ways that you can take care of yourself.
- Meditate
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I recently started meditating, and I will admit that I underestimated its benefits. You’d think I’d realize its benefits after it helped Aang reach the avatar state, but I won’t dwell on my mistakes. The first time I meditated was sort of on a whim: I wanted to sleep, but I couldn’t sleep because my brain just wouldn’t shut up. So, I just searched for ‘meditation’ on Youtube, and despite my many results, I remember selecting a 15-minute video by Goodful. I then closed my eyes, and within minutes, I found the tension and stress melting away. I felt a lot more relaxed and happier, and I quickly drifted off to sleep. From there on, I added meditation to my daily routine. While I mostly meditate at night because it helps me to sleep, I have realized that meditating in the morning sets me up to have a good day. I’ve discovered that meditation connects you to yourself, reduces stress and anxiety, and makes you more self-aware.
- Read a Book
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Reading a book is probably one of my favorite things to do. Maybe one day I’ll write an article that’s titled ‘Books I Couldn’t Live Without,’ but since this isn’t that article, I’ll keep my recommendations to myself and instead tell you to read a book that you like. Reading a book helps you to slow down and to breathe, all while entertaining yourself. Plus, if you have a vivid imagination like me, it can even serve as an escape to a magical new world where you can live vicariously through the characters. Reading provides you with that break from reality, which is sometimes very much needed.
- Sleep
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I love to sleep, and while my hours can be crazy at times, I always wake up feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the day… well, as long as my first class of the day isn’t at 8 AM. Still, in all seriousness, this is possibly the most important tip. Had I thought about it sooner, it would’ve been number one, but I was just too excited to write about meditation. Sleep is the ultimate act of self-care. Without sleep, there is no self-care. Sleep is the quiet: the peaceful abyss that slows you down and enables you to function day after day. If you’re not sleeping, you won’t be able to function and you’ll be miserable. So, ensure that you’re getting enough sleep. I know that it’s hard to do this at times because we have so many things that we need to get done, but make a mental note to yourself: sleep time is sacred, and sleep time is not to be interfered with.
- Exercise
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Whenever I need a boost in my mood, I exercise. Exercising makes you happier, it makes you feel better and it makes you look better too. It has also been shown to combat depression because endorphins, the euphoric hormone, are released during exercise. Also, other benefits of adding exercise to your daily self-care routine include:
– Reduced stress and anxiety
– Better sleep
– More energy
– Elevated moods
– A more positive self-image
In conclusion, it is very important to treat yourself well. Your social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual well-beings are important. So, take the time out to be kind to yourself.