A few weeks ago I wrote about life changing subjects to consider incorporating this year in the blog post It is a New Year. The tenth key action step is working on Self-Care to Improve Health and Wellness.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is any intentional actions you take to care for your physical, social, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being.
Why is self-care so important?
Self-care is important for your physical well being, mental state, nourishing your soul and is just good for your overall health in general. Without self-care you and your relationships with others can suffer.
Here are some tips to incorporate Self-Care:
- Eat healthy meals
- Drinking plenty of water daily
- Get enough sleep ~ a reasonable guideline for most people should be between 7-10 hours of sleep per night.
- Doing some kind of exercise for at least 20 minutes daily
- Get medical and dental check ups
- Reduce stress ~ relax, pray, mediate, listen to relaxing music, color, journal, be creative, participate in a hobby, make a vision board, go outdoors and take a hike or walk, take up a sports activity, go for a ride on a bicycle or motorcycle
- Listen to audio tapes, read a book, read a magazine, do a word search puzzle or watch a movie
- Practice gratitude
- Set healthy and functional boundaries; do not over book yourself and be comfortable to saying no
- Spend quality time with good friends, your spouse/partner, your children and your pets
By adding a few of these tips it will help you stay balanced and less stressed overall.
Self-Reflection Questions:
What is your favorite activity to relax?
Which one of these tips will you try first?
Comments are always welcome and please share it with your colleagues and on your social networks!
As for me, I see myself not really taking care of myself very much. I have and others around me have seen the effects. I need to work on pretty much all of the tips, but need to start somewhere. I need to work on my stress. I’m starting to, but there is so much more I can do. Gotta start somewhere, and the one that can cause the most damage should be the first to fix. Thanks Patti for the reminders.
Hi,
AB
Thank you so much for sharing and my wish for you is reduced stress in your life. Please keep me posted on how these tips have helped to reduce stress in your daily life and how you are doing.
Patti 🙂
I know that I need to figure out how to reduce my stress levels, as two weeks ago I was diagnosed with tension headaches. I know when they started – when more stress was added onto an already stressful situation. It’s my body’s way of saying no more.
I am hoping that as the situation improves, my stress levels will decrease.
I am trying to spend more time relaxing, but it’s not coming to me very easily.
Hi,
Arianna
Finding ways to relax and relieve stress is important. I hope some of these suggestions I listed will help. Find at least one that you enjoy and make it a priority in your day. Please let me know how you are doing and what is working for you. Thank you for sharing. Patti 🙂
Great Suggestions I have just moved house am really enjoying just listening to the birds in my garden other than that I like the bliss feeling of deep relaxation when I meditate
I am determined to spend more time with family and friends- thanks for making me think more about my self-care Patti 🙂
Your new house sounds so beautiful and peaceful. What a wonderful way to feel bliss and have a place to relax and meditate.
Hi,
Anna
I am so glad to hear that the post made you think about self-care and spending more time with family and friends. Please keep me updated on how the self-care tips are going. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thanks for this excellent blog post. For me my first step is to increase the amount of excercise that I do!
Hi, Roland
It is important to take that first step. When will you start? How will you set your goal?
I use a Fitbit to track my steps per day and I set a goal. It keeps me accountable as well as my good friend and daughter who challenge me. Please keep me updated on your progress. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Patti