Get high-quality dental care from our trusted & dedicated dentists at Ranieu Family Dental Self-care is all about treating yourself so you feel as good as possible inside and out. Despite seeming a little selfish it is actually the opposite – it is important to fulfill your own needs so that you can take better care of those around you. Self-care doesn’t need to involve daily, hour-long routines, it can be as simple or as complex as you like.
1. Pamper Yourself
Looks are the least important in terms of self-care but taking care of your appearance can help you feel more confident. Looking after yourself doesn’t have to mean a full-on makeover but taking care of your personal hygiene is a necessity. Why not try having a warm bath with essential oils or add a new skincare product to your routine. Dental hygiene is also important. If you live in the Vancouver area you can get high-quality dental care from our trusted & dedicated dentists at Ranieu Family Dental who will keep your teeth and gums healthy!
2. Experience Nature
This is of course a little weather dependent but reconnecting with nature is an amazing form of self-care. If you live near a national park, get out there and do some exploring! You can go solo and spend some time with your thoughts or listen to a podcast or your favorite music. If you’re feeling a little more social take a friend, family member, or partner and spend some quality time together. If you don’t have any big natural beauty spots nearby, a trip to your local park will do just as fine.
3. Learn A New Hobby
It’s easy to find yourself very busy with little time to spare but carve out a little time for learning a new hobby. It’s great for the brain to learn new skills and will give you something to do instead of sitting in front of Netflix or scrolling social media for hours. If you don’t fancy trying something new, then spend time doing something you already love. This could be cooking, reading, or gardening – just anything that makes me smile and is worthy of your time.
4. Read A Book
One of the best things if life is curling up with a crisp, fresh book and letting your imagination take over from the words on the page. Reading is a great hobby as it can be done virtually anywhere. If you don’t enjoy reading at all, why not try listening to an audiobook. Storytelling is as old as time itself and whether you’re indulging in fact or fiction it’s a great form of escapism and education.
5. Listen To Music
Music can affect our disposition drastically so curate a playlist for different moods. Have a list of loud, happy songs that make you smile, and another full of calm, relaxing tracks for times when you need to chill out. Explore binaural beats playlists on YouTube. Binaural beats are a form of music therapy that is created by different frequency tones which can influence your mood and also help your sleep cycles.
6. Write In A Journal
Exploring feelings is a huge part of self-care. It’s okay to stop bottling up emotions and let them out. One of the easiest ways to do this is by writing down your thoughts in a journal. This is a great option if you tend to keep your feelings inside and then explode every once in a while, as it offers a slow and steady release. You don’t have to write logical paragraphs if you don’t feel like it, just jotting down random thoughts is enough or invest in a journal with helpful prompts to guide your writing.
7. Get More Sleep
Sleep is absolutely essential to every person on the planet, yet something we often neglect. Sleep helps the body recover from the day and regenerate ready for the next. Lack of sleep can lead to heart disease, weight gain, and even strokes. If you struggle to sleep at night listen to calming music or try meditating. There are tons of great free apps that can guide you in beginner’s meditation to help you fall asleep. Trust us – your body will thank you!
8. Cook Yourself A Meal
You don’t have to be Gordon Ramsey to whip up a delicious meal. Aim for a meal that is nourishing as well as yummy to inject some goodness into your body. Think of your favorite food that reminds you of happy times such as a well-loved family recipe. Cook it with love and passion and then sit down to eat it without any distractions – that means no TV and no phone scrolling. You want to savor each mouthful.
9. Tidy Your Home
A tidy home equals a tidy mind. Take some time to clear out one room at a time. Declutter and sort through your items, separating them into three piles – keep, donate, or bin. You don’t have to turn into Marie Kondo but owning fewer items will take up less space (and headspace!) or at least make way for new things for you to love. Once you’ve had a clear-out, give the space a good clean, including all those nooks and crannies you would usually miss. Dust all the shelves, hoover the floors, and air any soft furnishings. You’ll feel so much better for it!
10. Complete A Needs Assessment
It’s good to check in with yourself every once in a while. Take your journal and flick through the pages to make sense of your mind-dumps. Check for any patterns of behavior and note these down on a need assessment checklist. The main areas to cover are physical health, mental health, social needs, spiritual focus, professional focus, and financial needs. It’s important to be in touch with all of these areas for your all-round well-being. If you perform these monthly, you’ll be able to see a better picture of what you need more of and areas to focus on in terms of self-care.
Are you trying to increase your self-care? Let us know your top tips for personal growth.