What is self-care and how to practice it?

I believe everyone has been told to take care of themselves so far. But what even is self-care and how can one practice it? I intend to answer this exact question in this post.

What is self-care?

Self-care is a term used to describe actions and practices that someone engages in in order to maintain and improve their physical, emotional and mental well-being. Whenever someone practices self-care, they take an active role in protecting their well-being and happiness especially during times of stress.

It can take many different forms, and it can look different for everyone. Thus, I can only give you some examples and ideas for self-care but in the end it will be up to you to find out what really works for you. The self-care practice should help you to manage stress, reduce feelings of overwhelm, and prevent burnout. When practicing self-care, your own need should be your priority and especially your work-life should be paused for a brief moment.

While self-care practices can be very simple and easy to incorporate into daily life, they are often overlooked and undervalued. It is important to recognize that self-care is not selfish or indulgent, but rather a necessary component of a healthy and fulfilling life. By prioritizing self-care and making it a regular part of your routine, you can improve your overall well-being and lead a happier, more balanced life.

Self-care ideas

With so many self-care ideas out there, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this blog post, we'll explore some self-care ideas that you can try out and if they work for you, incorporate into your daily routine.

1. Take a warm bath or shower
   Taking a warm bath or shower is an excellent way to relax your body and mind after a stressful day at work. You can add Epsom salts or essential oils to the water to help soothe sore muscles, promote relaxation and make it smell good. Turn on some relaxing music maybe even light some candles and relax for a bit while the hot water soothes your muscles and releases the tnesion in your body.
2. Practice yoga or exercise
   Yoga and exercise is an excellent way to turn of your head, reduce stress and with all that even stay healthy and maintaining a good physique. It doesn't matter wheter it is a 5 minute yoga practice session from YouTube or a one hour run outside in the nature. Do what feels right for you and helps you relax.
3. Listen to music
   Music can help to promote relaxation and to get the head away form work as you focus on the soothing sounds. There are several playlist that you can find online which include relaxing sounds. As this should be a method to relax, you shouldn't really be doing a lot while listening to your playlist. It's better to lay in bed starring at the ceiling rather than to clean the entire house and run errands.
4. Journal
   If your head is stuffed with hundreds of things and to-dos which should be done yesterday rather than today; grab a book and start writing. It doesn't matter what you write or if you fill two pages or only write two sentences. The goal with this method is to reach the point where your head no longer hurts due to the vast amounts of tasks and things to remember.
5. Read a book or watch a movie
   Reading a book or watching a movie can be a great way to escape from the stresses of daily life. Additionally, if you are somewhat like me, reading a book will still feel productive and the guilt of taking some time of studying will be bearable. Choose any genre of book or movie that you like, the goal is for you to be able to relax and enjoy the film or book that you are watching/reading.
6. Go on a walk
   Spending time in nature can be a great way to reduce stress and improve your mood. Some fresh air is also a good way to spend your study breaks.
7. Cook a healthy meal or bake your favorite cake
   Cooking a healthy meal or baking your favorite treat can be a fun and rewarding way to practice self-care. You can try a new recipe or make a dish that you know and love. Also when you cook a meal, it may serve as your dinner, which certainly is a plus.
8. Take a nap
   Getting enough rest is crucial for your physical and mental health. You can take a short nap or simply rest when you need to. If you have a tight schedule, try to squeze in a 20 to 30 minutes powernap, you will feel more energized to put in some work afterwards.
9. Practice a hobby
   Engaging in a hobby can help you relax and express your creativity. Doing something you love, is a great way to spend some time with yourself and enjoy some time apart from work and studying.
10. Take a social media break
    Taking a break from social media or limiting your screen time can help reduce stress. A great tip is to not touch your phone one hour before you go to bed. No screen time before bed promotes better sleep.

In conclusion self-care is essential for maintaining good physical, emotional, and mental health. The self-care ideas listed above are just a few examples of how you could practice it. It's best if you block a certain timeframe during your day or week where you take time for yourself. If you don't, you may easily forget about it.

With love,
Michelle