Why is it so hard for us to take time for ourselves? Life can be challenging as we juggle work, family, or other responsibilities. Putting self care on the back burner is a big reason why we may feel overwhelmed, run-down, stressed, or even burned out — And going through a pandemic did not make things any easier! When we don\u2019t take care of ourselves, we are not equipped to deal with the pressures of life or even have the energy to take care of others.<\/p>\n
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Self care is defined as the intentional practice of taking action to preserve or improve one\u2019s own health, well-being, and happiness, in particular during times of stress. There are different forms of self care that promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. These daily activities or rituals don\u2019t even have to be time-consuming or particularly hard. Often, it\u2019s the small things that can make the biggest difference. In this article, we’ll describe a few strategies to help you take better care of yourself.<\/p>\n
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Physical self care involves what kinds of food you are putting into your body, how much sleep you are getting, and how much physical activity you pursue each day. The CDC recommends an average of 150 minutes of physical activity each week. There are lots of ways to accomplish this, including walking, biking, playing sports, etc. The important thing is that you keep moving! As far as food, the most common recommendations are to eat 2-3 cups of vegetables, 1-2 cups of fruit, \u00bd cups of whole grains, and poultry, fish, or lean meat. For more tips visit the CDC’s page Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The way we think impacts our mental self care. We all have an inner critic who often encourages us to think negatively about ourselves. It\u2019s important to recognize that we are NOT our thoughts and to show ourselves grace when we make mistakes. As Mel Robbins states in her book \u201cThe High 5 Habit\u201d, one of the most important revelations you can have is \u201cthat your life and your happiness begins and ends inside your own mind.\u201d Staying positive despite the curve balls that life can throw at you is vital. Mental self care also involves keeping your mind active and challenging yourself to think new thoughts, like reading books, listening to podcasts, etc. Finally, daily positive self-affirmations can help to set the tone for the day.<\/p>\nMental Self Care<\/h3>\n