3 Simple Steps to the Best Self-Care Yet!
By Genevieve Cunningham
Learning how to practice self-care should be one of the first things we learn growing up. We need to know how to keep ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically well. We need it for our health, our happiness, and our overall quality of life. Unfortunately, self-care is one of the last things we learn. In fact, we're more often taught how to worry about everything else -- work, school, friends, and family -- before we even consider thinking of ourselves. If this hits close to home, it's time to make some changes. If you're ready to make self-care a priority, take a look at these three steps for the best self-care starting now.
Why Is Self-Care Important?
You may be wondering why you should even worry about self-care. It's just another thing to stress about, right? The truth is that self-care actually lowers stress, improves mental and physical health, and promotes longevity. It also makes you a lot happier. Maybe the better question is: Why not self-care?
Simple Self-Care Steps
If you really want to make self-care a priority, there are some very simple steps that you can take to get yourself moving in the right direction. Some ideas that might help include:
Say it aloud - When we declare things out loud, especially around other people, it holds our feet to the fire. If we tell people that we want to schedule some personal time, then we have to do it. Tell your family and close friends that you're working specifically on self-care, and ask them to help you stick with it.
Make a plan - You plan things at work, you plan doctor appointments, and you plan vacations. Why don't we use that same principle for self-care? Plan it out. Put it on your schedule. Make appointments to the spa or the massage parlor or even just an afternoon at home. Planning ahead makes it far more likely that you'll actually follow-through.
Set small goals - Don't start with a goal that's too big. If you don't do any self-care, you're probably not going to meet some lofty goal that requires a lot of work. Instead, aim for one hour per week of self-care. Aim for a stress-free lunch with healthy food. Aim for time alone in the morning to meditate and ground yourself. Small self-care goals will move you in the right direction until it's a part of your normal routine.
If you're not taking the time and energy for personal self-care, it's absolutely time to start. If not now, when? Use these tips to begin self-care in your life, and transform your routines, habits, and overall health starting today and lasting a lifetime.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Monterey Park, Calif.