If you’re like most people, then this past year has been taxing on you. Between homeschooling your kids, working from home, and other public restrictions brought on by COVID-19, it’s no wonder that the topic of self-care is a hot topic of conversation in today’s world.
Despite the fact that the implications brought on by the global pandemic have seemingly taken a turn for the better, many of us are still probably feeling anxious, stressed, disconnected, and not in control of our life. For this reason, it’s critical that the concept of self-care continues to be discussed and practiced by people everywhere. Let’s take a closer look:
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is a concept that is all about taking care of yourself and prioritizing your well-being. It means taking time and action to better manage your mental and physical health unapologetically. In the words of expert researchers, “Self-care has been defined as, ‘a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being.’”
Unfortunately, the role of self-care is often misinterpreted, being thought of as a selfish luxury as opposed to a health priority. The negative connotation attributed to this concept causes people to ignore their mind, body, and spirit, which consequently, leads to a worsened well-being and outlook on life.
How to Practice Soulful Self-Care
Needless to say, self-care plays a vital role in our health, so it’s critical that we utilize this concept by practicing different activities that serve to support the mind, body, and spirit relationship. Fortunately, there is an endless list of self-care practices that are easy to do and incorporate into your everyday life.
See for yourself! Follow these top three tips for taking care of you:
- Self-Reflect with Meditation
Usually regarded as a spiritual practice that’s easier said than done, meditation is a self-care technique that promotes mindfulness in individuals. It generally consists of an individual exercising different methods to focus their attention on calming the mind. The idea behind this practice is to examine the phenomenon of your overall meditation experience. In other words, this process allows you to clearly self-examine yourself in an unbiased manner by providing you with an in-depth look at your thoughts, feelings, body, and more.
Although there are a variety of approaches you can take to self-reflect with meditation, some of the more soulful techniques to try include meditation with gongs, repeating affirmations while focusing on the meaning it has to you, as well as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT, also referred to as a tapping or psychological acupressure, helps to create a balance in your energy system, relieve stress, and treat pain. No matter which method you follow, just make sure you’re allowing yourself to fully submerge yourself into the experience and self-reflect in the way you’re meant to. Done correctly, only ten minutes of meditation a day can make a genuine positive difference in your life.
- Customize Your Skin Care Routine
Practicing skin care as a form of self-care is a simple way to dedicate some time to take care of yourself each day without having to put in too much effort or time. However, the very act of performing skin care is not enough to be thought of as a self-care activity. The approach to this requires you to take an in-depth look at the current state of your complexion and assess what it wants and needs.
Being able to understand what exactly you’re looking to gain from performing your daily regimen is necessary for finding compatible skin care products and customizing your routine in a way that adheres to both your skin type and particular needs. The unique thing about skin care is that it looks different for each individual, which is why it’s so important to specialize your regime as this is one of the only ways to ensure your outer being aligns with your inner being. Proper alignment should create a sense of connection and harmony, thereby serving as a soulful act of self-care.
- Engage in Physical Activity
How well you take care of your body and engage in physical exercise can be very telling about your mood. Research shows that physical activity stimulates and releases brain chemicals like serotonin, which help to make you feel happier and more relaxed. This is especially beneficial for those who normally struggle with anxiety and depression, working to emotionally uplift you and reduce stress. Beyond this, regular engagement in physical activity also serves to improve quality of sleep, boost energy levels, better your sex life, and support a healthy weight and body image.
Regardless of whether or not you have three hours to spare or only twenty minutes, try your best to perform some sort of physical activity. Walking, running, hiking, swimming are all great examples of different types of activities you can do throughout the week to get your blood pumping. But, for a more soulful self-care experience, consider signing up for a yoga class. Unlike other types of exercise, yoga encompasses challenging physical workouts with other spiritual tools such as pranayama (breathwork) that come from within.