Ways to self-care for a better life
Self-care is so important for our wellbeing but very often, self-care still gets way too little emphasis.
Good outcomes in life stems from us first; our mind, body and mental health plays a vital part in how we perform daily. Be it at work, school or in relationships, we act and feel better when we’re in tip top condition. Self-care helps us to feel happier, and overall, healthier both mentally and physically.
That said, self-care is not an easy feat if you aren’t used to it. It is not always convenient or easy for us to set aside “me time” due to the hectic priorities in life, but we urge you to start taking some time out to do so. You will notice that when you take care of yourself, situations and things that used to be difficult to handle will see an improvement.
Here are some self-care tips to get you started:
Alone time – Do the things you love, by yourself.
There are times and seasons in our lives whereby we need more alone time to recuperate from social settings, especially for those who have just stepped into the world of adulting. Take some time out to catch up on your hobbies and interests – Go to a café, have a cup of coffee, read a book or go for a walk, anything at all. Doing more of what makes you happy on your own can be therapeutic, sometimes it can be even more enjoyable without someone else’s company. Try it.
Eat right, live right.
Yes, you know we are going to tell you this again, you are what you eat. Eating healthier and eating well not only helps to maintain a healthy weight range, but it also affects our mental health. When we eat nutritiously and healthily, our energy level increases, mood improves and our brains can function properly, helping us to get work and things done more productively.
It is recommended that we consume more unrefined and unprocessed foods, so that nutrients are kept intact, and we get to reap the benefits of these foods. A well-balanced diet consists of fibre-rich carbohydrates, lean or good quality protein, healthier fats, fruits and vegetables. If you are unsure on what makes a balanced diet, check out the My Healthy Plate by HealthHub.
If you are one who do not enjoy consuming wholegrain options such as brown rice due to its taste and texture, Alchemy Fibre™ For Rice is a high fibre, low GI plant-based fibre blend that can provide you with 10x more fibre content than usual white rice. Best of all, you can easily add Alchemy Fibre™ For Rice to cook together with regular white rice to reap the benefits. Not cooking much, you can find F&B establishments that serve Alchemy Fibre™ in their menu items. Check out the list of our F&B partners.
Say no when you don’t feel up to it.
There are instances when your friends ask you out and you are just not feeling it, but you feel bad to reject them at the same time. We are here to tell you that it is okay that you do not feel up for it, you should not feel obliged to give your time to others. The people around you should be able to respect your choices as well.
You are doing yourself a favour by learning to say no, by avoiding situations that you do not want to be in out of obligation, which you will likely dread and be unhappy at.
Workout to sweat it out.
Working out is not only good for our bodies physically to maintain a healthy physique and regime, but also helps to improve our mental health. When we work out, endorphins are released, it is a powerful chemical released by the body that spikes our brain energy, relieves pain and stress, and generally improves our mood. According to an article written by HelpGuide, it is scientifically proven that exercising effective in fighting mental health battles such as depression and anxiety.
Get ample sleep.
According to Healthline, it is recommended that healthy adults get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily. Without adequate sleep, we often become easily irritable, more sensitive, feel moody, unproductive, and even suffer from physical effects such as inflammation and migraine, and the list goes on.
On the other hand, when you get enough rest and good sleep, you can maximise your performance throughout the day, build better immune system, increase concentration, prevent overeating and reduce health problems. The body repairs itself when we are sleeping, thus it correlates to maintaining a healthy skin as well. So, make it a point to clock in at the recommended hours for snooze every night.
Self-pampering – Go for a spa, get your hair and nails done, just do it!
As much as these self-pampering activities might feel costly, they make us feel better internally and externally. It is important to keep ourselves well-groomed and reward ourselves for working hard with a treat from time to time. When we look good, we feel better about ourselves and this naturally helps in boosting our confidence and overall mood.
So, there you have it, 6 tips to better self-care. Know of more self-care tips? Do add on in the comments below. Here’s to better self-care for you and a better you.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important
