In times like these, when the world faces great uncertainty and worry, it’s easy to lose sight of yourself and allow anxiety and depression to take over. This is especially true when you’re stuck at home with limited distractions. However, even before the COVID-19 outbreak, it was easy for the pressures of life to get on top of you, and everyone has their burdens. It could’ve been stress from work, family life, health concerns, or something different entirely, but whatever the cause of your problems, it’s always important to step back and take care of yourself. If you have ever struggled with practicing good self-care, here are some tips on how you can improve your self-care regime and hopefully boost your morale.
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Put Yourself First
For many people, it’s very hard to say no to others, even when you may want to. A lot of people are concerned that this is selfish. However, it’s important to remember that sometimes being ‘selfish’ is necessary and acceptable. If you don’t put yourself first occasionally, especially during times of hardship, this can lead to feelings of burnout, as you haven’t taken any time to recuperate. It also allows others to take advantage of your good nature, which can turn into a larger problem down the line. If you’re not up to attending a party or babysitting for a friend because you want some time to yourself, it’s OK to say no.
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Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to maintaining good physical and mental health. If you’re under a lot of stress or are suffering from anxiety, getting to sleep at night can be difficult. For most people, this is the time of day when you’re alone with your thoughts, and it can be very difficult to switch off. If this is a problem for you, consider meditation to help calm your mind, or have a hot shower or bath before you go to bed, as this will relax your body. Alternatively, you might want to consider replacing your mattress, as this could be why you’re having trouble sleeping. Even different mattress sizes affect your sleep, and this could be affecting your mood a lot more than you realize.
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Diet
It’s easy to reach for your favorite candy bar or order a pizza when you’re feeling low, but if you’re turning to these comfort foods too often, they could end up making your feel worse. Firstly, dining on junk food regularly is likely to make you gain weight, and, for many people, this hurts their self-esteem. Secondly, your body won’t bet getting the right nutrition, and this could lead to feelings of lethargy, which will then affect your motivation. It could also lead to further, more serious health conditions, which will only add to any stress you’re experiencing in your life. Make sure you’re eating a balanced, nutritious diet to keep your mind and body healthy.
Use these three points to help you get started on your self-care journey. Make sure you’re combining these with regular exercise and doing something you enjoy at least once a day to get the best results.
