How to Reap the Mental Health Benefits of Self-Care

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Self-care has long been recognized as an important part of managing our physical and mental health, but many people don’t understand what it involves. With so many opinions on what constitutes self-care, it can be difficult to determine the best way to work it into your lifestyle, but most people agree that it’s anything you can do to feel better in a healthy way. It might involve taking a break now and then despite a full schedule or learning how to reduce stress. It can be a way to eat better or make healthier choices where your exercise routine is concerned. 

No matter what you choose to do for yourself, the benefits can’t be denied. As long as your chosen activity isn’t harmful to yourself or to others, it’s probably something you can work into your lifestyle and do every day, or as often as needed. Having these healthy tactics to fall back on when you need them most will allow you to get through even the most difficult life event with ease and keep your mind and body in great shape. Here are a few ways to get started.

Give Your Personal Care Routine a Detox

For many people, skin care and beauty products fulfill a large role in their self-care routines. Taking care of your skin or changing up your look offers a confidence boost, and can just make you feel good. To reap the most benefits from your beauty and personal care routine, consider swapping out chemical-laden products for clean alternatives without harmful ingredients that affect your overall wellness. Focus on replacing your makeup, deodorant, moisturizer, shampoo and conditioner, soaps and body lotions. You can still enjoy that element of self-care, but you will also have peace of mind knowing you’ve opted for a healthier choice. 

Make Your Home More Relaxing

Look for ways you can reduce stress around your home. If you’re having problems sleeping, you can add some blackout curtains to darken your bedroom, or purchase a white noise machine to drown out any outside noise. Clutter is a major cause of stress, so store (or donate) any nonessential items in your home.

Meditating and deep breathing are also proven stress reducers, so create your own space for meditation. Your space should be located in a quiet spot and have a view of nature if possible.

Yes, TV is Okay

We all know the downside of too much screen time, but with moderation, time in front of the TV can help you disengage and decompress. Whether it’s watching reruns of your favorite comedies or enjoying a must-see movie, a dose of screen time can lower your stress levels, and even enhance creativity and promote generosity. You can even take your TV self-care a step further and treat yourself to a channel you’ve been wanting to try. Streaming sticks make this easy with an array of channels and movies, and they quickly integrate with your TV and wifi so you have what you want when the time is right for you. 

Stay Hydrated

Many people don’t understand the importance of staying hydrated, but it’s actually crucial to make sure you’re drinking enough water, not only for your body’s sake but for your mind as well. When your body doesn’t have enough fluids, you can experience neurological effects that hamper your cognitive abilities, making it harder to make good decisions. Keep a tall, reusable water bottle with you at work or school, and refill it throughout the day; this is also a great way to keep track of how much you’re drinking.

Self-care is essential for all of us; it’s just a matter of knowing what your specific needs are when it comes to finding the best ways to feel better. Try a few things to see what works for you, and remember that to truly reap the benefits, you’ll want self-care habits you can maintain.