Why Self-Care is Important to Your Physical and Mental Health?

It is crucial these days to develop a self-care routine for yourself. Many may think of self-care as being selfish or self-indulgent, but that is a misconception. Self-care means that you take care of yourself so you can recharge yourself and help improve your physical and Mental Health. While caring about other people is a good thing, if you do not engage in self-care, it can become exhausting caring for everyone else. In this article, we will look at how self-care can impact your physical and Mental Health.

What is self-care?

Self-care is taking time to do things that improve your physical and mental health. While many think that self-care is selfish, it can help you manage your stress, increase your energy, and even lower your risks of illness. It can be hard to carve out much time during the day, but even just small acts of self-care can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health.

Self-care is different for everyone, but it needs to be something that you enjoy. Whether that is engaging in a hobby, taking a bubble bath, or reading a book. It can take some trial and error to find the right self-care routine for you. It is important to note that self-care is not a cure for any physical or mental illnesses, but it can help you cope with symptoms and manage your physical and mental health.

Why is self-care important?

Life can be hectic, trying to juggle work, life, and responsibilities to friends and family, which can make it hard to carve out time to take care of yourself. If you have a family you have to care for after you get home from work, or you are helping and supporting someone in crisis, it may feel like you are being selfish by forcing time for yourself. However, if you are not being mindful of your needs, you will not be able to help support the people in your life.

By simply taking care of yourself, you can be less stressed and improve your physical and mental health; stress can be harmful to your overall health and well-being. Eventually, the stress will build up to the point that you can become overwhelmed, and it will begin taking its toll on you. Self-care will help you reduce your stress and let you recharge a little so you can function better in life.

Signs You May Be Overwhelmed

When you have spent a lot of time stressed out, it can be hard to tell when you are becoming overwhelmed by everything. This can be especially true if you are already struggling with your mental health or you have been through something traumatic. This list can help you check in with yourself and show you if maybe it is time for you to engage in some self-care.

Do you feel:

• Anxious
• Unable to concentrate
• Full of worry
• Tired often
• Overwhelmed
• Sick or achy
• Sad
• Unhappy
• Irritable
• Lonely
• Short-tempered
• Alone

Do you have trouble:

• Remembering things
• Making good decisions
• Getting work done
• Relaxing

Are you:

• Sleeping too much or too little
• Losing interest in activities that you enjoy
• Eating too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from family and friends
• Gaining or losing weight
• Neglecting responsibilities

Self-Care Strategies to Help You Decompress

You might feel like you do not have time to eat healthy, see the doctor, get exercise, or even take a quick shower before work, but even little things like this can be part of your self-care routine because you are literally helping your physical and mental health by doing this. Let’s take a look at some other things you can try to help improve your self-care.

Stay Socially Connected

Whether you are helping someone else through things or you are just busy juggling life and work, it can be hard sometimes to stay connected with your friends and family. However, this is an important self-care thing to do for your mental health and well-being. Try to have coffee with one of your friends regularly or schedule a family dinner. Make time to send someone you care about a quick text to let them know you are thinking about them. Becoming isolated from the people in your life can lead to depression and other mental and physical health issues.

Exercise Regularly

Taking care of your body is an important part of self-care, and exercise is great for your physical and mental health. You might not have time to hit the gym regularly, but you can get some exercise in other ways. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk or bike to work instead of driving. Exercise can produce hormones that help relieve stress, so working in a little bit of it is a good form of self-care.

Get Enough Sleep

This is crucial to your well-being, and it is important to include in your self-care. It can be hard to get quality sleep sometimes, but engaging in some stress-reducing self-care before bedtime is a good idea. Try turning off the TV and putting down your phone at least half an hour before bedtime; it can help you sleep better. You can try deep breathing exercises, meditation, and even stretching to help you unwind.

Eat Healthy

When you are busy, it can be hard to eat healthy. However, trying to have a healthy diet can be beneficial to your physical health. If you need meals on the go, consider including some fruit or a health bar in there to give you nutrients that you would not get from fast food.

Schedule Me Time

Make a point of carving out some time regularly for yourself. If you are not sure where to start, write down a list of things that bring you joy. These can be anything from taking a bubble bath to listening to music to writing in your journal. If getting a manicure makes you feel relaxed, keep a regular appointment to get your nails done. If baking a cake brings you joy, do it. If video games help you decompress, take the time to play them. Just remember that these things are important to you, and it is not selfish to do this.

Ask for Help

Life can get overwhelming, and sometimes you just need to ask for help to Mental Health. You do not always need to struggle alone.

 

About the Author

Geralyn Ritter is an accomplished corporate senior executive, miracle survivor of the 2015 Amtrak train derailment, and author of Bone by Bone: A Memoir of Trauma and Healing. Geralyn is the executive vice president at Organon & Co., a new Fortune 500 healthcare company dedicated to the health of women.