After a whole week of work, balancing a social life, and keeping up with responsibilities at home, it’s common for someone to find themselves tired and wanting to rest. In moments where rest is necessary, self-care should be in the picture, too.
Self-care is different for everyone. A simple act of silence is self-care for some, as it releases their stresses and helps them unwind. For some, it could be getting a mini-tummy tuck or having a deep massage at a nearby spa or salon. Whatever these methods are, the most important thing is that a person tends to their mental, emotional, and physical health. Here are simple ways to implement self-care into your schedule:
1. Know your hobbies
Finding happiness, relaxation, and accomplishment in your hobbies is common. Because they are interesting to you, they aren’t mentally or physically consuming. It’s this kind of enjoyment that helps you combat stress. Most significantly, your hobbies contribute to your self-concept. If you feel like you’re losing yourself because of work or your full schedule, going back to your hobbies can ground you to who you really are. It reminds you that no matter how exhausting work can be, you are still yourself because you have these specific interests. In a way, it makes you realize that you are good at something—whether it’s art, skateboarding, or working out.
2. Say “no”
If you’re a workaholic, constantly checking your email could be tempting. It doesn’t only apply to your work-life, though. For example, if you’ve set time for yourself, and someone invites you for drinks, it’s easy to agree since it’s your free time anyway. Before you say “yes,” weighing the pros and cons of the situation with regards to your well-being should come first. Saying “no” helps you assert what you want to do with your time, which keeps you mindful of your activities.
3. Breathe
Breathing is necessary to stay alive—literally—but there are instances when you don’t notice you’ve been holding your breath. This happens in stressful situations. Even then, breathing exercises have several benefits to well-being. The 4-7-8 technique is widely used in yoga and meditation. The numbers point to the following:
- Four seconds of breathing in through the nose
- Seven seconds of holding your breath
- Eight seconds of slowly exhaling with a sigh
Breathing exercises reduce stress and anxiety. These also calm down a person to the point that these help them fall asleep. Taking a deep breath slows down the heart rate and introduces more oxygen to the body.
Self-care is a choice.
It’s easy to deprive oneself of rest and retreat, so giving time to practice self-care is essential. It doesn’t have to be one whole day. Self-care does not have to be extravagant. The essence of self-care is to replenish the energy that you have exerted throughout the day or week. Therefore, self-care is not someone a person should only do when they have the time; it’s something that they should set. Plot it on your planner. Adjust your schedule to accommodate your hobbies. Your body will thank you for it.
