Why Self-Care is Important, Especially Now
Why Self-Care is Important, Especially Now
July 24, 2023 1 Comment on Why Self-Care is Important, Especially Now“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
— Eleanor Brownn
Today is international self-care day, a day often misunderstood or completely ignored. It is heartening to see that enough people, particularly lifestyle experts, are talking about the importance of self-care. Not only do we all need self-care but we need it now. As a mother, corporate communications professional, artist, and author, I wear many hats and juggle many roles. Oftentimes these responsibilities become overwhelming, and I would miss out on taking care of myself. But I have learnt (the hard way), that self-care is important for my physical and mental well-being. Which in-turn enables me to bring the best version of myself to my family, my work, and my creative pursuits.
This year’s theme for self-care day is – Resilience, Adaptability and Thriving in Adversity – this is a perfect reminder of how we need to take care of ourselves in order to be resilient and adaptable in the face of challenges.
Here are some of the self-care practices I follow that help me stay grounded and centered, even when life gets hectic:
Regular Exercise – There are many articles and research papers that advocate how physical exercise doesn’t just work on your physical health but works on your mental well-being as well. Research also shows that people who work out regularly are mentally more resilient. I have always liked an active lifestyle but have fallen off the wagon more often than I would like to admit. I continue to try and get 25-30 minutes of workouts 5 days a week. Since I am averse to going to the gym for any kind of workout, what works best for me is working out at home and I try and choose from one of these for any given day – Yoga, HIIT, functional training or dance workouts. If you are new to this then you must consult with your trainer / physician before starting any new exercise regimen.
Meditation – There are many forms of meditative practices that one can choose from. I have indulged in a few and have now zeroed on some that work for my lifestyle and mindset. I try to get at least 5 minutes of some kind of meditative practice throughout the day. This has helped me manage my (over)thinking and has improved focus. The ones that can be practiced easily even while you are at your workplace are mindfulness meditation and breathwork. There are many other types of meditative practices that require specific spaces, timings and settings.
Reading – I am glad to have been introduced to the beautiful world of books by my father at a very young age. My reading interests are spread across genres, and I am extremely grateful for that. There is always so much ‘to be read’ on my shelf that I would never have ‘nothing to read’. I oscillate between business blogs and romcoms, so that’s that range I am pointing at. Right from HBR articles, poetry, self-help books, spirituality, thrillers to really racy novels, I read and enjoy them all. This is my space that allows me to improve my knowledge, reflect and get entertained. Depending on my mood, I pick books, but I make sure that I finish the ones I start. I have rarely left books half read.
Creative Expression – I paint, write and dance. This is my time to let it all out. There have been times when I haven’t had time to indulge in any of these, and trust me I have been miserable on those days. Find your own creative expression, there are plenty out there to choose from. If you already have one, make time for it. It is so important for us to express ourselves in whatever manner we can. Journaling also helps greatly if that is something you can pick up. There was a phase in between when all I had time was for listing out 3 good things for the day, 3 things to accomplish next day and 3 things I was grateful for, which I would complete at the end of each day. This also kept me grounded and looking forward to the next day.
Downtime – Even a 5 minutes of downtime should recharge your mind for the whole day. My tea time is my downtime – I take my tea and stare into nothingness in the morning. I try to have zero thoughts but with my wiring it’s rather difficult, so I focus my thinking consciously and allow myself some downtime when I am not planning, anticipating, executing or over analyzing things. Choose whatever works for you and helps you minimize your thoughts and control anxiety. Additionally, my physician once told me that a good day spent at the spa can do wonders to set the mind and body on the right track.
Healthy Food Habits – As they say, you are what you eat. And if you are able to eat balanced and nutritional food throughout the day then that’s the best gift you can give your body. As a working person, who is often out of the house, I often struggle with keeping a strict eating schedule. But I know what I shouldn’t eat, and most often than not I am able to stick to that. Food habits do make a lot of impact on one’s overall physical (and mental) health. So avoid harmful foods and eat as much nutritional food that suits your region, lifestyle and pocket. This is the best kind of love you can give yourself.
The world is uncertain and highly volatile, to be able to thrive in this world we need to strengthen ourselves by prioritizing our needs and well being. I am still working on getting things right, but I think I have reached a point where I have been able to identify the things that work for me. I still have to work on getting 8 hours of sleep a day. I understand that everyone’s self-care needs are different, but I do hope that we start to think in this direction and chalk-out practices that can help us take care of ourselves first. And I encourage everyone to take some time for yourselves and reflect on what can work for you best.
1 Comment
Very nicely written article about self-care. I completely agree with the points mentioned. The article covers entirely the most needed things which can revive the spirit of the human body and mind. Very well-executed article. Kudos.