Whilst we continue to adjust to the new ‘normal’ way of living during a global pandemic, the ability to look after ourselves, identify and get our needs met is more important than ever to help our health and wellbeing.
What is self-care?
The phrase 'self-care' gets thrown around a lot, especially on social media, and is often associated with something 'luxurious' like going to a spa or treating yourself to something new.
However, self-care is a lot more than that! It can be described as ‘the practice of taking time to do activities that nurture your mind, body and/or spirit’. Some common examples include reading, taking a bath, lighting candles, yoga or going for a walk. But there are no wrong answers really. Self-care is about intentionally taking time to care for yourself in whatever way suits and nurtures you.
During lockdown I started the couch to 10K which was great for my self-care. A little time each week purely dedicated to me and some head space to think! I also know that socialising with my friends is part of my self-care, spending time with friends can be a great release.
Why is self-care so important?
Practising self-care helps us to restore our health, reduces stress and increases our resilience and general wellbeing. Moreover, self-care techniques and general lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of many mental health problems. They may also help prevent some problems from developing or getting worse. Here are some tips for practising self-care that you might find helpful:
Healthy eating – as we have been spending a lot of time at home, we need to be conscious of our eating rituals. It is wise to start planning healthy meals that contain a lot of vitamin C instead of reaching for sugary snacks (which I’m sure most of us are guilty of including me!). We need to try and focus on adding more leafy greens to our meal plans and consuming seasonal fruits.
Keep physically active – regular exercise doesn't have to be very strenuous or sporty to be effective – to start with you could try gentle exercise like going for a short walk or a gentle swim. The important thing is to pick something you enjoy doing, so you're more likely to stick with it. If you're physically disabled, Disability Rights UK provides information about exercises you might be able to do. Alternatively, ask your doctor for advice.
Nourish your social life – feeling connected to other people is important. It can help you to feel valued and confident about yourself and can give you a different perspective on things. If you can, try to spend some time connecting with friends and family; even a text or phone call can make a difference.
Relaxation – you may already know what helps you relax, like having a bath, listening to music or taking your dog for a walk. If you know that a certain activity helps you feel more relaxed, make sure you set aside time to do it on a regular basis.
Appreciating the simple pleasures – we are often so busy that we don't stop or take a pause to appreciate the basic pleasures of our life, such as planting a tree or a flower, sipping our morning tea or coffee slowly, or enjoy the sunset or sunrise. You could start by reading the books that have been left unread or do the tasks that you have planned to complete and just not got round to doing.
Podcasts are a surprisingly helpful resource from which to learn self-care coping strategies.
Different activities and strategies will work for different people but try to have fun while you try new things out and have a think about what really makes a difference to you. In order to be physically and mentally well and improve our quality of life, we should all try and embrace practicing self-care in our day to day life.
Vicky Barton,
Director of HR and Organisational Development