Sometimes, life can become a little too much. It can feel like the weight of the world sits on our very chest, and we just don’t have the energy to fight it off. Whether it’s work, school, or various other stressors, we need to remember to take care of ourselves. After all, how can we effectively do what we set out to do if we are not at our best?
An article by Matthew Glowiak of SNHU stressed the importance of self-care, “Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more”. Again, it is so vital that we take good care of ourselves in general, but especially during a pandemic. It may take some time to figure out what you like doing for self-care, but allow yourself the time to figure that out. Mental Health America lists several great self-care tips!
Live a healthy lifestyle! This encompasses eating well, getting sleep, and exercising.
Be social! Life during a pandemic is not easy. What is easy? Isolating. This is a no-no.
Do something you enjoy doing. Whether this is playing video games, singing, or watching reality television, make time for what you enjoy. By the way, I like doing all of these. I’m not embarrassed about the reality television part!
Relax – try yoga or taking a nice walk! Allowing yourself time to decompress is vital.
On numerous occasions, I’ve heard that self-care is “selfish”. If there is anything you take away from this article, remember that taking care of yourself is NOT selfish. It is something all of us should practice every single day. Stephanie Grunewald, PhD, says, “Self-care is done with the intention of caring for yourself, not with the intention to harm or take from others. Being selfish means there’s a desire to take from others, often to their detriment. Self-care is about replenishing your resources without depleting someone else’s.”
