One of the terms that seems to pop up on my news feed and in many of the things I read about health in general is the idea of “self care.”
Sure, we know that to be healthy, we need to eat well, get lots of sleep and exercise but the notion of self care seems to take these fundamental notions and kick them up a notch.
Self care isn’t a new concept but I suspect that our attention to what exactly self care entails — beyond those common sense ideas related to our physical health just might be.
Wellness and self care have been experiencing a serious renaissance over the past couple of years — and perhaps given what we have collectively been through as a society in general, it is about time, I did a deep dive into the notion of self care — what it is, how it helps and how to make it a better priority in our daily lives.
As I stumble through the mid-winter doldrums — seasonal affective disorder is a very real thing — I found a few self care ideals worthy of sharing! Read on — and feel free to share any self care hacks that have helped improve your overall well being!
• Taking tech to the next level: My teen son bought an Apple Watch recently and while I was convinced he simply wanted it to have the latest cool wearable, when he showed me all the things he can track using his watch, I was pretty impressed.
His watch tracks his sleep cycles — and how many REM cycles he went through — as well as overall time asleep, heart rate and respiratory rate.
Combine this with the step tracking, you have a lot of information at your fingertips.
While you may know that you need a certain number of hours of sleep, knowing how well you are sleeping is a great way to know what adjustments you need to help you get not only the optimum amount of sleep but the next quality of sleep possible.
Creating a bedtime and sleep routine is a great way to use your tech — like that wearable device — to take your sleep to the next level.
• Make YOURSELF a priority: There’s a great saying that states “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
If you keep putting others first, you’ll soon find that you don’t have anything left to give them.
Sometimes taking care of yourself — refilling that proverbial cup — is the best gift you can give yourself and those in your life.
What does that look like in real life, however? I don’t just mean doing the things that you, quite frankly, should be doing — like having a yearly physical, getting your teeth cleaned and getting preventive screenings on the right timetable.
This is a step beyond those things. For example, a friend of mine treats herself to a Vitamin IV drip once a month, citing it boosts both her immunity and mood, especially during these tough winter months when Vitamin D is at a premium and germs are everywhere.
Vitamin IV’s and wellness injections are a great way to boost your overall physical and emotional wellness.
Another friend gets a massage every other week — her treat to herself that she adds to her personal budget — massage is known to not only boost dopamine levels and reduce stress but also helps with pain management, anxiety and circulation.
Consider adding massage, acupuncture or reiki as ways to boost your own health!
• Seek Joy in Daily Activities: While there are many things you can add to your routine to improve your health and wellbeing, never underestimate the power that daily activities can have on your self care journey.
Whether it is giving yourself a manicure, buying an expensive brand of tea to treat yourself to or soaking in a hot bath with some sweet smelling bath salts — be sure to find at least one activity each day that brings you joy.
It can be as simple as going out to dinner or trying out a new recipe (I am addicted to TikTok recipes these days!) phoning a friend after dinner or setting up a corner of your kitchen for your favorite puzzle.
Self care does not need to add anything to your plate — you just need to find ways to make yourself and the things that make you happier and healthier — a bigger priority.
Today, I challenge you to take five minutes to write down things that make you say “Yay” and try to add more of those things to your daily routine.
(Editor’s Note: Kristine George is a freelance journalist who resides in Easton.)