Self-care is quite simply any activity we do on purpose to help take care of our own mental, emotional, and physical health. It sounds like a super simple concept, but it’s something that is often overlooked.
The reality is that self-can isn’t a luxury, but something that is vital for good mood and reduced anxiety as well as cutting down the likelihood of exhaustion, stress, anxiety, and burnout which you really want to avoid.
Signs of burn out include becoming withdrawn from family and friends, drinking too much alcohol, eating badly, not getting enough sleep and having a general feeling of low mood and dissatisfaction.
We spend so much of our time caring for others, we often sacrifice our own needs. Self-care is different for everyone but the important thing is that you take 10 to 15 minutes a day, to do something that allows you to totally relax and let go.
As well as eating a good diet, drinking lots of water, taking exercise and sleeping well, we have some easy ideas that will allow self-care to not only slip into your life but make it better too.
Reading
It doesn’t matter what you read, but reading is a great way to escape from life and go somewhere a little slower for a little while. Whether it’s the current bestseller, a classic or an easy to read chic lit novel, let the words leap off the page and feed your mind and imagination. Book clubs, local libraries and reading in coffee shops are all good ways to start something you may have left behind, and once you are hooked on a book the world will simply fall away and burnout will be on the back burner.
Meditation
Whether you use an app, go to a class or simply find a quiet spot at home, a little meditation can go a long way towards keeping burnout away. Find something that allows you to leave the stress of the day at the door so you can collect your thoughts, slow down your heart rate and let life go back to basics for a while.
Yoga
We love yoga at Pure Beauty because it allows you to look after your mind, body, and soul. A class can be sociable, but with many online lessons and apps out there, you can also do downward dogs to your heart’s content at home!
Gardening
If you think you haven’t got green fingers, think again. Being outside, at one with nature, creating and nurturing is a fantastic way to bring things down a notch or two and take care of yourself. You might have a big garden, a window box or a simple patio with pots, whatever it is, go out there and as you see flowers, plants and herbs grow, burnout will be the last thing on your mind.
Talk it out
You might not want to burden others with your problems but talking can be a good way to practice self-care and keep burnout at bay. What you might see as a nightmare with no escape, could actually be viewed as an exciting opportunity by someone else. It could be your partner, mum, sister, friend or even a colleague, but chatting over a cuppa is a self-care treat many of us don’t indulge in often enough.
Treat yourself
A massage, manicure or pedicure at a salon is a real self-care treat and while you can’t do it everyday, once in a while is fine. Let someone else take over while you simply lie back and let your worries fade away.
Crafting
Anything you do that stops your mind racing and worrying is a good way to improve mental health and crafting is high on the list. Knitting, crochet, painting or scrapbooking are all easy, but effective ways to add self-care into your life and can be really beneficial in preventing burn out. Find something you enjoy, join a local group and as well as keeping demons away, you can make your Christmas presents too so take away the stress of last-minute shopping that isn’t much fun.
Team Pure Beauty