Self-care… we’ve all heard it, but what does it actually mean? With 1 in 4 of us experiencing a mental health issue, it’s important to know how to look after yourself. Self-care can’t replace professional support, but in this blog we’ll dive into how to start practising it, and the benefits of doing so. Deep breath in…and out… and away we go…
Self-care in a nutshell
Usually when we see the term ‘self-care’ it’s accompanied by a level of purchase-based indulgence – UK households spent around £29 billion on personal care in 2020 alone. But at the root of it, self-care means giving yourself what you need to improve your mental and physical wellbeing. Burnout, poor stress resistance and low mood can all be the result of neglecting your self-care.
You may be battling these challenges already, and they’re made worse by not taking time for yourself. Remember; you can’t run a car without fuel, and similarly, you can’t be at your best if your tank’s empty.
Self-care practices
Engaging in good self-care isn’t something that’s going to stick overnight. You need to gradually build up good habits that help you feel better day-to-day. That means a bit of time spent figuring out what techniques work for you – there is no one-size-fits-all routine. However, some good places to start might be:
- Cooking healthy meals – like this super simple noodle recipe
- Meditation
- Practising gratitude
- Making time for old hobbies (or trying some new ones)
- Working out with Banish
Exercising self-care
Working out is a really good place to start if you’re trying to incorporate some more self-care into your life. It’s a super flexible way to dedicate a bit of time to yourself. With Banish, you can choose the length and intensity of your workouts, so you can take the journey to better wellbeing one step at a time.
Here’s a quick HIIT workout to get you started:
- Forward lunges – 45 seconds on, 15 second rest
- Chest down walkouts – 45 seconds on, 15 second rest
- Bear Crawls – 45 seconds on, 15 second rest
Repeat 3 times, then rest for 30 seconds before heading into your cool down. You can check out the full thing here.
Not only does regular exercise help you feel physically better, you also get to focus on feeling more connected emotionally. Being in tune with yourself makes it much easier to spot where else you might need some TLC.
Before you go
Remember to cover your bases. Working towards a happy, healthy lifestyle has to be holistic. That means listening to your body, whether it’s telling you to slow down, switch off, or stop for a minute. However you choose to begin self-care, checking in with Banish can help you keep track. Download the app to get started.