A lot of people talk about ‘self-care’ these days.. but what does it actually mean? Does it mean you have to spend £20 on a bath oil, £40 on yoga classes and £70 on a medium sized candle? I hope not..
A lot of brands have jumped onto the self-care wagon and try to force the idea of spending huge amounts of money on luxury items to be able to relax and de-stress. However, there are alternative ways to relax and look after yourself without going with the trend and spending all of your salary in the process.
Self-care definition: Self care is care provided “for you, by you.” It's about identifying your own needs and taking steps to meet them. It is taking the time to do some of the activities that nurture you. Self care is about taking proper care of yourself and treating yourself as kindly as you treat others. What are the steps we need to take to actually achieve this? Below I’ve listed a few things that I do that make me happy, that may work for you as well..
1. Reading
For me, reading a really good book is an amazing way to destress your mind and stop worrying about all the little things. Sometimes it can take ages to find a book you really love, but once you find one there is nothing better. Reading before bed instead is scrolling through social media completely eases my mind and I don’t go to bed feeling aggy.
2. Podcasts
Podcasts are still a reasonably new discovery for me. Ever since I started working full time and sitting at a desk all day, Podcasts have been helping me through each day. I now listen to so many it’s difficult to keep up. I listen to Podcasts that make me laugh out loud, that make me cry (happy & sad tears), inspire me, and make me work harder. My favourites ever are: Jules and Sarah The Podcast, Glamour Hey it’s OK, My Dad Wrote a Porno, The Debrief Podcast, The High Low, When Life Gives You Melons, Serial, The Heart of It and How To Curate Your Life. They are amazing to listen to on your commute to work, so do check them out!
3. Baths
If you know me well, you will know how obsessed I am with baths. In my eyes there is nothing better after a long shit day of staring at a computer screen, than running a warm bubbly bath, making a hot drink and just laying there with your eyes closed trying to ignore the fact it’s only Tuesday and you still have 3 days left of the week.
4. Spooning
Is there anything much better than Spooning? No, there isn’t. It is wonderful. It instantly makes me feel better, sometimes maybe even a bit emosh if I’m feeling particularly low (lol). If you don’t have anyone to spoon then I’m v sorry, but surely you can find someone to spoon? Your dog?
5. Playing loud music in the car
When I’m feeling particularly pissed off, which is more often than not, I play a great sing along song really loudly in the car and passionately sing along with it. It honestly lifts my mood and makes me slightly less of a moody bitch. Some particularly great songs to put on are: Daniel Bedingfield – If You’re Not The One, Bruno Mars – Chunky, Hoobastank – The Reason, Kate Nash – Foundations, and Wham! - Everything She Wants.
6. Walking
I’m not actually often in the mood to go for a walk, it always just seems a bit too much effort and I’d rather chill at home. However, I never regret going. I always feel refreshed and my mind feels a bit clearer. The only time I can really go for a walk is on the weekends, as during the week I don't get home till around 6:30pm. But sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, I'll join my family on a dog walk to the woods and it's always so pretty.
7. Talking
When I say talking, I mean talking to people who really care about you, not just talking aloud (even though that’s pretty therapeutic as well..). Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone about what is running through your mind. If it’s as small as someone else used your coffee mug at work or that your battling with severe anxiety, talking to people you care about and vice versa is really important, I find anyway. They don’t need to offer any advice, they just need to listen and say ‘mmm’ occasionally.
8. Meditating
I don't want to be one of those typical people that tries to tell you that meditating will solve all your problems, because it won't, but it will definitely help you feel calmer. After downloading the app Headspace, I've been using it to meditate for about 3-5 minutes a night (when I remember and can be bothered, lets be realistic). All I do is lie down on my bed in the pitch black and pop on the app and listen to the calm voice telling me to focus on my breathing, and focus my thoughts on particular things. As soon as it's finished, I put my phone on my bedside table and I'm so sleepy I drift off almost instantly. Wonderful.
There are so many other different methods of self care, and you need to find the ideal options that suit you. Ever since being in my twenties is when I realised the importance of looking after not only your physical health, but your mental health. Learning to put yourself first is hard, especially when it doesn't come naturally.
If anyone else has any other forms of self care, then please do let me know.
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