Though this saying is probably played out and maybe even annoying to hear at the moment, listen for a second. Self-care is important, scratch that, self-care is extremely important. With the current state of the world, it’s impossible to really believe that you can go on and not have a day or even a few moments to yourself and be okay. You need time to yourself and to make yourself a priority, even if you’re in a partnership, even if you are responsible for taking care of someone else, such as children, a parent or being a guardian to someone, you need your “me time”. No matter how busy you may be, or how tired you are, it’s important to give your body and your mind a break for a few moments and to do it periodically. It’s especially important to do if you are living with any type of illness or medical condition that is physically and mentally draining. So as overused as the word and phrase self-care and self-care Sunday may be, there’s no denying that you probably need one badly.
Why Self-Care Is Important For Everyone
Life is hard and the one thing about life that makes it even harder, is that it stops for no one. Just because you’re having a bad day, life is not going to stop and accommodate you.
If you’re stressed about a situation, life is not going to stop and help you figure it out. You have to do all of that on your own and as adults and unfortunately, even for some children and teenagers, this is a common thing to have to deal with. To constantly have to pick yourself up and keep going regardless of what you’re experiencing.
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Think of how that can affect you mentally, emotionally and physically. Stress can cause mental and physical pain and symptoms. Then it can cause the development of mental health issues or worsen symptoms and now even more symptoms have developed due to the ongoing stressors and anxieties you are dealing with. This is why self-care is important. You are the only one that can make time stop for a second and give your body, mind and soul the tender love and care that it needs. Everyone needs self-care because it can honestly save your life.
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How Beneficial A Relaxing Day Can Be For You
A relaxing day every week or at least twice a month can possibly save your life. It can lower your stress levels, and your feelings of depression, ease your anxiety, relax your mind and body and even help if you're dealing with painful symptoms from an active disease or illness.
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A relaxing day could ease your mind for the moment if you're struggling with a decision to make, an idea/concept to come up with, or trying to come to a conclusion. It will help bring clarity so that you can make that decision, create that idea or come up with that conclusion easier and with a more focused mind.
A relaxing day can help if you're dealing with symptoms from a disease such as multiple sclerosis. It can help ease the physical pain and help you learn to manage the symptoms better.
The Ultimate Self-Care Day That You Need
Say you’ve been having a stressful day, week, or month or you’re living with something such as multiple sclerosis and you’re experiencing a relapse and symptoms and you want the pain to cease, a self-care day can do just that.
You can start your day by eating foods that contain omega 3’s, vitamin D, vitamin C, B12, and even calcium. This can look like a fruit salad or a vitamin-packed smoothie.
Then you can do something physical such as cleaning up around the house or taking a walk to get some exercise in. Moving your body will help keep your mind off the stress and/or help with your painful symptoms.
You can follow up with that by going to get a massage even if it’s at your local nail salon. Many places take walk-ins and many places accommodate people living with multiple sclerosis.
Next, try taking yourself out to eat or ordering your favorite comfort meal that's not too heavy or unhealthy. It’s okay to indulge a little but not excessively.
Then you can end the day with a nice, long and warm shower or bath and some stress management meditations and practices. This can work for anyone whether it’s stress you’re living with or a harsh illness.
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Other Helpful Stress Reliever Tips You Should Know
The first thing you should know is that self-care should look however you want it to look, as long as it’s not harming you or anyone else.
Another tip you should know is that simply using an air purifier or diffuser in your home can be helpful too.
Putting your needs first and not waiting for things to get severe is a tip you should know as well as maintaining a good diet and exercising as often as you can.
Ultimately a self-care Sunday can be whatever you want it to be, just make sure it’s what you want, helps you as best as it can and you allow yourself to enjoy it from time to time without any guilt.
