What is self-care?
Self-care simply means taking care of yourself so you can stay physically, mentally and emotionally well. And this means different things to different people. It doesn’t need to include expensive spa treatments, hour long bubble baths or holidays, but rather simple and sustainable habits you can include in your daily routine to promote balance and health.
Somewhere along the way we were told that looking after our own needs was self-indulgent or selfish. Especially as women. When it comes to household and family responsibilities, women and mothers still do the lion’s share, often putting kid’s, partner’s and friend’s needs before their own. The problem is, you can only do that for so long before you burn out and have nothing left to give. You might feel guilty when shifting the balance from taking care of others to taking care of yourself. However, investing in self-care and taking the attention, time and energy you deserve will not only improve your own health and happiness, it will also make you better equipped to help those that rely on you.
10 ways women can practice self-care every day
Here are 10 simple ideas to practice self-care and help you relax and recharge each day:
- Spend time in nature like gardening, taking a stroll through a park, going for a hike, eating your lunch outdoors, looking at the stars at night or standing on grass or sand in bare feet. Regular exposure to a natural environment provides respite from our overactive minds and is linked to a whole host of cognitive and mental health benefits including less stress, more calm and better concentration.
- Set aside 5-10 minutes each day to do a guided meditation. There are plenty of free or inexpensive online meditations and specialised apps available to help you restore some calm and inner peace. The best thing is you can meditate almost anywhere, on the train to work, when you’re waiting in the car at school pickup or when you’re lying in bed at night.
- Read a book in your favourite comfy spot.
- Do something creative that you enjoy and that relaxes and energises you like knitting, colouring, painting, making pottery or sewing.
- Listen to your favourite music.
- Move your body each day. Find a type of exercise that you enjoy like walking, running, Pilates, weight lifting, hiking, aerobics, dancing or cycling.
- Try 10-15 minutes of yoga or stretching in the morning or at night to calm your nervous system and support your physical wellbeing.
- Protect and prioritise your sleep. It can be tempting to stay up late mindlessly scrolling or bingeing a TV show, but getting enough sleep is the ultimate form of self-care and can help improve your mental and emotional health. Try going to bed earlier than usual at least a few nights a week.
- Establish healthy boundaries. This could include saying no to working late or to social events that you don’t enjoy, not answering work emails at night or on weekends and putting a time limit on your social media use.
- Eat a nourishing breakfast to start the day energised. Try a warming bowl of porridge with berries and chia seeds, an omelette with spinach and tomatoes, avocado and smoked salmon on wholemeal sourdough bread or a smoothie. Eating nutritious food and getting the nutrients your body needs is an essential form of self-care as it directly impacts your overall health and wellbeing.
Supplements that can assist
There are also specific herbs and nutrients that can be taken to reduce the impact of stress on the body and enhance your self-care routine.
- If you’re feeling stressed and low in energy, Mega Magnesium Energy and Stress might assist. The combination of magnesium, B vitamins, rhodiola and other supporting nutrients helps reduce symptoms of stress, supports energy levels, assists a healthy body stress response and relieves tiredness.
- If you’re finding it difficult to unwind at night when your mind is racing and your body is tense, you could consider Mega Magnesium Night. Formulated with easily absorbed magnesium plus passionflower, it can help relax the mind and body and support healthy sleeping patterns.
- If you’re tired, stressed and finding it difficult to concentrate or focus, you may find support from Super B Daily Stress+. It combines essential B vitamins plus rhodiola to reduce stress-related physical and mental fatigue and works to maintain mental clarity so you can tackle whatever comes your way.
- If you want to make sure your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs for general health and wellbeing, you might consider Super Multi Plus. This scientifically formulated multivitamin complex works to support energy production and vitality, assists mental and physical stamina and provides immune system support.
