We often hear the phrase “self-care” and think it’s something ridiculous. It might imply negative connotations for some people that think self-care is selfish. Others might hear it and think self-care has to be “cheesy” or “woo-woo” with crystals and meditations and the like. The truth is, self-care looks different for everyone. It certainly can include meditation, but it doesn’t have to.
At the end of the day, self-care is most certainly not selfish. Ever been on an airplane and heard the lecture about oxygen masks? You can’t save someone else without saving yourself first. Cliche, yes, but cliches generally have some truth to them.
Ease into the idea of self-care this year by having a look at these ideas. Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.
Why is Self Care Important?
Sometimes, knowing why self-care is important can help you become more motivated to incorporate it into your routine. According to Southern New Hampshire University:
“Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more.”
Self-care routines don’t have to be cumbersome, complicated, or boring. The key is to find out what works for you and build a routine from that.
Discover What You Like
First of all, taking care of yourself means something different to each person. The first step in practicing better self-care is to find out what refreshes you.
Let’s use meditation as an example. One person may love meditating because it helps them relax. Another person may hate it because it doesn’t come naturally to them. If you love meditation, that can be a guide to choosing how to care for yourself. If you don’t, then think about other things that interest you, make you calmer or bring you joy.
Self Care Ideas
If it helps, you can make a list as you think of things that you consider enjoyable. If you’re feeling stuck on what to try, check out a few examples. And know that building a self-care routine might include some trial and error at first.
For readers, taking 15 minutes to read a book can be soothing. If books aren’t really your thing, consider reading a magazine. They feature shorter articles, quick little blurbs and glossy pictures to inspire you.
Exercising is also a form of self care. Even if you don’t love it, you likely know that physical activity is key to good physical health. Explore online classes like yoga, boxing or dancing to see if you can find something you enjoy.
Some people love getting massages. If this is you, consider scheduling fairly regular massages for yourself. There are health benefits to this, but it’s also something that’s relaxing and can be used as a reward. For example, you could schedule a massage every month if you stick to your exercise routine. Or, get a massage when you hit your business goals for the quarter.
Blockchain Rewards
If you need a little extra motivation to keep going with a self-care routine, check out blockchain technology.
Bowhead Health is an app that lets you reward yourself with digital currency for sticking with healthy habits. For example, if you need to increase your water intake and you hit those goals, you win “points” from the app.
And the app uses anonymous health tokens (AHTs) that you can then choose to share if you’d like. That might mean sharing your water intake or exercise habits with your doctor. Or it might mean receiving earnings from anonymously sharing your information with researchers.
The Gift of Self Care
Taking care of yourself is critical to overall well-being. There are a number of ways you can build a self-care routine, from the small things to the big picture things. And if you need a bit of extra motivation, consider looking into blockchain technology to help you out.
