Self-care Checklist: Habits to Keep Anxiety Away

Self-care is a common subject nowadays. However, it is commonly misunderstood, and some people mistake it for selfishness. Maybe you keep reading some helpful tips on Instagram and Twitter, but you do not know how to apply them to your life. It can even be unclear for you, so you end up not being encouraged to practice self-care instead.

You then stick to your routine and habits that you did not know are already unhealthy and harming your outlook. So what exactly is self-care? How do you do it? And why is it important?

Additionally, how will you take care of yourself? See, not everything you read applies to you. Thus, to help you out, this article will take you through the reasons why you need to apply self-care routines to your daily life. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you have picked up something helpful.

If you think you need help taking care of yourself or relaxing and setting boundaries, this article will be one step closer to helping you out.

Introspect honestly

Life can be hectic. Some things can happen all at once, and you will find yourself right in the middle of it, exhausted. You will not have enough time to process until you have fully realized you are hurting. To avoid this, try to look inside yourself. Are there emotions you’ve been pushing down? Feelings you are bottling up? Are there things you are scared to talk about? See, rather than harboring these negative emotions, you can talk about it with a trusted friend, or even better, your therapist. If it can’t be helped, you can write them down in a journal to learn what triggers these feelings and counter them.

Do something you take pleasure in

Following that point above, if you feel stuck or dull. It can be because you have lost a sense of purpose that gives humans happiness and satisfaction. Understandably, having time to do something that you enjoy is a privilege because people cannot even afford a day off. However, doing something you will enjoy does not necessarily mean taking a week off and going to Disneyland. You can start with finding your way back to your hobbies, playing the violin again, or cooking your favorite meal. You can even treat yourself. Get a facial or schedule an orthodontist appointment to look your best. Self-care should also be something that you enjoy.

Set personal boundaries

Have you ever had a bad day when you do not want to talk to anyone? Or perhaps you experienced being busy at work, and you did not need any more distraction? Well, instead of forcing yourself to interact with friends or co-workers during these times, learn to say “No, thank you.” and set boundaries. It will provide you with clarity, focus, and peace. However, one important thing to remember is that you still need to verbally and politely tell them. If you do not feel like hanging out with your friends, gently say that you want to stay in for the night and take a rain check. We are all adults with different social batteries. It is understandable if you feel like that sometimes; be careful not to keep your friends waiting on you while you remain on radio silence.

Try to be more physically active.

Exercising promotes endorphins, and endorphins make you happier or at least put you in a good mood. Being more physically active will help you with your physical health and your mental state. You do not need to be working out at a gym; walking and jogging around the block will already help you a lot. If these two are already too extreme for you, you can always start with a yoga mat and some stretches for at least 20 minutes each day.

Final Words

You do not have to be clinically diagnosed with depression or anxiety to decide and do self-care. Everyone needs self-care, and truthfully, it tells so much about a person’s character. Self-care is the first step towards having a healthy life and being fulfilled. It just sometimes gets clouded with external factors such as financial needs and relationships. However, it would be best not to let those affect how you take care of yourself and feel about yourself.

Everyone gets lonely from time to time, and it isn’t enjoyable. But if you know how to take care of yourself, you will get by and be okay.