Self-care Checklist: Habits to Keep Anxiety Away
Self-care is a common subject nowadays. However, it is commonly misunderstood, and some mistake it for selfishness. Maybe you keep reading some helpful tips on Instagram and Twitter but do not know how to apply them to your life. It can be unclear, so you are not encouraged to practice self-care.
You then stick to your routine, and habits 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, this article will take you through 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 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 fully realize 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 you enjoy is a privilege because people cannot 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 by 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 did not need any more distractions? 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, which make you happier or 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 work out at a gym; walking and jogging around the block will 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; 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 is sometimes clouded with external factors such as financial needs and relationships. However, it would be best not to let those affect how you care for and feel about yourself.
Everyone gets lonely from time to time, and it isn’t enjoyable. But if you know how to care for yourself, you will get by and be okay.
