Self-Care: Physical

In my last blog I talked about how important self-care is. It is not something that we are used to thinking about. I therefore thought that I would do a series of blogs with suggestions of how you can include self-care in every aspect of your life.

I have included each issue once; however, you will see that many of them can help in more than one area of your life:

Physical Self-Care

What helps you to feel physically healthy and good?

Regular exercise – Going to the gym, walking, doing aerobics, whatever it is that works for you. Everyone needs to have regular exercise. Work out what exercise makes you feel good, and how frequently you need it for you. Then make sure that you take the time to do it, safeguard this time.  Exercise can also help to get rid of pent-up emotions (think running or boxing). It can also give you some mental space away from everyone. Therefore, exercise is a great all-round self-care thing.

Adequate sleep – Everyone needs a good night’s sleep. It is not a sign of dedication or will power to exist on little sleep. Work out how much sleep you need, this is on average 8 hours but could be different for you. Work out a bedtime routine to ensure that you get your rest. This may include putting down all devices 30 minutes before bedtime, listening to calming music, special bedding, bedtime drinks and snacks. Whatever works for you.

Eat healthily – We need a balanced, nutritious diet to feel great. Stop feeding yourself junk. Stop skipping meals. Take time to eat, and don’t just grab something on the run. Be aware of your alcohol intake. Remember, you cannot expect to feel like a Ferrari if you just feed yourself rubbish. A bad diet affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally as we are just not functioning properly.

Look after your health – Do not ignore the nagging aches and pains, see a dentist, contact your GP or specialist. Stop putting things off and get them sorted now. Pain and even un-comfortability suck our energy and make life feel worse. When you are not feeling well, take time off and look after yourself.  A healthy, rested you works much more efficiently. If we try to power on through, we often make ailments last longer and affect us more severely. Give yourself time to heal and get better.

Take breaks – We all need regular rest and recouperation. We cannot be on the go all the time. If you are fully rested, then you will be more productive. Don’t push yourself to your limits on a regular basis. Have duvet days. Give yourself time off. Look after yourself. Take regular holidays and weekends away.

Take care of your appearance – If we look good, we feel good. Taking the time to look after your appearance makes you feel loved and cared for. Get your hair cut, keep clean and tidy, wear clothes that fit properly and make you feel good. Take pride in yourself.

Sensuality – We need to feel desirable by others. This is an important part of our lives and is very often overlooked. A healthy sex life and knowing that you are desirable will make you feel good.

Keep safe – We all need to feel safe; it is a basic human requirement. However, a lot of us put up with situations where we don’t feel safe. We stay in workplaces that make us feel bullied and underappreciated. We stay in toxic marriages. We put up with friends who put us down. Stop doing this, get out or say No. Find people and environments who appreciate and support you. You do not need toxicity in your life as this will start to infect you and make you feel bad. You deserve to be surrounded by people who love, encourage, and support you.

For more information, or just a chat, please contact me on 07742 209312 or nicole@greenoaktherapies.co.uk