Article by: Brad Krause of www.selfcaring.info
When we practice self-care, it heightens our self-awareness and can produce a wide range of
benefits. And it can help everyone live a happier, more fulfilled life. If you deal with a mental
illness or chronic stress, it can help soothe negative symptoms. If you want to figure out what
activities or tasks can help you look and feel better overall, self-care is a great way to discover
those. Or, if you simply want to add relaxation or pleasure to your life, it can do that as well.
While self-care doesn’t look the same for any two individuals, there are some universal methods
for taking care of your all-around health and well-being. Here are a few examples.
Assess Your Finances
Money can cause stress for an individual and/or relationship as fast as anything can. By
evaluating your financial standing, finding ways to save money, and considering how you can
tweak your budget, you can significantly reduce the stress in your life.
Fuel Your Body
Another form of self-care that you can incorporate in your daily life is healthy eating. Since our
bodies depend on nutrition, it makes sense to stick with a diet that offers the most nutrients. If
you’re not sure where to start in terms of improving your diet, here are two steps to take.
1. Limit your intake of processed foods and sugary drinks.
2. Add more clean, whole foods to your diet.
There are even foods that specifically fight depression, such as beans, bananas, and beets.
Including a portion of these foods in your diet could make a bigger difference than you think!
Work Your Body
Regular physical activity is another cornerstone of a healthy life. Try various activities until you
find some that you enjoy. Whether that means Pilates, biking, running, swimming, weightlifting,
or any other type of workouts, do it for 30 minutes, five days a week. Not only can exercising
consistently improve your physical health, but it can also boost your self-confidence, reduce
your stress, and ease depression symptoms, among other benefits.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
Sleep is undervalued in our society. While many opt to overwork themselves instead of getting
rest, that kind of lifestyle isn’t sustainable. In order for your mind and body to function at full
capacity, you have to get sleep. And in order to do that, you have to prioritize sleep in your life.
Develop a bedtime routine that helps you fall asleep, go to bed and wake up at the same time
each day, and look into any other ways you can improve your sleep habits.
Say ‘No’ More Often
Finally, stop saying “yes” to everything. That only sets you up to be stressed out and do things
halfway. Instead, be more selective with your commitments so that you can better manage your
daily life and do the things you choose to do well. Just remember that it’s OK to say no to
people and to give yourself a break.
If you don’t have enough self-care in your life, now is the time to change things up. Revisit your
finances to see how you can put yourself in a better position, get on a healthy diet, and start
exercising on the reg. Be sure to get plenty of rest, and be conscious of the commitments you
make to people. Taking steps like these can make a significant difference in how you look and
feel in everyday life.
For customized private Pilates sessions with nationally certified teacher Kelly Ianson, reach out
to Pilates Boise by calling 208-371-4114 or emailing kelly@pilatesboise.com!