Self-care: The key to being kind to yourself

Written by Guest Blogger: Luciana Villarroel

With the end of the year quickly approaching, December can become a hectic month for anybody. Whether it be at work, school, or the holidays, stress from these areas can begin negatively affecting your life. Due to this, it’s necessary to practise actions of self-care. While everyone strives to be kind to others, sometimes it’s time to begin being kind to yourself. When dealing with negative emotions, it’s easy to be hard on yourself. Being kind to yourself means treating yourself with compassion, and acknowledging you’re trying your best. Taking care of one’s self is often an afterthought for most people. On the list of priorities, it often falls toward the bottom. The reality is, that it shouldn’t. Self-care is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy mind and body. Its making sure you are feeling your best, both physically and mentally. Practicing self-care, can reduce stress, improve your mood, and add a little more kindness to the world.

This leads to the question, how can you begin practicing self-care? The best way is to start is by formulating a plan and setting a goal. Let's say you want to spend an hour every day focusing on yourself, go for it! Write it down, then, break that goal up into smaller, easily achievable tasks to improve your motivation. Most importantly, make time for it. Add it to your schedule and make it a priority. Even if it’s just 10 minutes scattered throughout the day, it will make all the difference in your well-being.

The hardest part of any new goal is figuring out where to start. Luckily, there are many different forms of self-care to choose from and put into action.

An important aspect to consider is physical health. Since the body and mind are connected, it's important to take care of yourself physically in order to feel better. To start, begin by nourishing your body with healthy, balanced food. Try and aim for making meals with a good mix of all the food groups to keep your body running efficiently. Search for fun healthy recipes online, and try making one that appeals to you. Similarly, exercise can be an excellent method of physical self-care. Everyone is different, pick an activity that you enjoy and that helps you feel energized. Whether it’s going on a walk in nature, hitting the gym, or playing your favourite sport, consistency is key. By choosing something you love, you boost your happiness while also boosting your health.

The secondary aspect of self-care is mental and emotional. Mental health should be a priority, it’s what makes all the difference in your mindset and emotions. This is where being kind to yourself plays in, indulge in activities that help recharge your mind. Choose a hobby or activity that can unplug your brain from any stressors in your life, and nourish you. What’s something that brings you joy? Make a painting, read a good book, ride your bike, listen to positive music, and even grabbing a cup of tea. Choose from an established interest, or maybe try something completely new. The possibilities are endless– if you feel relaxed, you're doing something right.

If your goal is to get into the habit of practising self-care, it might require some time to get into the routine. The app Aloe Bud does an excellent job of promoting accomplishing these small victories. Deemed the “self-care pocket companion”, Aloe Bud sends you gentle push notifications every day to urge you to do small tasks of self-improvement.

Now that you have some ideas, prioritize your physical and mental well-being by partaking in these acts of self-care. Give it a try. By exploring all the rewarding opportunities, you’ll find a sense of tranquility, reduced stress, and an overall improved quality of life. This holiday season, give the gift of kindness to yourself.

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