Forming new healthy habits through self-care:

Are you on a journey?

Nothing good in life is easy to attain. Life is just constant. A roller coaster loop, where you are unsure which way is up.

Finding self-love is frustrating and maintaining this mindset is even harder, but necessary to believe that you do have a bright future.

An ongoing focus on self-care is fundamental to avoid a sense of burnout, and to ensure a flourishing state of well-being.

Who is responsible for your well-being?

The journey to contentment is long, but the only one who can get you there is you.

We all have to take care of our physical health from time to time. For example, if you went ice skating and fell over and heard a cracking sound in your arm, your first instinct would be to go to Accident and Emergency. Why is there not this same urgency if we feel like our mental health is cracking? It is just as important, if not more!

To make sure you or your loved ones are thriving and not just surviving, you could follow this POWER tool:

P) Checking on personal well-being, by being aware and appreciating all your surroundings.

O) Out and about exercise, fitness improves sleep, which inevitably improves our quality of life.

W) Weight awareness, getting to know what a healthy weight for you is.

E) Eating and diet, find a balance of healthier and more sustainable food.

R) Risks and prevention, help your heart and your health while watching out for symptoms.

The starting point is self-realisation and admitting that a change needs to happen in your lifestyle, try what feels comfortable to you, at your own pace, picking 1-2 things to change that are achievable.

When do you make the change?

Being aware of what normal is for you, can save you in so many ways.

Anxiety symptoms, such as feeling restless, tense, and panicky, can lead to increased heart rate, hyperventilation or sweating. These symptoms can potentially show a lack of coping. These symptoms are beneficial, although they may not feel like it.

When you feel like your stressors are too much. The triggers of these feelings can become your instruction guide towards better mental health. As you can find out what the issue in your life is.

A domino effect can occur if you don't listen and recognise these symptoms. Better yourself, boost your positivity and create a healthy lifestyle habit, as it is never too late.

What are your first instincts?

When someone says self-care to you, I am sure 95% of the time being pampered comes to mind, and while treating yourself is perfect for when you are down, it cannot completely change your mindset for long-term healing.

Creating more investment in time for ourselves and our wellness can only be beneficial. It just now needs to be embedded in our society, across communities. Showing that personal development is possible for all of us.

If you are stuck on ideas, then you are in the right place. Find a way to create a cycle of care for yourself, allowing for self-improvement.

Self-care is vital to increase happiness, motivation and productivity and improve tolerance to what life has planned for us all.

What are methods for self-care?

It has been revealed that only 25% of 25–34-year-olds dedicate more time to improving their mental well-being.

We can increase this statistic together! Make a change for yourself!

Mindfulness and yoga therapy go hand in hand to reduce your stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. It turns your recurring negative thoughts into positive outcomes. Concentrating your mind more on emotion regulation.

Maybe people do not self-care as often because they want to be there for other people and feel selfish taking more time for themselves, but this is just untrue.

It involves self-preservation, not self-indulgence! We need to protect ourselves mentally!

Personal development has no timeframe. There needs to be constant adaptation and acceptance of our feelings to maintain a sense of wholeness and make it all feel natural and part of our regular routines.

Self-discovery uncovered from self-care methods leads to a better path in life, with a work-life balance and an improved quality of our interpersonal relations.

By enhancing our resilience, we can feel proud of ourselves!

Maintenance and care towards our wellness can be extremely peaceful, try it!

References:

·       Flourishing well-being, In-pursuit-of-wellness.pdf (sasheducationcampus.net)

·       Power tool, Fact Sheets - Self Care Forum

·       Triggers, Let Your Triggers Be Your Teacher - The Holistic Psychologist

·       Personal development, Supporting self-care in general practice | British Journal of General Practice (bjgp.org)

·       A cycle of self-care, The Resilient Practitioner | Burnout Prevention and Self-Care Strategy (taylorfrancis.com)

·       Improving mental well-being, The UK needs to focus more on self-care says 84% of consumers | Hearst

·       Emotion Regulation, Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress (apa.org)