Self-care is largely looked down upon by our mainstream culture. Our society and Culture place a significant value on being selfless, and taking time out for yourself is largely frowned upon. While it may sound positive and a great life lesson, sometimes being too giving takes a toll on your personal life and mental health. Besides, it is always recommended on flights to put on your oxygen mask before helping others. If you yourself are not stable, how can you be in a strong position to help others around you?
The National Institute of Mental Health , Maryland, USA defines self-care as “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health.”
In 2011, the International Self-Care Foundation, a UK-based organization, marked 24th July as an International Self-Care Day. The organization works to promote self-care as virtuous and raises awareness about the importance of self-care.
Self-care is extremely important when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship. This may come as a shocker, as the normal assumption of people is that prioritizing yourself leads to unhealthy relationships. Well, it is time to burst the old myth.
But ponder upon it, How can one give in a relationship, when one is not happy and healthy themselves? This actually leads to taking out frustrations on others, which will hamper the relationship in the long run. If you are stable and content in your life, you will actually try to enhance your relationship even more.
Self-care also helps boost your self-esteem, protect your mental health, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote physical well-being.
As we have laid out the importance of self-care, we will now explain how to practice self-care. Before laying out tips, we would like to say that these tips won't be beneficial to all, and it is important to try and experiment according to your needs and well-being.
Regular Exercise: Practice at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Even if 30 minutes is proving too burdensome, a small amount of exercise is helpful as well.
Healthy Diet and Hydration: A balanced diet of all essential nutrients and regular water consumption can energize your body, which in turn will help you feel rejuvenated.
Proper Sleep: Make Sure to get seven hours of sleep every night. Regular sleep can help you experience a positive mood.
Take Time Out for Leisure: It is important to indulge in activities that lighten up your mood. It can be reading, cooking, playing video games etc. Journaling is often recommended by experts to maintain mental health.
Child Help Foundation recognizes the importance of self-care and Mental Health. We have conducted various sessions on mental health. 13,637 people have benefited through our Mental Health Programmes. Our crowdfunding partner, Filaantro, also raises money for mental health treatment.
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