When it comes to self-care, each person’s approach is highly individualized. But, in general, a routine should make you feel rejuvenated — not depleted.
This means ditching the Facebook scroll for a book and cooking your own meals instead of ordering takeout. Getting enough sleep is essential too, so learn how to wind down at night and avoid caffeine or sugar before bedtime.
1. Take a bath.
It might seem obvious, but soaking in a hot bath is a great way to relax. In fact, a study found that warm soaks activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps calm you down and reduce your stress levels.
Bathing is easy, relatively inexpensive and accessible (depending on tub availability), and it can be personalized to your tastes and needs. It also offers a unique opportunity to be in a quiet space all to yourself, so you can focus on self care.
Whether you want to add a bath bomb, turn up your favorite music or grab a book and cuddle in a robe, a long, relaxing bath is the ultimate indulgence. Plus, it has some pretty impressive health benefits as well. Here’s why you should start a daily ritual of bathing right away.
2. Get a massage.
A massage is a great way to relax and feel good about yourself. The key is to schedule it for a time when you can truly relax and enjoy the experience. It’s not a good idea to go on a big business meeting, host a children’s birthday party or drive three hours up the M6 right afterward!
When giving a massage, it’s important to use a little bit of oil or lotion to make sure your hands slide smoothly over the person’s skin and don’t cause irritation. You can buy special massage oils or just use a light moisturizer from the health and beauty section of your local store.
Encourage your clients to keep coming back by offering a referral discount on their next appointment. You can easily send these requests using ClinicSense.
3. Listen to music.
In a world where we are so busy caring for others, it is easy to neglect our own needs. However, self care doesn’t have to involve a weekend of journaling and massages (although more power to you if that is what you need). Self-care can be as simple as queuing up your favorite song or dancing around the house in your pajamas.
Music can evoke both positive and negative emotions so be mindful when using it for self care. Oftentimes, it may be helpful to begin with music that fits your current mood (even if it is low) and then slowly modulate toward livelier or soothing tunes depending on what you need.
Whenever possible, try to listen to music in high fidelity. This will allow you to fully enjoy the sonic textures of the music, which can be a big part of the experience.
5. Exercise.
Physical self-care includes everything from getting enough sleep to eating a balanced diet. This type of self care is essential because if your body isn’t healthy, it can’t support all the other areas of your life.
It can also include exercise, which is a great way to relieve stress and boost your mood. Dr Shaw recommends incorporating regular physical activity into your day by going for a walk, running or hitting the gym.
Other quick ways to practice physical self-care include listening to music that makes you feel happy, or trying a new workout routine. Just be sure to speak with your doctor before making any major changes to your lifestyle.