I took a self-care break in July, and it feels so good to be back. I must admit that it feels weird typing away on my keyboard, but I’m really excited. I’ve missed blogging. To everyone who checked up on me – thank you, it really meant a lot.
If you know me, you know that I’m a huge advocate of self-care. As my fellow Nigerians will say ‘try to dey enjoy yourself because problem no dey finish…‘
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Why is it important?
Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with yourself and to find ways to be the happiest version of you. The beauty of self-care is when you’re glad you can transmit that good feeling to others. Everyone benefits. 🙂
Seeing as we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, and almost everyone is working from home, it’s easy to slip into the continuous cycle of work and more work. You deserve rest – both your body and mind deserve some time off. I’ll be sharing some self-care tips that have helped me in recent times.
1. Check-in with yourself.
Nobody knows you better than you know yourself. Often times, we tend to ignore the signs of burnout. Ask yourself how you’re feeling daily. If you are getting overwhelmed, allow yourself to physically, mentally, emotionally check out. It’s ok to take a day off to do absolutely nothing.
2. Exercise as often as you can.
Countless studies have proven the benefits of exercise. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) which trigger a positive feeling in the body. It doesn’t have to be anything vigorous—a 30 minutes brisk walk is all you need. I picked up running 9 weeks ago (using the Couch to 5k app), and it’s been amazing tracking my improvement. There are also free resources on YouTube if you’re terrified to use the gym in these times.
3. Do what makes you happy.
I feel like this is a no-brainer. A significant part of self-care is self-love. The ability to embrace your inner child and appreciate yourself. Do you like dancing your heart out? Or do you enjoy getting lost in the pages of a book? Is learning a new skill your thing? Whatever it is, seek your happiness. Self-love is freedom. Freedom to feel. Freedom to live. Freedom to be yourself.
4. Get social.
As lockdown restrictions are starting to ease, you can plan (socially distant) outdoor activities. Pack a bag and head to the park for a picnic. If you’re into adventure, plan an outdoor scavenger hunt. If you have a young child or children, a fun day of fruit picking is an engaging activity. Not only will your child(ren) enjoy running around, they will also explore nature. It’s okay if you’re still anxious about being outdoors. You can host a virtual event to keep in touch with your friends and family.
5. Learn to say no.
This is especially hard if you’re a parent/carer; however, learn to prioritize yourself. Doing this does not mean you care less about other people; it means you’re smart enough to know you can’t help others if you don’t help yourself first. Making yourself a priority is essential to living your best life.
Do you indulge in any self-care practices? Please share in the comments.
*All posts are edited by Ife Agboola.
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