Self-care is one of the keystones of wellness in the modern, but what does it really mean? Beauty blogs and Instagram self-care experts represent it as a luxurious pastime of scented candles and deep baths, but in truth, it’s a complex issue and finding a routine that works for you is far more important than following other people’s arbitrary instructions.
Today we’re looking at how you can put together a self-care routine that really works for you in 2019.
Filling the Gaps
In many ways, self-care is about finding the time for the things that are important to you, but are pushed out of your schedule by the demands of work. That could be important to the functioning of your body, important to your comfort, or important to your mental state. If your job keeps you sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day, self-care for you might include stretches, fresh air and moderate exercise.
If your work leaves you overstressed, physically or mentally, then relaxation is a necessary component of your self-care. It’s important to be specific. Rather than allowing yourself to be told what is relaxing, find the thing that lets you specifically unwind: if you’re an extrovert, you might want to seek out company in a class or club. Introverts may crave solo reading, cooking or running after the interpersonal demands of the office.
Supplements and Diet
One of the most elementary acts of self-care you can build into your routine is eating a balanced diet that gives your body all the nutrients it needs to run correctly. The vitamins and minerals you find in your diet can affect your whole body, causing or reducing pain, affecting your mood and even your fertility! Putting the energy into ensuring you eat enough fresh vegetables, grains and either meat or meat substitutes to ensure your health and happiness is well worth it.
It’s also worth looking into the field of food supplements and complimentary medication.
If you have PCOS, taking a supplement of Inositol which helps your body use Insulin effectively can help with all the symptoms, including the depression and anxiety which attends the condition.
Another supplement which is growing in popularity is CBD – taken as an oil, pills, in tea or as a vape juice. You can buy it in health food shops or from specialist online retailers like Dayzed.
It’s important to emphasise that the science proving exactly what the benefits of CBD are is in its infancy: for a long time it was stigmatised, because it’s derived from the Cannabis plant. Now, as the pain control and mood affecting benefits of the substance become clear, and public understanding grows that it has no psychoactive effects (which instead stem from the THC in the plant), it’s becoming not only more popular but more studied!
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