Did you know that 86% of children between five and 11 years old are thought to have excellent health? Hopefully, that good health lasts into adulthood, but even if you’re considered a healthy person, self-care is still important. In fact, in a world just emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps we see more than ever just how important good self-care really is.
With countless distractions and responsibilities, however, self-care can also be challenging. Take good care of yourself and your family with these tips for a healthy lifestyle, during COVID-19 and beyond.
Sleep
For many people, sleep isn’t that much of a priority, but it should be. To function in an optimal, healthy way, you need around seven to eight hours of undisturbed sleep every night. Not only does your body require sleep to heal and create energy, your mind needs it in order to process the events of the day. When you don’t get enough sleep, your ability to manage emotions is lessened considerably.
To kickstart a healthy new bedtime habit, try going to bed an hour earlier than you usually would tonight. Instead of scrolling through your phone in the half-hour before bed, try reading a book — the harsh light from screens can impair your quality of sleep. If you really feel like pampering yourself, sprinkle some lavender oil on your pillow before bed.
Diet
As with all types of self-care, your diet must be balanced. Eating healthy is not about dieting, trying to lose weight, or trying to look a certain way. It’s about fueling your body with what you need to feel good.
Fad diets aren’t much better than binging on sugary foods: either way, you’re likely to come crashing down, either from a sugar high or feelings of disillusionment or discouragement. Instead, try listening to what your body wants. You already know what foods are healthier than others, so try to eat more of those, but do it in balance and kindness to your body.
To start off, treat yourself to a night in, and try out new healthy recipes. Make it an activity you can get excited about and find some dishes to try making that sound good to you. It’s also important to remember everything is best in moderation. Try your best to avoid binge eating or drinking.
Exercise
Everyone knows that exercise comes with lots of physical benefits. But more recently exercise has become recognized for providing mental and emotional benefits, too. Working out and being active helps clear your mind, making it easier to think and manage stress. Just 30 minutes per day is enough to get your blood pumping and skin glowing, and you’ll enjoy a happy sense of achievement.
When you try to start an exercise routine, don’t try to force yourself to do something you hate. If you know you’ll give up on going to the gym after a week, come up with something a little more enjoyable. You might find that running outdoors is more engaging than running on a treadmill, or that yoga classes are more enjoyable and relaxing than traditional workout sessions.
There are also other activities you can do around your house that aren’t running on a treadmill or lifting weights, but still can be a type of workout. Any form of landscaping will leave you sweaty afterward. And, 53 percent of people claim to be more productive after gardening. So liven up the place with flowers, vegetables or, elluminate lighting! You’ll likely feel better afterward.
Vices
Another important part of self-care is having a vice to turn to when you’re overwhelmed. This could be shopping online, adopting and caring for a pet, taking a shower, or like mentioned before, gardening. Whatever it may be, it’s helpful to have something to take your mind off whatever it is that’s stressing you out.
Self-care is important, especially during a crisis like COVID-19. But don’t give up your healthy diet and exercise routine just because the social distancing ordinance is over, because caring for yourself should be something you do all the time. Hopefully this article has given you the inspiration and tips you need to feel motivated to start taking your self-care seriously.
Shelly Smiths
Thursday 11th of June 2020
Wrinkles and fine lines can be seen on our faces, and sometimes we develop age spots which make us look older.