In an increasingly busy, fast-paced world, it can be easy to let our own self-care take a backseat. It’s easy to forget to do even the smallest things to keep ourselves happy and healthy, but we should be putting ourselves first. Whether it’s taking an afternoon nap if we feel run down, or finally taking that sildenafil tablet to help with the libido, it’s important to take out time to make sure we’re looking after ourselves. But it’s not always easy to find the time, is it? Luckily, we’ve collected together a few easy ways for you to improve your wellbeing.
Laugh
Whether you’re laughing at something someone has said, or at a video on Facebook of cats in clothes, it’s all doing you some good. It’s too easy to get caught up in the seriousness of the world around us and not give ourselves enough time to just sit back and relax. But laughing is easy to do, and the benefits are endless. A simple laugh can help lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress hormone levels, and triggers the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers. Even if you’re not in pain, endorphins can make you feel good all over anyway, so where’s the harm in trying?
Be active
It’s one we’re sure you’ve heard a lot, but the benefits to being active really can’t be overlooked. Exercise has both its physical and mental health benefits, including protection against cognitive decline, staving off feelings of depression and anxiety, and a healthier body overall. An often-active body will be less likely to suffer from any aches or pains, and you’ll feel better within yourself overall. It can contribute to higher self-esteem, reduces mental fatigue and can get you better sleep, while physically it can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and stroke.
Be aware
What do we mean by aware? Well, you see, being engaged with your surroundings can play a part in mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state in which you deliberately pay attention to things going on around you. Whether it’s a smell, a sense, what you feel underfoot or under your fingers, it all counts and it all helps build a sense of control and self-determination over what you’re doing and where you can go next. If a situation is out of your control, being mindful can help you step back and work out what YOU are going to do next, even if it’s simply sending an email to your boss about advice on an overwhelming workload.
Be accepting of your emotions
Similar to mindfulness, being aware of and accepting your emotions can actually contribute to how you feel overall. Accepting that you are sad or anxious can help you take the first step towards working out how to change that. Even if you still can’t work out what to do, it’s important to pay attention to what you’re feeling and why you’re feeling that way. You can look back at the situation later on when you aren’t feeling so down and try and see if you can work out why you may have felt that way at the time, but with a clearer head.