Happy Self-Care Month: 4 tips for improved self-care
“Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness. ” – Deborah Day
You’re a busy girl. You’re overwhelmed with responsibilities, homework, expectations, and taking care of those around you. But when do you find time to truly take care of yourself (and not just personal hygiene or basic necessities)?
Psychology Central defines self-care as this: “Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health.” It’s easy to overlook self-care in the hustle and bustle of life; but as the definition states, self-care is vital to our entire well being.
September is “Self-Care Month,” which means it’s a great time to think about how you treat yourself and how you can improve your self-care. Here are a few ways to get you started:
Watch the way you talk to yourself — you are listening
How often do you find yourself saying “I can’t because…” or “I’m too _____” or “I’m not good enough”? Unfortunately, we’re usually the hardest on ourselves, saying things we’d never dream of saying to another person.
Changing your negative self-talk to positive doesn’t happen overnight, but awareness is the first step to improvement. Our thoughts inspire our actions and have a huge impact on our well being, so this month stop and listen to what you’re saying to yourself. Stop talking down to and beating up on yourself. It’ll begin to make a difference in your outlook and self-image.
Stop the comparison game
Theodore Roosevelt said that comparison is “the thief of joy.” Comparison is unfair to yourself and only results in resentment, which is a happiness-killer. Comparison, since it’s usually negative, is also a toxic form of self-talk. You’re essentially saying to yourself “I’m not good enough” and “I can never be as good as____.”
Stop looking at the girl next to you or comparing your life to how someone else’s appears on Instagram. You are unique and beautiful, so don’t let comparison steal your smile!
Count blessings, not blemishes
It’s amazing what a dose of gratefulness will do to combat your low self-esteem and redirect it to positivity. No matter how many material possessions you have, the brand of your clothes or your number of Instagram followers — you are blessed beyond belief and have plenty to be thankful for.
Instead of pointing out what’s wrong in your life, focusing on the negatives, and comparing your life to others, take time to think about what you’re thankful for. Count your blessings, not your blemishes!
At North Care we care about your health and wellness. If you have questions about your sexual health or would like someone to talk to, contact us to make a confidential appointment to talk to one of our caring professionals. We care about you and your well being. Happy Self-Care month!
