With the day-to-day demands of everyday life leaving little time for anything else, it can be hard to justify taking a break from your busy schedule to engage in self-care. If taking care of your mental health isn’t reason enough, taking breaks will also make you more productive by decreasing the chance of experiencing burnout.
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There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for self-care. To get the most out of self-care, pick activities that reflect your personality.
The Nature-Lover
If you’d rather be frolicking through the fields singing The Sound of Music than cooped up inside your home, take your self-care outdoors. Connecting with nature reminds you to slow down and quite literally stop and smell the roses. If you live in a concrete jungle, start a garden that you can work on when you need to take a little time for yourself. For days when you have a little more time, get out of the city and explore the abundance of nature that your area has to offer. While getting outdoors should be purely for pleasure, going on walks and more strenuous hikes has the added benefit of helping you achieve your fitness goals.
The Book Worm
Sometimes the best way to take a break from your reality is to trade it for a new one. There’s no easier way to discover a new world than through the compelling plot of a good piece of fiction. Have a look through that old, dusty bookcase for a classic you haven’t read in a while, or pick up a brand new novel you’ve been meaning to read. Alternatively, pick out a good non-fiction and learn something as you relax.
The Creative
When most people think of self-care, they often think it means taking time out of the day to do very little, or even nothing at all. For the creatives out there, self-care might mean the opposite – doing more. Creative individuals get satisfaction out of creating, whether this is through baking an apple pie with a lovely lattice-style crust or hand embroidering enchanting designs on fabric. Although it may seem like you’re adding yet another project to your busy schedule, by taking the time to work on something for no reason beyond your own pleasure, you’ll give your brain a break and feed your soul.
The Extrovert
The concept of self-care brings to mind both solitude and quiet. This might not be the best plan of action for extroverts who need to be around others to feel energized. For extroverts, self-care involves interacting with friends and family. Extroverts should make time for social engagements to keep their mental health up, arrange video chats with friends when social engagements aren’t possible, or invite a friend or two along to participate in their favourite activity with them. While parties are great, simply going out for a cup of coffee or having someone over for dinner and a movie are enough to help you feel re-energized.
The Luxury Seeker
For those who love luxury, the traditional concept of self-care is most likely to meet your needs. Luxury doesn’t have to mean an expensive trip to the spa (although some do have budget friendly options). Simply run a bath, add some essential oils and bubbles, and light a candle. The key point is that activities should promote relaxation. If you don’t fancy doing it all yourself, that’s when going to a spa is a very good idea. You don’t have to lift a finger, as they will pamper you professionally, you just need to sit back and relax. But you will need to find one in your location, so doing a quick search online with what you want and where you are, e.g. “facial near me in Old Bridge Township, NJ“, will help you get your well-deserved spa break all done by experts in their field. It may become a regular once monthly indulgence of yours, which can benefit your skin and mental health.
If you want to stick mainly with the at-home spa on weekly basis, you could think about doing a skin treatment, giving yourself a manicure or pedicure, ordering in a fancy meal (including dessert!), and cracking open that expensive bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a ‘special’ occasion.
Regardless of your personality-type, engaging in self-care is important for your wellbeing. Remember that taking time for yourself isn’t a reward for being productive – it’s your right.