“Mental health is not a destination; but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you are going…”
-Noam Shpancer
What is self-care? It is a general term that is used to describe everything that you do deliberately for your physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. In order to achieve true self-care, it is vital to be conscious of one’s own well-being, which can start with simple acts such as not checking emails prior to sleep, going on a trip or giving yourself a comfortable massage when needed.
So, why is this self-care so important? It encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can transmit good feelings to others. You can’t give others, what you don’t really have within yourself. Most people interpret self-care as selfish, which is a preconceived misconception. When you pay adequate attention to your wellbeing, you’re not considering your needs alone. You’re reinvigorating yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself for the people around you. Everyone else around you also benefits from the renewed energy and ecstatic joy you exhibit.
Let’s discuss some self-care tips to improve your well-being. Paying attention to physical health, which is a core part of self-care because the body and the mind have a unique connection where it is difficult to remain in high spirits when your body is not feeling well is important. Research has shown that regular exercise increases the level of serotonin in your body, significantly boosting your mood and energy. The next step is to ensure that you sleep well enough because your body needs time to rest and renew. Scientists suggest that adults need at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Daytime naps are also good for refreshing the body and improving concentration levels. Another essential step is to be a healthy eater, where you concentrate more on consuming healthy, nutritious food rather than junk fast food. Nature has gifted us with many fruits, cereals and vegetables that are of high nutritive value.
One of the best practices for self-care is to identify the things that matter to you. Make a list of priorities when you plan out your daily schedule, which will avoid undue stress and pressure. Spend most of your time with the people you like and live the life that you want following your own natural flaws. Reflecting on the things that you have and being grateful for them creates inner peace and an inherent motivation to succeed in life no matter how difficult the situation is. Meditation helps to connect the mind and the body by concentrating on the present moment only. This helps to make your mind steady and stable, thus enabling you to make better decisions. Refusing to do things that you don’t prefer to do because in order to entertain others, don’t just put your valuable life at risk. Always concentrate more on your heart than your brain when making life choices, because a man can live with a working heart and a disfunctioning brain.
Therapy refers to a variety of treatments that help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts and behaviours. It helps resolve issues by addressing a vast area. There are different types of therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, exposure therapy and psycho-dynamic therapy. There are many advantages to effective therapy such as active coping, building interpersonal skills, efficient coping with stress, feeling physically healthier, maintaining healthy relationships, better productivity and effective resolution of conflicts. Talking with a therapist or counsellor can help you deal with thoughts, behaviours, symptoms, stresses, goals, past experiences and other areas that can speed your recovery process. Some of the life-changing skills learned through therapy are self-awareness, emotional self-regulation, improved motivation, setting healthy boundaries and developing communication and relationship skills.
Research shows that good mental health is linked to improved learning, creativity, higher levels of productivity, better social relationships, good physical health and increased life expectancy. So, it is vital that we pay our due attention to maintaining our mental health because physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing are the four pillars of an individual’s good health.
By Rtr. Manandhi De Silva Jayasinghe
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References :
- Psychology Today. (n.d.), https://www.psychologytoday.com
- National Health Service. (n.d.). NHS, https://www.nhs.uk.com
- Healthline. (n.d.). Healthline: Medical information and health advice you can trust, https://www.healthline.com
Stay tuned with our Tranquil U blog series to explore more about mental health.
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