It’s a well-known fact that women the world over tend to put others first. Born nurturers and caregivers it is in our nature to want to see others happy. This in itself is wonderful, but not at the expense of our own well-being and self-care.
Co-founder and CEO of the lifestyle and wellness website Well+Good, Alexia Brue says,
“Taking care of yourself and making sure your own batteries (and not just your cell phones) are getting continuously recharged is really important in order to be effective at work and contribute to societal change.”
Closer to home, skincare brand Clere shares these same sentiments. Clere understands that self-love, the purest form of love, should be celebrated, always, and the best time to start is now, during Women’s Month.
Su-Marie Annandale, Clere brand manager, shares some valuable tips to help you prioritise self-care from today.
Self-Care Tips For Women’s Month
Be kind to yourself
Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash
In a world obsessed with appearances and the latest bodies, it can be easy to fall into the trap of self-loathing. However, you are doing the best you can. Stop comparing yourself to others. Run your own race and be kind to yourself.
Keep it real
Women are often applauded for the way they constantly stay on top of things in the different areas of their lives. However, is the risk of burnout worth the applause?
If your to-do list (whether work or personal life) is overwhelming then why not each evening identify the top three things you want to achieve the next day?
Breaking it down into small, achievable steps will ensure you tick things off and feel a sense of achievement.
Feed your soul
Food is life and if you want to have a great one, then you need to be eating the right foods.
Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels
There’s nothing worse than feeling run down or ill, and then exacerbating that by feeding your body with all the wrong foods. Plan your meals, and choose the foods that nourish you best.
We recommend including spinach, turmeric, blueberries as well as salmon, and legumes in your diet.
Speak to yourself with kindness
you is kind you is smart you is important
It’s easy to get lose in your flaws, but when’s the last time you gave yourself a complient?
Why not spend a day listening to the way you speak to yourself. Is it in a positive, loving way? Or are you constantly beating yourself up? Even when you are feeling down, talk to yourself as you would your best friend on her worst day.
Step back from social media
Social media can be a fun and exciting way to keep up with the latest news, as well as find out who needs to be immediately canceled.
Yes, we love Instagram as much as the next person, but the constant bombarding of filtered lives is not conducive to a positive mindset. So put your phone down and enjoy some face-to-face time instead – all safety protocols in place, of course.
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Me, me, me time!
Yes, you! You deserve as much time as you give everybody else. So, when was the last time you scheduled in something for you?
Take a long, warm bubble bath and lather yourself in a nourishing moisturiser after. If me time to you is a workout session, then do that, or why not take the morning for a mani and pedi?
ZZZzzzzz
According to a study published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine, women are more likely than men to suffer from trouble sleeping at night and excessive daytime sleepiness.
As such, it’s important that women get enought sleep. Make a concerted effort to turn the TV off at a reasonable time, or close your laptop, and enjoy seven to eight hours of high-quality sleep, including a few hours before midnight.
Bottom linne: Don’t Forget About What Matters Most
Living in a world so focused on material possessions, it’s easy to get swept up in striving for what everyone else is looking for. A new car? A new dress? A perfect set of abs? These things are great if they matter to you, but just because they matter to someone else does not mean you need to add them to your priority list. Spend some time determining what makes you happy and go after those things instead.
Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels
Want to know more?
A self-proclaimed self-care advocate, Miss Dhanusha has recently begun using her platform to help women learn how to practice self-care in their everyday lives.
References
Boccabella, A., & Malouf, J. (2017). How Do Sleep-Related Health Problems Affect Functional Status According to Sex?. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 13(5), 685–692. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6584
