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As fitness people, we like to think that we take care of our bodies and minds. However, sometimes we seem to be lost in how to manage or make connections with what we really are inside as humans.
This is a guest article by Brad Krause, it delineates the reasons why self-care is important for our health and mental balance, things that I consider of great importance in our current society and lifestyle. There are several gems of wisdom and good advice in here. Enter Brad.
7 Reasons Self-Care Can Boost Your Mental Health
It’s a near fact that mental health and self-care are an inseparable duo. Most people know that it’s something that’s important for them to do, and there are enough articles and materials out there to make having your own self-care routine possible. Here’s why you should incorporate more self-care into your own life.
1. Self-care makes connections between mental and physical states
The connections between mental health and physical health are important for anyone to understand as they seek to establish personal wellness, and that’s especially true for people who persevere through mental illness. Self-care practices focus on overall, holistic wellness and the different ways that mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health relate to each other.
2. Learning about yourself
Because mental health and self-esteem are closely linked, self-care practices can clarify what you want and how you can achieve it. Do things that help you become more introspective. Doing yoga, unplugging from electronics, writing in a journal, and meditating regularly are good self-care habits that can help you explore your own wills and desires.
3. New meaning in relationships
Research from the American Psychological Association has shown that the enjoyment and meaningfulness of a relationship is limited by our ability to balance our own needs while supporting and helping other people. If you experience some dissatisfaction in a relationship or feel burned out because you are constantly giving, self-care can help you recharge your batteries. This might mean spending less time on relationships that don’t give back very much, or to be willing to say “no” to commitments you don’t want to engage in. Doing this will help you recommit to people you love and care about.
4. Your stress level will drop
Research has also demonstrated that for people who feel highly stressed, simply going for a walk and using it as a time for mindfulness can significantly reduce stress levels and support mental health. Lowering your stress level can help you be happier and reduce chances for burnout.
5. Many self-care activities are good for mental illness
Activities like reading can help with mental illness by forcing your mind to move away from negative thoughts. Giving yourself something else to focus on can help you find a healthy approach or strengthen resolve. Other self-care practices, like attending therapy, can help you attack aspects of mental illness head-on. Find a strategy that works for you. Give it time, and take confidence in the fact that you’re stronger than you think.
6. Self-care helps with addiction recovery
Sometimes, unhappiness can come from living too much in the past and dwelling on mistakes we’ve made. This can be especially true for people who are in addiction recovery. When you’re in addiction recovery, self-care helps your mental health by helping you relax and live in the moment and forgive yourself. Some things you can do to help addiction recovery include picking up a new hobby, whether it’s knitting or hiking. You can also give yoga and meditation a try. These activities go hand in hand: yoga helps improve meditation skills, since it’s a meditative activity.
7. Increased productivity
According to the Huffington Post, many individuals and businesses have observed that when people are able to effectively implement self-care practices, they are more productive and better able to find success in the workplace. This means not overworking yourself and learning to take on only as much of a workload as you can handle. It also means working to get high-quality sleep each night and to eat enough so you’re energized at work.
Self-care can be a lot of things that ultimately boil down to one thing: taking care of yourself. Try some methods and see if they work for you. Figure out sources of negativity in your life, and see if you can reduce those sources if you can’t eliminate them outright. Get enough sleep and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Get a healthy amount of exercise. All of these things can help you become happier and improve your overall mental health.
If you want to find out more about Brad’s work check his content here.
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