The Benefits of Self Care: Why You Need to Take Time to Show Yourself Some Love

Self improvement strategies

Jamal Baptiste
In Fitness And In Health
8 min readJun 29, 2022

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Image source: Freepik

Self-care is something that has been talked about for some time now. But, it’s not until recently that we’re starting to see its benefits of it. Self-care is becoming a growing trend amongst millennials and Generation Z and the statistics prove why. Research shows that taking time out of your busy schedule to look after yourself will leave you feeling happier, more productive, and ready to take on anything that comes your way.

Self-care isn’t as scary as it may seem. It doesn’t involve drinking kale smoothies or going on spa dates every single day of the week. It simply consists in doing activities that put you first and make you feel happy and at home with yourself — similar to how you would treat a best friend or lover who was having a tough time in life. The benefits of self-care are numerous and can be seen in almost any area of your life if you keep reading to find out more!

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Manage Stress and Anxiety

If you suffer from anxiety, then you will most likely be aware of how it can affect your daily life. It can be hard to be productive when all you want to do is stay in bed and hide away from the world. Self-care is a great way to manage stress and anxiety as it allows you to take some time out of your day to just focus on yourself.

Whether it’s going for a walk in the park or cooking a meal that you love, taking time out of your day to focus on yourself will do wonders. It will help you clear your mind and refocus on what’s essential in your life, rather than letting anxiety take control.

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Practice gratitude

Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to keep yourself in a positive state. When you’re grateful, you’re much more likely to focus on positive aspects of your life, including things that might normally be taken for granted. You’re also more likely to be optimistic, have healthy self-esteem, and have better relationships.

Gratitude is a powerful force that can transform your life. There are many ways to practice gratitude, ranging from keeping a gratitude journal to sharing with others. No matter what way you choose, practicing gratitude is guaranteed to improve your life.

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Meditate

There are so many benefits to meditating and it doesn’t matter what kind of meditation you choose to do. If you’re stressed out and feel like you’re always on edge, meditation is a great way to calm your nerves. This can help you feel more at ease, help you sleep better, and improve your stress levels, among other benefits.

If you’re feeling anxious about an exam or stressing about an important project at work, meditation can help you cope with those feelings better and bring your focus back to a place of serenity. It doesn’t take long to start seeing results from meditation, either. You can easily incorporate meditation into your daily routine, no matter how busy you are.

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Do things you love

Find a hobby that you love and indulge in it as often as you can. You can also journal about what your passions are, what you want to achieve in life, and what you want to be remembered for. When you journal, you’re allowing your thoughts and feelings to come out in the open and be dealt with in a healthy way. You’re also allowing yourself to be creative, which has been proven to lower stress and anxiety.

When you have a hobby that you love, you get to be yourself and indulge in something that lights you up and makes you happy. Doing what you love allows you to get in touch with your emotions and be completely present at the moment. You also get to take your mind off the things that stress you out and feel good about yourself for achieving something great.

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Create a routine

For better or for worse, we are creatures of habit and when it comes to self-care, creating a healthy routine is essential. When you have a routine, you get to take care of yourself daily and feel good about it. You get to be mindful of your actions and know that you are taking care of your mental and physical health. Creating a routine is great for children, students, working professionals, and even retirees.

Everyone needs a routine to function properly and feel good about themselves. The key is to make your routine fit your lifestyle. You can do this by figuring out what works best for you and your schedule. If you’re struggling to find something that works for you, seek help from a therapist or a professional. They can help you find something that fits your needs perfectly and gives you a sense of security without feeling like you’re being over-protested.

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Take care of your body

Taking care of your body means eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep. When your body is in tip-top shape, you feel lighter and better about yourself. You also get to reduce stress and anxiety when you’re eating right and exercising regularly.

Some ways to take care of your body are to eat healthy, exercise at least three times a week, and get eight hours of sleep. These three things are not only beneficial to your health, but also to your mental health. When you take care of your body, you feel good about yourself and get to reduce anxiety and stress.

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Go out and socialize

Socializing is all about getting out of your comfort zone and connecting with people. You can do this in person or on social media. You can talk to your friends, attend meet-ups, or even lurk on social media groups. Socializing helps you feel less alone, improves your self-esteem, and allows you to express yourself freely. It also allows you to get a better understanding of people, their lives, and their thoughts, which can help you grow as an individual.

When you are part of a supportive and open community, you get to open up, let go of your insecurities, and feel a sense of belonging. Socializing is a great way to let go of stress, anxiety, and negative emotions. You get to release those feelings and have fun while doing it!

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Take care of your mental well-being and self-care

Taking care of your mental well-being is crucial when it comes to self-care. Doing so allows you to be more in tune with yourself and your emotions. It also allows you to be mindful and lets you know when you need a break. You get to understand yourself better and let go of the negative thoughts that are holding you back.

You get to be more aware of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your goals in life. You get to be a better version of yourself by being open and honest with yourself. Self-care involves taking time for yourself, looking after your mental wellness, and being kind to yourself. You get to do what makes you happy and feel good about yourself. You also get to avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety by being mindful of your actions. You get to live your best life when you are kind to yourself.

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Improve Your Relationships

Relationships are a huge part of our lives and they can mean a lot to us. They are a huge part of our happiness and self-esteem. When we don’t feel good about ourselves, it can be hard to let others see this or to even want them to see it.

We may put on a mask and act as if everything is fine when really we are hurting inside. Taking time out of your schedule to look after yourself will help you to let go of these insecurities you may have. This will allow you to be the best version of yourself that you can be and allow others to see the real you.

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Help You Maintain Your Health

Going to the gym once every couple of months and eating a salad for dinner every night may seem like you are keeping your health in check, but it doesn’t compare to self-care. Taking time out of your day to go for a walk or yoga class, or even cooking yourself a nutritious meal can help you to maintain your health. It can also help you to feel good about yourself.

Feeling good about yourself can go a long way in keeping your health and happiness in check, which can help you live a longer and healthier life.

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Help You Achieve Your Goals

Goals are something we all need to set in life. Whether you want to travel the world, write your first book, or start a business, you will need to set goals to achieve these things. When you are taking time out of your day to do self-care activities, you are allowing yourself to have time to think.

Time to think about what you want to achieve in your life, where you want to go, and who you want to be as a person. This will help you to achieve your goals in life as it will allow you to have time to sit back, relax, and think about what’s important to you.

Conclusion

Self-care is important for everyone, not just those who find themselves in a tough situation or experiencing stressful times. It’s important for us all to look after ourselves, because only then can we be ready to take on the world and tackle any negativity that comes our way.

Self-care can be done by anyone, no matter how busy they are or how many things they have going on in their lives. It doesn’t require you to do anything drastic, instead, it allows you to take some time out of your day to focus on yourself and what you need.

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Jamal Baptiste
In Fitness And In Health

Former WNBA Strength and Conditioning Coach Atlanta Dream | Licensed Massage Therapist | Health Coach | Author |