Lets talk self-care and how we can actually practice it in our every day lives.

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What is self-care?

Now I know you all are thinking, we know what self-care is. However, by definition self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. The keyword is deliberate. Many people are existing through life thinking as long as they have a roof over their heads, bills are paid and food to eat they are taking care of themselves. Life can get monotonous so it is our duty to go the extra mile and make sure we are treating ourselves with love and affection.

How many of you are constantly giving to others neglecting your own needs? As previously mentioned in our post, #MentalHealthCheck it is important to make sure you are in a good space before pouring into others. Here are my Top 5 #selfcaretips to get centered and balanced.

Music Therapy

Deliberately designate time out from the 24 hour day to do something you love, like listening to your favorite playlist. Now you're probably saying I always listen to music. There is a difference between listening to music and receiving music. Did you know that there is such a thing as music therapy? - This is a discipline where music is used purposefully to support your health, development, and well- being. When I need a good pick me up I'll listen to music from my childhood. Music from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s bring nostalgic memories which make me feel all good inside, instant mood change. Listen to my Nostalgic Vibes playlist on #AppleMusic here. We often speak about how music makes us feel but it also heals when we allow it to penetrate through our flesh into our souls.

Stay Active

When you exercise your brain says to itself that something stressful is happening, so to protect the brain from stress our bodies release a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) this, in turn, helps us to feel relaxed and at ease after we work out. Also, as the endorphins are released it helps to minimize stress and limit the feeling of pain. So essentially, our bodies are so fearfully and wonderfully made that physical exercise sends a message to our brain and our brain releases a chemical that makes us feel good. Not everyone is a gym person but you can start with 15 mins of walking and work your way up to an hour every day. With Covid-19 and not being able to make it to a gym, there are so many effective at-home workouts. My favorite at-home workout of all time has to be Tiffany Rothe Workouts on YouTube. Another new fav since "lockdown" has been Chloe Ting on YouTube great at home work out and only 15 mins.

Lifestyle

Self-care is not just about fixing the outside but its mainly caring for the inside. Eating healthy, drinking lots of H2o, taking baths, and getting sleep. It sounds like things we all should be practicing, but with the hustle and bustle of life, many of us forget to do these basic actions intentionally. We all know that eating healthy does our body good, (abs are made in the kitchen) but food plays a major role in balancing our hormones and aids in certain elements being released in our brains to help balance moods. Studies have shown vitamin C is linked to reducing anxiety and depression. Omega-3 fatty acids found in many fish proteins have been linked to being a mood booster. Being parched has a major effect on our skin and all of the organs and cells, so it's important to stay hydrated. Have a bath routine, whether you take a shower or have a bath, using this time to care and cleanse off the day will enhance your self-care experience. Be intentional about the sounds around you while cleansing and get intuned with your body and enjoy the experience. Lastly but most importantly get some rest. Sleeping is so important as this is when our organs and tissues do the most work to regenerate and repair.

Spirituality: Prayer & Positive Affirmations

For me, this is the most important part of my self-care process. If my spirit is deprived there is no amount of music, healthy eating, or bath bombs that will make me feel good. I pray a lot and I use prayer as a way to communicate with my Source. My Source is The Most High God. I believe that the one who created me knows me best and knows things about myself that I am yet to discover, so I make sure to stay in communication. This allows me to be aligned with who I truly am. Set time out to sit in silence, and let God speak to you. You will be surprised by the information that will be downloaded into your spirit once you just pause. I am also a firm believer in speaking positive affirmations daily. Proverbs 18:21says life and death are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruits. Look in the mirror and declare what it is you want to see for yourself. Tell yourself you are beautiful daily. You are resilient, intelligent, purposeful, and deserve good. When plants are spoken to they are more likely to grow faster, so if a plant can grow from being spoken to positively, how much more you? a divine being. See yourself the way Most High God sees you and watch the world around you change.

Community

As human beings, we are made for fellowship. It is good to take time out to be alone however secluding yourself and not engaging with anyone is unhealthy. When you are apart of a community it makes you feel as if you are apart of something bigger than yourself. In a place where we can commune, we form bonds and share common interests. One of my best friends - who is also a designer click here for your custom pieces- started a book club and I love meeting with the girls once a week to discuss, engage, and bounce different thoughts off of one another. I am also apart of a safe space for young journalist and it brings so much fulfillment to be around those who share the same likeness and passion for journalism as myself. When you are apart of a community you are committed to living better.

Be Inspired

My aim for this post is to bring awareness to the importance of self and the practice of #SelfCare for our Mental Health. These are tips that I practice daily and find great pleasure in and wanted to share with all of you. What are some of your #Selfcare tips? and which one of the tips listed above are you excited to engage in?