3 Kinds of Self-Care That May Surprise You
You’ve likely heard this buzzword a thousand times, especially during the pandemic: self-care. We’ve seen influencers talk about self-care and share selfies with cucumber slices on their eyes, on a stroll, or petting a dog. You’ve probably seen countless products targeted towards those wanting to engage in self-care like bath bombs, playlists, eye masks, and so on. By now, you’re likely to imagine self-care as starting a skin routine, getting out in the sun, or buying bubbles for your bubble bath. These are parts of self-care, sure. However, self-care itself is much deeper than these surface-level acts of relaxation. Check out these three acts that may surprise you as being self-care.
Eating 3 Meals a Day
When we think of self-care, we rarely think of food (aside from a cupcake or a heavenly slice of our favorite bread). Making sure we’re nourished, however, is certainly self-care. Not only is eating three full, actual meals a day (not coffee!) good for our bodies, it’s good for our boundaries. Eating three meals gives us time to slow down in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. This likely means we’re pausing work time or homework time to honor ourselves for at least thirty minutes, if not more. Make time in your schedule to practice self-care three times a day by simply eating your meal.
Setting Boundaries, and Keeping Them
Boundaries can feel uncomfortable. Boundaries can feel icky. Boundaries can make us feel downright bad. BUT - boundaries ensure we’re putting ourselves first when many of us are pouring from an empty cup. They are used to keep family at an appropriate distance, ensure we’ve got hobbies apart from our partners, and to prevent burnout from working when work hours are done. Boundaries help us live up to our values and help prevent others from making us violate those values. Learning to say no is a key ingredient to self-care.
Checking In With Your Healthcare Professionals
This one seems pretty obvious - it’s literally caring for yourself - but making sure you have regular check-ins with your healthcare team is important. Has it been a hot minute since you’ve seen a dentist? Do you have a Primary Care Physician? Have you ever been to a chiropractor? If you’re able to (we totally get finances and transportation are a privilege, not a guarantee), get in to those physicians to make sure everything is in working order.
Speaking of getting in to see the professionals, if you haven’t given therapy a try, now is the time! Therapy is the ultimate form of self-care - it’s a space for you to discover what you need and how to give it to yourself. If seeing a new clinician is in your 2022 self-care routine, give us a call at (571) 946-8115 or an email at [email protected] to set up an appointment today. Make self-care a priority this year!
Higher Life Pathways
1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (571) 946-8115
You’ve likely heard this buzzword a thousand times, especially during the pandemic: self-care. We’ve seen influencers talk about self-care and share selfies with cucumber slices on their eyes, on a stroll, or petting a dog. You’ve probably seen countless products targeted towards those wanting to engage in self-care like bath bombs, playlists, eye masks, and so on. By now, you’re likely to imagine self-care as starting a skin routine, getting out in the sun, or buying bubbles for your bubble bath. These are parts of self-care, sure. However, self-care itself is much deeper than these surface-level acts of relaxation. Check out these three acts that may surprise you as being self-care.
Eating 3 Meals a Day
When we think of self-care, we rarely think of food (aside from a cupcake or a heavenly slice of our favorite bread). Making sure we’re nourished, however, is certainly self-care. Not only is eating three full, actual meals a day (not coffee!) good for our bodies, it’s good for our boundaries. Eating three meals gives us time to slow down in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. This likely means we’re pausing work time or homework time to honor ourselves for at least thirty minutes, if not more. Make time in your schedule to practice self-care three times a day by simply eating your meal.
Setting Boundaries, and Keeping Them
Boundaries can feel uncomfortable. Boundaries can feel icky. Boundaries can make us feel downright bad. BUT - boundaries ensure we’re putting ourselves first when many of us are pouring from an empty cup. They are used to keep family at an appropriate distance, ensure we’ve got hobbies apart from our partners, and to prevent burnout from working when work hours are done. Boundaries help us live up to our values and help prevent others from making us violate those values. Learning to say no is a key ingredient to self-care.
Checking In With Your Healthcare Professionals
This one seems pretty obvious - it’s literally caring for yourself - but making sure you have regular check-ins with your healthcare team is important. Has it been a hot minute since you’ve seen a dentist? Do you have a Primary Care Physician? Have you ever been to a chiropractor? If you’re able to (we totally get finances and transportation are a privilege, not a guarantee), get in to those physicians to make sure everything is in working order.
Speaking of getting in to see the professionals, if you haven’t given therapy a try, now is the time! Therapy is the ultimate form of self-care - it’s a space for you to discover what you need and how to give it to yourself. If seeing a new clinician is in your 2022 self-care routine, give us a call at (571) 946-8115 or an email at [email protected] to set up an appointment today. Make self-care a priority this year!
Higher Life Pathways
1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (571) 946-8115
Licensed in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York!
Telehealth/Virtual Counseling Services
1800 Diagonal Road Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22314, US