We all might have heard of the drill of “Cleanse, Exfoliate, Tone, Moisturize, Protect.” Is that it? So clearly we have all hard about skincare regimes or pampering routines. But you ever heard of a self-care routine for the mind. It’s no drill but simple and easy habits that can nurture you inside out. It is learning. Cultivation of a better personality by listening to your mind and body, checking on yourself, challenging your behaviour, thoughts and belief system. It aligns whatever is the wholesome of you to a real and better you.
Firstly you need to recognize the need for you. Or else you would procrastinate it just like you might have done with many routines and resolutions that you thought of doing. Unless you innately feel to dedicate yourself for this wellness process of your mind, body and spirit with real intentions, you won’t get it there just like any other goals. There isn’t a strict regime on how you want to start it or how you would do it. So this is the easiest regime of all if and only if you derive enjoyment out of it. This is not a cure to any of your problems but can be a remedy. Just like you find a pattern in the clouds or you fathom the stars into a constellation, you recognize the patterns in your emotions and recognize the activities that you need to nourish your mind and soul.
This isn’t elaborate or expensive. You don’t even really need a tracker like you use to check on your calories intake, sleep, steps, or menstrual calenders. Well, these might be good pals in this process. But there is an extensive choice of applications on the internet to encourage you to keep on track but remember your encouragement for carrying on the routine must come from within to get the best results.
First, sit down, take a piece of paper and note down activities that easier for you and also will function to improve your mood and elevate your stress and anxiety levels. See now you have set your list unlike what you usually do. You needn’t have to copy the routine of any influencer but rather you are the influencer. Now simply how to choose on what you must first start focusing on, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Much like surveying your mind and body. When was the last you had a healthy meal? Took a relaxing shower? Is your posture right? What’s going inside your mind now? Ask yourself how you are doing? When was the last time you went to bed early? Might sound like a guilt ride but don’t take it so because only if we find errors we can rectify them. That’s how it is.
There are no rules in it but neither there are cheat days. You might not be able to check it all but don’t leave them all not struck off.
Eat healthily. A good diet and healthy eating habits and always make you feel better. Your digestion and eating habits play a huge role in how your body functions.
Have better self-hygiene as well that of your surrounding. In this time of COVID 19, we all know how important is hygiene. Sanitizing yourself has already become a new norm. Keeping your room or whichever surrounding you are fitted in clean can elevate your mood and even increase your work efficiency. Also, to those youngsters who procrastinate even taking showering, this isn’t cool. Taking a good shower and wearing clean warm clothes itself is refreshing.
Exercise or engage yourself in some activities that give those excess calories a good burn out as well energize you. Whether it is for 30 minutes or two hours, engaging your body in moderate movements can bring a lot of changes to you. The form doesn’t matter but do burn some calories.
Keep a note of your favourite moments. When you look back, it is the little beautiful things that matter a lot. Click pictures of the most favourite part of the day or maintain a diary or note of it, not just as an exhibition of your social life through social media but a daily reminder for yourself about how thankful you must be for it or how better you could have made it.
Make a bucket list. Keep your goals and dreams on track. Every day must be a journey to fulfil them.
Maintain good sleep habits and always listen to your body and mind. Sleep can be a remedy to many irregularities in your body functioning and mood swings because your body disagrees when you miss with its rhythm.
If skin-care or any habits feels like activity of self-pampering do it. It’s all about focusing on yourself after all.
Talk to your friends, family or even a therapist. Sharing your thoughts and emotions to anyone you trust and feel comfortable with is a very important part of self-care.
Keep aside your ego, prejudice and judgements and get help when you are in need of it. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, don’t handle all the pain alone, there are many to help you out there. You just need to as for help.
