As we get ready to start the new year, many people are revisiting New Year’s resolutions from the start of 2021. But maybe one resolution you should consider is adding more self-care into your life.
Here are five ways every adult can practice self-care in 2022.
- Maintain Your Oral Health
It’s incredibly important to include maintaining your oral health when it comes to your self-care. The longer you go without getting proper care, the more issues that could arise that impact your long-term health.
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Whether you’ve been embarrassed by your smile or have been putting off your regular cleaning, put dental care on your self-care priority list this year.
- Get Moving More
Self-care also means preserving your physical health. According to a recent study, regular exercise has substantial positive impacts on alleviating depression, anxiety, stress, and much more. Prioritize your physical health and you’ll see significant improvements in other areas of your life, too.
Taking care of yourself acts like the domino effect. As you knock down the first element, you will start to see the rest of the dominos follow suit (the mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational aspects of your life).
- Treat Yourself Regularly
You work hard and deserve to be rewarded for it. A part of self-care is showing yourself appreciation. This could be something small like buying yourself a brand new journal to start writing your first book. It could also be something big like finally getting Lasik after years of wearing glasses.
The most important part is that it’s not a one-time deal. Treat yourself regularly because life is short and you deserve to be treated.
- Reduce Your Technology Time
Do you spend hours scrolling on social media before bed? Do you bring your phone to the dinner table at night? Technology has its benefits, but it can also be doing more damage to your self-care than you realize.
Self-care is a matter of self-preservation of your time and energy. You don’t have to get rid of technology for good, rather reduce how much you use it. Plus, you’ll find more time for other things that may have been knocked off your priority list.
Limiting the use of our phones or hours spent behind the screen can allow us to connect with others in real life. It gives you more time to do other activities you love, like paddleboarding outside or working on that painting you’ve been putting off.
- Allow Yourself to Be Selfish
There’s a misconception that self-care is selfish. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, the more we care for ourselves, the better equipped we are to take care of others.
This starts by putting ourselves first. Our needs should always be the number one priority to maintain a healthy and balanced physical, mental, and emotional life.
It’s like the idea of putting your oxygen mask on in an airplane. The flight attendants always tell you to put your mask on first before helping someone else. If you’re not taken care of, it’ll leak into other aspects of your life, too.
Concluding Thoughts
Practicing self-care isn’t always about taking bubble baths or lighting scented candles. It’s about maintaining a healthy balance in the various areas of your life.
Always remember to put your needs first. This will help you to show up for others at work, in your personal life, and even within your community.