Because this entire pandemic has been about the state of the world, it has been easy to put ourselves on the backburner. Doomscrolling and the general unrest of our society has, no doubt, dramatically increased our stress levels, but learning some healthy self-care habits is a great way to cope and help the mind and body feel fresh and relaxed!

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville further explains.

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook.

Another important factor in defining self-care is by understanding what it isn’t, which is self-indulgence and selfishness. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is one of the best things a person can do to better care for others, so in no way is it a selfish act. Additionally, self-indulgence usually involves unhealthy activities, such as eating unhealthy foods or frequently binging TV shows. While those activities can be fun at times, a lifestyle that consistently involves those things isn’t healthy.

Healthy Self-Care Activities

• Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet.
• Get enough sleep.
• Exercise often.
• Meditate or perform other relaxation exercises.
• Spend time with loved ones or with your community.
• Do at least one relaxing activity every day, whether it’s taking a walk or spending 30 minutes unwinding.

What Happens If I Don’t Take Time for Myself?

Because healthy self-care promotes good physical and mental well-being, frequently ignoring what your body and mind need does the opposite.

Not caring for yourself can affect many areas of your life, including your relationships, overall well-being and your self-esteem. If you are new to the self-care game, we’ve listed some ways you can begin to implement it into your life below.

Ways to Begin Self-Care

• Plan it out. Add certain activities to your calendar, announce your plans to others in order to increase your commitment and actively look for opportunities to practice self-care.
• Stick to the basics. Things like improving your diet, allowing yourself to rest and taking media breaks are great places to start.
• Evaluate how you feel after you practice self-care. If your stress levels are high after practicing one thing, it might be helpful to try something else. Practice makes perfect.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville encourages you to take care of yourself this winter! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any health concerns.