Life can feel hectic and busy but with national Self Care Week 2021 upon us, we are reminded to take time out for ourselves and look after our wellbeing. Here are five ways to help you do exactly that.
Self-Care Week is upon us and the theme this year is “Practice self-care for life”. Incorporating the practice of self-care into our everyday lives can help us to live as healthily as possible, and better health can help us cope with the challenges that come our way.
Self-Care Week is the perfect time to think about how we live our lives, and how we can incorporate simple and small changes to help us take better care of ourselves and our families. These changes could mean looking at what we eat or drink, how much exercise we do or how much sleep we are getting. They could be about our work-life balance because staying connected to our friends and family is also vital to our wellbeing and theirs.
For the past few years, the Milton Keynes Self Care Group has been highlighting the 5 Ways to Wellbeing as a helpful way to think about self-care. Find the 5 ways below.
Step one is to be active - Exercise is essential for slowing age-related cognitive decline and for promoting wellbeing. But it doesn’t need to be particularly intense for you to feel good - slower-paced activities, such as walking, can have the benefit of encouraging social interactions as well providing some level of exercise. You could try a few ideas such as; taking the stairs instead of lifts, going for a walk at lunch, morning stretches etc.
Step two is to keep learning - Continued learning through life enhances self-esteem, encourages social interaction and a more active life. The practice of setting goals, which is related to adult learning in particular, has been strongly associated with higher levels of wellbeing. Here are some other ideas to try; do a crossword or Sudoku, learn a new word, research something you've always wondered about.
Step three is to give - Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy. Research into actions for promoting happiness has shown that committing an act of kindness once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing. Here are some ways you can give; volunteer in your community, compliment someone, make someone laugh, perform acts of kindness.
Step four is to connect - There is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close to and valued by other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to functioning well in the world. It’s clear that social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages. Here are some ways you can connect; speak to someone new, put five minutes aside to ask someone how they really are, ask how someone's weekend was, and really listen when they tell you.
Step five is to take notice - Reminding yourself to ‘take notice’ can strengthen and broaden awareness. Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities. Heightened awareness also enhances your self-understanding and allows you to make positive choices based on your own values and motivations. Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you. Here are a few ideas; meditate, get a plant for your house, have a 'clear the clutter' day.
For more information and resources from the Self Care Group please visit the Healthwatch MK website here.
