5 Reasons Why You Need Self-Care in Your Life
By Stephanie E - Jenny Craig Science-BackedTwo words: Treat yourself (in a healthy way, of course!)
When was the last time you did something you enjoyed, just for you? Juggling everything in your life can feel overwhelming—from family, to work, to trying to maintain a social life— you’re probably left with very little “me time.” Whether you’re busy and single, a working mom or stay-at-home parent, these self-care tips are easy to incorporate into any lifestyle.
What is self-care?
Self-care is just what it sounds like–taking the time to care for yourself. Feeling stressed can make you feel exhausted, irritable and even impact your physical health!1 The simplest way to think about self-care is to take a note from the Golden Rule: Treat yourself the way you’d treat someone you love.
Benefits of self-care
Stop putting yourself last. To appreciate the benefits of self-care, you’ll need to put yourself first, so don’t be shy – you deserve it!
1. You'll stress less
Stress causes the body to release a hormone called cortisol into the bloodstream, which may lead to a number of different negative side effects, including weight gain.2 While some stressors are normal, learning to manage and monitor stress can help get you through difficult times.
2. You’ll be a better caretaker
Let’s set the record straight: Self-care isn’t selfish. Sometimes putting your needs first can help you to take care of others in healthy and productive ways, and that’s nothing to feel guilty about!3,4
3. You’ll be present
By making self-care a priority, you’ll force yourself to take stock of the simple things you enjoy, helping you to feel present mentally and physically. Need a little help? Breathe in slowly for five seconds and breathe out for another five seconds to clear your mind and refocus.
4. You'll be more productive
A little self-care goes a long way! Taking care of yourself mentally and physically, by getting enough sleep and eating wholesome food, may help boost your productivity.5
5. You'll boost your focus
It’s tough to give tasks your full attention when you feel overworked and tired. Start changing this by prioritizing rest periods and giving your body the time it needs to recharge.6
Self-care tips for everyone
There are so many ways you can practice self-care–just remember to keep it simple! Self-care doesn’t need to disrupt your schedule or be expensive. Check out these great self-care ideas to help you get started:
- Enjoy a relaxing massage.
- Sit somewhere peaceful and read a book.
- Spend ten minutes meditating.
- Incorporate light walking into your weekly routine.
- Take a long bath without distractions.
- Mindfully enjoy a healthy version of the foods you love.
- Take a break from your electronics for an hour.
- Take a 20-minute nap.7
The importance of self-care
Just remember: You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re spending all your time and energy on everything and everyone around you, you might not be taking the best care of yourself or the people you care about. Making time for self-care sets you up for success. When you feel happier and more content, it’s easier to share that positivity with everyone around you.
Looking after your health is one of the best ways to practice self-care! To learn more about the positive effects a weight loss program can have on your health goals, contact Jenny Craig for a free appointment today.
Sources:
[1] https://www.healthyway.com/content/how-to-be-more-productive-through-self-care/
[2] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-self-care-isnt-selfish-advice-for-women/
[3] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fixing-families/201109/self-care-the-caretaker
[4] http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body.aspx
[5] https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/stress-weight-gain
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494415000328
[7] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/best-nap-napping-tips_n_5648651.html
Stephanie Eng-Aponte
Stephanie Eng-Aponte is a copywriter for Jenny Craig, based in Carlsbad, CA. They’ve focused on writing within the health and wellness space for the last several years, but have dabbled in the tech and environmental industries. Stephanie graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Studies. Stephanie employs a “eat first, write later” approach to food blogging and enjoys the occasional Oxford comma. Outside of writing, you can find Stephanie photographing a muttley crew of rescue pups, brewing kombucha, or exploring San Diego.
Favorite healthy snack: Green apple slices with sunflower butter.
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This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles and is written by experienced health and lifestyle contributors and reviewed by certified professionals.
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