When we hear the term “self-care,” we tend to think about bubble baths, face masks, and other luxurious forms of pampering.
While these practices are great to implement into your weekly routine, real self-care is often a little less glamorous than all that. In fact, truly caring for your physical and mental health in the ways that matter most is often a little boring and even uncomfortable. Here are four examples of how you can implement self-care that benefits you more than your weekly pedicure.
Chapter Overview
Prioritize Good Sleep
We all know that we’re supposed to be getting at least a solid seven hours of good sleep each night, but do we realize how important this habit truly is? Try to prioritize your sleep for a few weeks and see how much better you feel overall.
Start by skipping your evening scroll session. Make your bed a sleep sanctuary where you read, meditate, or pray before going to sleep and avoid using any screens. Activities like going to the gym and getting sun exposure during the day can even help you to sleep better at night, so start thinking about these habits as a form of self-care.
Maintain Good Dental Hygiene
Another boring but essential one is taking care of our teeth. We all have an elaborate skincare routine, a haircare routine, and even an exercise routine, but how many of us have a dental routine?
Find a dental practice that you trust, like TexSmiles Dental, and make sure to schedule annual check-ups and professional cleaning. Make sure to incorporate brushing and flossing into your morning and evening routines as well, and consider cutting out things like wine, coffee, and cigarettes that can stain and damage your teeth in the long term.
Learn to Set Boundaries
Your mental and emotional state need to be cared for too, and one area that most of this generation seems to be lacking in is boundary setting, which can be applied in various contexts. A lot of us aren’t able to set boundaries with social media and other indulgences, while others are incapable of setting boundaries in their relationships.
It’s also crucial to set boundaries and learn to say no at work when you’re asked to take on tasks that you’re not capable of or expected to handle more than what you’re able. Boundary setting is an important part of holding onto your own inner peace.
Start Doing Inner Work
We all know that we have flaws and issues, but actually working on them is an important part of self-care. One of the messier and more uncomfortable habits we could all start implementing is doing some inner work.
Inner work could look different for all of us, depending on what we struggle with and what we need. You might start a journaling practice to start reflecting, try meditation and spend time with your own thoughts, or even start seeing a therapist to get guidance on how to address the parts of yourself you might not love.