The Many Different Ways You Can Practice Self-Care

The world we currently live in is not only plagued with pandemic-related issues but with social issues that continue to cause anxiety and feelings of helplessness, as well. This unfortunate reality makes it all the more important for all of us to zoom in on our overall health. Aside from eating healthy and exercising regularly, it also pays to engage in activities that promote self-care.

As GMA News Online noted, self-care can be a great way for individuals to ensure that they are able to optimally function on a daily basis. In addition to this, the article also explained how such activities can also make one feel better about oneself, relieve stress, alleviate symptoms of mood disorders and build resiliency. That said, here are some of the different ways you can practice self-care during these trying times:

Unplugging and Sleeping Well

If you are one of the many professionals who have to endure endless traffic every single workday pre-pandemic, chances are, you are sleep-deprived. With work-from-home being implemented all throughout the world, take this time to take a break and get optimal sleep once and for all. To help your body fully unplug and reset, Tatler Philippines' list of self-care tips highly suggests keeping a routine. It would also be a good idea to wind down before bed without any devices. If you are finding it hard to unplug, you can try turning your phone to silent whenever it's time to hit the sack. It would also be a good idea to replace your nightly social media scrolling with reading or listening to music.

Practicing Self-love and Self-pleasure

One of the self-care practices that continues to be a controversial topic in many parts of the world is pleasuring oneself. This is in spite of the fact that there’s a growing body of knowledge that attests to the mental health benefits of self-pleasuring, especially among women. PrettyMe’s guide to intimate toys mentions how some of these benefits can include an increase in blood flow, mood boost through the release of feel-good hormones, improved sleep quality, pain alleviation and stress reduction. As the world becomes more and more open to topics that touch on sex, get in tune with and better understand yourself by practicing self-love through self-pleasuring activities. Doing so will not only allow you to connect with your body on a wholly different level but will also provide you with an opportunity to get to know the things that you like.

Meditating and Doing Yoga

With everything that’s going on in the world, it only makes sense for you to feel bouts upon bouts of anxiety. However, it is important to note that cradling such feelings will not do you any good. To keep anxiety, panic and worry at bay, some of the things you can do are meditation and yoga -- which can actually go hand-in-hand. One of the types of meditation practices that you can at home is mindfulness meditation. Healthline's guide to meditative practices describes mindfulness meditation as a technique that requires one to pay attention to their thoughts with no prejudice or whatsoever. As a practice that combines concentration with awareness, some people might find it easier to focus on an object or their own breathing as they let their thoughts pass.

Unplugging, sleeping well, practicing self-love and self-pleasure, meditating and doing yoga are only some of the ways you can care for yourself. If you are someone who likes watching, catching some ‘Korean Drama on Netflix’ during your downtime might be the self-care activity for you. Whatever self-care you choose to subscribe to, may it be effective in alleviating some of the stress you might be feeling at the moment.