Written by Tyler Nicholas
Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, you can help others, and you can do all the things that you want or need to do. I will be explaining five ways that helped my physical, emotional and spiritual health and how it can positively impact yours too!
1. Love yourself.
Appreciate yourself from time to time as it is so easy to get wrapped up in work-life or caring for others that we lose track of caring for ourselves and what we enjoy. Whether it is buying something you've always wanted or doing a spontaneous activity, treat yourself sometimes and, you will see how much of a difference it makes to your mental wellbeing.
2. Build a strong relationship with God.
Fasting, praying or even listening to gospel music are the many ways we can reach out to God. Life can be tough sometimes, but inviting him into your journey and confessing your sins can allow him to drive the course of your life and allow you to start afresh. Offload onto God, just like you would with a friend, so he can heal you from the heavy burdens that you have been carrying. In addition, spend time developing a constant relationship with God to grow and learn more about walking in faith. That means leaning on him, not just through difficult times in your life but through the good times too!
3. Having a positive attitude.
Having a positive attitude is healthy for the mind and soul. It is normal for things to not always go to plan and as a result, you may feel drained emotionally and physically, but don't give up. For example, if a company has turned down your job application, don't be too disheartened because the job was not for you. Every day is a new day, a new chance for opportunities to arise, so keep working towards your goals, and you will see the right results in the end.
4. Spend time with things and people that make you happy.
Stop spending time with people that make you miserable just because you've known them for a long time or work at a company that mistreats you. Get rid of toxic people and focus on finding your peace. Reconnect with old friends or spend more time with your family. Do whatever makes you happy, as life is not promised forever.
5. Spend less time on social media.
I bet you don't even remember the last time you logged out of Instagram or how many snaps you posted of yourself so people would know you weren't dead? I'm here to tell you that social media is not real! It is a false depiction of reality and can suck people into it, controlling what we think and see through preconceived narratives. It takes us away from reality and yet it's viewed as a good thing? For many young people, there are positives to social media however, the visible peer pressure on these platforms (Parliament's decision to have the option of removing Instagram likes) can lead to social media addiction. Spending less time on social media platforms can change the way you think and see things in the real world, can open your mind to adventure and boost your social skills.
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