The Benefits of Self-Care: How to Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health

Self-care is an important part of living a healthy and balanced life. It involves taking the time to do things that help you stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well. Research suggests that self-care can have a positive impact on your health, such as building resilience, living longer, and being better equipped to manage stress. It can also reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, and improve energy.

By changing the way you think about self-care, you can make gradual and meaningful changes that bring you greater peace, energy, and joy. The physical aspect of self-care involves making lifestyle choices that help you stay fit, healthy and energized. This includes hygiene, nutrition, and seeking medical attention when needed. It's possible to create harmony between different parts of your life, but you may need to challenge some of your assumptions to do so.

When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in daily life can have a big impact. A recent Birchbox survey revealed that 1 in 3 people feel guilty about taking time for themselves, but most would like to. And while self-care doesn't cure mental illness, understanding what causes or triggers mild symptoms and what coping techniques work for you can help you manage your mental health.

The goal of self-care is to feel like you have more time and freedom to do things, not less. So it's important to remember that it doesn't have to be about filling your calendar with luxurious experiences or activities that cost money (although you certainly can). Even if you can't spend a lot of time and money on self-care practices, there are still ways to make it part of your daily routine. Gill Lopez suggests turning the things you do every day into self-care practices several times a week.

At Everyday Health, self-care is about taking steps to meet your physical and emotional health needs to the best of your ability. This summer season, prioritize your own well-being with these expert tips for taking care of yourself.