July 24 is International Self-Care Day—and this provides an opportunity to raise awareness about this topic and the important role it plays in leading a healthy lifestyle.
Self-care is about making choices that help your physical and mental health, such as eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercising. The date chosen for International Self-Care Day (24/7) is a reminder that self-care is important to lifelong health, and its benefits are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What is self-care?
Self-care is any intentional act that takes care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood, reduced anxiety and better relationships with oneself and others.
What isn’t self-care?
Self-care is not something that we force ourselves to do, or something we don’t enjoy doing. Self-care should be things we do to recharge our batteries rather than things that drain us. Self-care isn’t selfish, in fact it helps us better take care of others!
Although self-care means different things to different people, see this basic checklist below that can help you find what it means to you:
- Create a “no” list, with unhealthy habits, such as too much screen time at night. Eat a nutritious, healthy diet
- Get enough sleep. Adults usually need 7-8 hours of sleep each night
- Exercise. In contrast to what many people think, exercise is as good for our emotional health as it is for our physical health. It increases serotonin levels, leading to improved mood and energy. Choose a form of exercise that you like!
- Follow-up with medical care. It is common to put off checkups or visits to the doctor
- Use relaxation exercises and/or practice meditation
- Spend enough time with your loved ones
- Do at least one relaxing activity every day, whether it’s taking a walk or spending 30 minutes unwinding
- Do at least one pleasurable activity every day; from going to the cinema, to cooking or meeting with friend – socially distancing of course!
- Look for opportunities to laugh!
Finally, remember to add self-care to your mental fitness plan that we explored last month to boost your overall health and wellness.
For more information, please contact:
Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety
Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com
Or
Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeLifeWorks supports employee health and well-being.
Bethany employees have access to a wide range of resources such as:
- LifeWorks Blog
- Webinars and Events
- 24/7 Specialist Counselling
Link:
Bethanycaresociety.lifeworks.com
username: bcs
Password: eap
Phone: 1-877-207-8833
Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel
Other helpful links:
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