A Naturopath’s Approach to Self-Care

Self-care is something that most of us forget about, particularly at the start of the year when we are feeling fresh after the holidays and ready to tackle another year. Even though you might be feeling on top of the world now, this is the perfect time to implement some self-care strategies to set you up for a great year, without the burnout. 

The last few years have seen a huge push for us to be taking care of ourselves - but what does self-care actually look like?

It’s not always about getting that fresh mani you’ve been waiting for treating yourself to a cheeky massage or going on a shopping spree because you need to treat yourself. Sure, those things can help you to feel like you’re taking care of yourself, but you should try to implement a range of strategies that allow you to fill your cup & nurture yourself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

By learning and implementing effective stress management and self-care practices, you’ll be able to support your own mental wellbeing - resulting in a healthier and happier life overall. In short: you’ll be able to become the best version of YOU.

Here are some of the top priorities you should try to implement:

• Move your body, daily. It doesn’t need to be extreme, but just a little movement - aim for 30-60 minutes a day - can really help with mood, motivation, energy, digestion and your overall health.

• Spend some time in the sun! Though the weather doesn’t always allow this, you should try to aim for 15-30 minutes of sunshine every day. It’ll positively impact your mental health, stress levels and nervous system.

• SLEEP. Easier said than done, but sleep is an essential component of good mental health. You should be aiming for 7-9 hours every night to ensure you’re thinking, feeling and responding in the best way.

• Nourish your body. Nutrition plays an important role in reducing the long-term effects of stress and anxiety. A healthy balanced diet can help maintain normal levels of stress hormones and support mental wellbeing. Include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, good quality protein and complex carbohydrates.

• Prioritise doing things for YOU. This could be as simple as pausing for 5 minutes to take a few deep breaths, having a cuppa outside, or going for a stroll. Anything that fills your cup up.

These are all easy tools to implement, but it does take commitment.

 
As always, if you think you need some additional support, please make sure you reach out.