Why Self-Care Is Conducive To Better Health And Wellbeing 

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Why Self-Care Is Conducive To Better Health And Wellbeing 

Loving yourself is often touted as a precursor to loving others, but its benefits extend much further than social relationships, with one study undertaken by Duke University researchers finding that simply being kinder to yourself is key to weathering life’s toughest challenges. As stated by researchers, self-care “helps to eliminate a lot of the anger, depression and pain we experience when things go badly for us.” Truly caring for yourself, involves three key features: being kind and understanding towards yourself instead of critical; common humanity (realizing that all human beings have negative experiences and make mistakes); and mindful acceptance (accepting difficult emotions but understanding that they do not define you). What are some of the most important benefits of self-care, and how can you achieve them in your day-to-day life? 

Battling Negativity 

Loving and caring for yourself, the researchers said, enables people to have less negative emotions, and accept responsibility for a negative experience while counteracting the bad feelings associated with it. It promotes kind treatment of yourself in spite of unflattering self-evaluations. It separates your actions from your self-identity. Consider self-love ‘higher ground’ than self-esteem. The latter depends on achievements; self-love is all about unconditional acceptance. 

Practical Ways To Embrace Self-Care 

In addition to taking a generally kinder, more accepting attitude towards negative experiences, there are many ways in which to be kinder to yourself. These include treating yourself to your personal ideal of a pampering experience. Think a healthy organic meal, an outdoor trek or swim, or a night out to watch your favorite band or theatrical performer. If you are particularly stressed or tired, then a spa-style experience that is also centered on aspects such as soothing pain and tension may provide the healing sensations you crave. As stated by experts at Foot Palace Braselton, one particularly powerful way to battle stress is through the feet. Studies have shown that massage and reflexology, for instance, can lower stress levels while also improving circulation and alleviating soreness. If you don’t have pain but you do have issues such as cracked or dry heels, then a good foot cleansing and scrub will leave you with baby-soft skin and add a bounce to your step that can help you feel lighter on your feet and free of the itching and pain that unkempt heels can cause. You may also consider mobile IV in Orange County as a self-care option. It is usually used to treat dehydration, provide fluids and nutrients to people who can’t get them orally, and deliver certain medications such as antibiotics. It is also used in more recent times for wellness and anti-aging.  

Self-Care Has Physical Benefits Too 

Whenever you are in doubt as to whether or not to take the kindness route when evaluating yourself, be inspired by studies showing that doing so will bring you physical as well as mental benefits. A University of Exeter study shows that taking part in self-compassion activities reduces the heart rate and switches off the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, thus helping immunity work optimally. The scientists said that “being kind to oneself switches off the threat response and puts the body in a state of safety and relaxation that is important for regeneration and healing.”   

Self-care is a powerful way to promote better physical and mental health. It can help soothe stress, but also lower the heart rate and help the immune system work optimally. Self-care involves evaluating yourself more kindly, pampering yourself once in a while, and accepting your mistakes while understanding that they do not define you.