The Importance of Prioritizing Self-Care
Over the past few years, our world has been turned upside down, becoming more demanding and stressful. Often our own needs and well-being on the back burner. But the truth is, prioritizing self-care and wellness is essential for our physical, emotional, and mental health.
In this blog, we will explore the importance of self-care, and provide some tips and strategies for making your wellness a priority. By taking the time to prioritize your own well-being, you can improve your overall health and happiness, and even achieve greater success in your personal and professional life. So let’s dive in and learn more about the power of self-care and wellness!
Self-care and Wellness vs New Year Resolutions
Many people set specific goals at the beginning of the New Year, yet many people find these goals fail due to a lack of planning, motivation or enthusiasm. It can be easy to start the year with excitement and determination, but over time, the initial enthusiasm may fade, and it can be difficult to maintain the same level of commitment. Approximately 80 percent of resolutions fail by the second week of February (and roughly 60 percent fail by the third week of January).
New year’s resolutions are often focused on specific goals or changes that you want to make in your life. These resolutions are often made with the intention of improving certain aspects of your life, but they may not always be focused on overall wellness or setup for long-term success.
One of the key reasons why New Year’s resolutions fail is that they are too ambitious or unrealistic.
For example, you may resolve to lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, or to completely change your lifestyle overnight. These kinds of goals can be difficult to achieve and may not be sustainable over the long term.
What if we said GOODBYE to New Year Resolutions and HELLO to focusing on self-care and wellness?
What if we actually prioritized self-care and wellness, making our physical health and mental health a priority by giving ourselves patience, kindness and grace to feel good and feel good about our health and wellness journey.
Self-care isn’t simply the Instagrammable #selfcare posts and products that promise happiness, health and prosperity to those who do it. Self-care includes regular, deliberate practices that help an individual maintain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual homeostasis, however you define those areas of life. It’s important to recognize the importance of true wellness when it comes to self-care.
What is Self-care?
Self-care is the practice of taking care of oneself, both physically and mentally. This can include activities such as exercise, getting enough sleep, eating well, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in relaxing activities.
Self-care is important because it can help improve your physical and mental health, and can also help you cope with stress and challenges. It’s important to make time for self-care, as it can help you feel happier, healthier, and more balanced overall.
SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH OR INDULGENT.
SELF-CARE IS SELF LOVE.
By making self-care and wellness a priority, you can improve your mental and emotional well-being and be better equipped to handle the demands of life, work and family. It’s essential to take care of yourself, so you can be able to effectively take care of others.
Why should we prioritize self-care?
When self-care and wellness becomes a priority in our lives, it means making a commitment to taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health on a regular basis. It involves making conscious choices to improve your well-being and focus on your overall quality of life.
Prioritizing self-care and wellness is a more holistic approach to improving your well-being, as it focuses on maintaining overall health and balance. It also involves making self-care a regular part of your routine, rather than just trying to make specific changes or accomplish specific goals. This can lead to more sustainable and long-term improvements in your health and happiness.
When we prioritize self-care, we are taking care of ourselves and investing in our overall well-being. This can lead to improved mood, increased productivity, and better overall health. By making self-care a regular part of our routine, we can improve our quality of life and be better equipped to handle the demands of daily life.
Simple Tips for Self-care
Exercise and movement: Engaging in gentle exercises and stretches, such as yoga or tai chi, to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. Going for walks, swimming, running or bike riding to improve flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular health. Most importantly, get outside as much as you can. Soak up the fresh air and all that the west coast has to offer.
Water and hydration: Do you drink enough water each day? Did you know you can drink cold, warm or hot water for your daily intake. Whatever is your preference. Try adding some fruit or veggies to the water to give it an extra punch.
A great way to make a homemade electrolyte drink is to add lemon juice and a pinch of salt to your water. This is especially helpful during the winter cold and flu months when you and your family may not be feeling their best. This can be served warm or cold.
Stand up and Stretch: Prolonged sitting can be hard on our bodies. Getting up and moving around every 30 minutes to stretch and take breaks throughout the day, helps to recharge and refocus. This could be a 10 minute walk outside, a few minutes of stretching or deep breathing.
Good sleep hygiene: Good Sleep is essential for proper self-care, as we spend about one-third of our lives asleep. An adult body generally needs about eight hours of quality sleep per day for optimal health. Sleep helps to cleanse the brain and body of toxins, replenish good chemicals throughout the body, and consolidate memory and facilitate problem-solving and to help you keep up with the demands of your busy life.
Stress management: There is no doubt our lives have become more stressful over the past few years, we have had to adjust, pivot and learn new ways to manage stress. Some of the best tips for helping to manage and reduce stress include:
- Deep breathing: Deep breathing exercises can help to calm the mind and body, and can be done anywhere at any time.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: This technique involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body to help reduce tension and stress.
- Mindfulness meditation: This involves focusing on the present moment and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement, which can help to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. There are lots of apps you can download (many are free) to listen to guided meditation or calming music. One of our favourite apps is Insight timer.
Social support: There is nothing better than a good conversation or some laughs with a friend, loved one or family. Making time in your calendar to meet for coffee/tea or a walk or to play a game (board games or card games) are great ways to keep our social connections that help support our overall wellness.
Ask for help: Whether it’s from your partner, friends, family, a professional, or someone in the community or hotline, seeking support can make a big difference when you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed or struggling. It is okay to ask for help. It is also okay to reach out to someone and check in on them. Realize that there is nothing wrong with asking for help. It’s not a sign of weakness or laziness. Asking for help and helping others can save human lives and can help relationships flourish.
Mental Health Support Resources in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html
Mental Health Resources in South Surrey and White Rock
Walk Your Way to Better Health
We are so lucky to live on the west coast with such beautiful scenery and endless places to walk. If you have ever walked along White Rock beach or Crescent beach at sunset, WOW! The sunsets can be amazing!!
Walking is a simple, accessible, and effective way to improve your overall well-being. It boosts health and energy and easily fits into your lifestyle. Walking benefits your heart, and lungs, and improves fitness, muscle tone, strength and balance. Walking is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke. Plus, it reduces pollution by decreasing car trips, improves sleep, relieves stress and helps combat depression.
Ready, Set, Walk: A Simple Plan for Getting Started
- Start small. Begin with a short walk around the block or a local park. Gradually increase the distance as you become more comfortable.
- Find a walking buddy. Having a walking partner can provide motivation and accountability. Or join a local walking group in your neighborhood.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes and dress in layers to stay comfortable.
- Mix up your route. Walking the same route every day can get boring. Mix things up by exploring new neighborhoods or hiking trails.
- Incorporate strength training. Adding in some simple strength training exercises, such as squats or lunges, can help improve your overall fitness and toning.
- Stay hydrated. Bring a water bottle with you on your walks and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Note: Before starting any physical activity routine, please check with your healthcare provider first to discuss what is right for you.
Walking is a low-impact exercise that can help improve cardiovascular health, strengthen bones, and reduce stress. It’s a great way to get moving and improve your overall health. So, let’s lace up those sneakers and get walking!
Support for Your Self-Care and Wellness
South Surrey Chiropractic and Wellness is here to support you, your self-care, your wellness to help you feel your best. We provide the following services:
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care can help with self-care and wellness by addressing issues related to the musculoskeletal system. This might include treating back pain, neck pain, headaches, or other conditions that can affect posture and mobility. By correcting misalignments and improving the function of the spine and other joints, chiropractic care can help to reduce pain and improve overall well-being.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps with self-care and wellness by stimulating the body’s natural healing response. Based on the belief that the body has natural healing energy (called Qi) that flows through pathways called meridians. Acupuncturists work with patients by inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncturists can help to restore the flow of Qi and promote healing.
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, stress, chronic pain, migraines, and headaches. By relieving pain and reducing stress and anxiety acupuncture can help to improve overall well-being and promote a sense of relaxation and balance.
Learn more by checking out the blog: The Benefits of Acupuncture.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can help with self-care and wellness by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. By kneading and manipulating the muscles and soft tissues, massage therapists can help to release tension and promote a sense of calm and relaxation.
South Surrey Chiropractic and Wellness
South Surrey Chiropractic and Wellness is an integrated wellness center located in South Surrey, British Columbia. The wellness clinic offers a range of services designed to help individuals achieve and maintain optimal health, including chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy, cold laser, spinal decompression, shockwave therapy and orthotics for people of all ages from babies to seniors.
If you are interested in exploring the benefits of how we can support your self-care and wellness, contact our office and to book an appointment or answer any questions you may have.
Online booking is available and we offer direct billing to most insurance companies. We also accept patients injured in a car accident and provide ICBC covered treatment plans.
Our wellness clinic provides a welcoming, calm and supportive environment, so you can take the first steps towards a healthier and happier you. We look forward to welcoming you to South Surrey Chiropractic and Wellness.