7 Ways to do Self-Care the Healthy Way

There’s more to self-care than bubble baths and eating ice cream straight out of the carton. Real self-care involves heeding your body’s signals and giving it what it needs, whether that’s some well-earned rest or a challenging workout that gets your blood pumping. It’s all a matter of listening to your body and giving it what it needs. Here are some smart ways to do self-care the healthy way. 

Practice Meditation 

Your mental health is just as important as physical health. Taking care of your mind can lead to benefits for your body. You can apply self-care for your brain through acts like mindfulness meditation. Meditation has proven scientific benefits, like heightened focus, reduced stress, better sleep and lower anxiety levels. Even 10 minutes a day can benefit your mood. It’s one of the best self-care habits for those who want a more calm life. Bonus points if you combine it with our next tip!

Spend time outside

Studies have shown that spending time outside can offer “restorative” benefits, like boosting your mood and soothing anxiety. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, heading out for a few minutes in nature can be a fantastic way to melt away stress. You don’t have to live in the woods or the mountains to reap the benefits, either. Even a quick walk through the park can be enough to recharge your batteries as an act of self-care. 

Stay hydrated

We all know that staying hydrated is one of the most important ways to look after our health. Drinking water boosts exercise performance, prevents headaches, and aids in weight loss. Taking water breaks throughout the day is a great way to practive self-care. It’s easy to keep up no matter where you are. 

Want to sip on something with a little more flavor? Try a healthy drink like kombucha. Not only does it come with plenty of probiotics that can keep your gut healthy, it also comes in tons of delicious flavors for variety. 

Eat Healthy snacks 

While the occasional junk food is totally fine as a treat, making it a habit can take a toll on your health. To get into a beneficial self-care habit, try replacing an unhealthy snack with something more nutritious, like a handful of nuts or a protein bar, like the FGP bar. They’re full of hunger-crushing fiber and have almost a full serving of greens. Plus they taste awesome. It’s an excellent way to kick back with a self-care treat that’s actually good for you. 

Go for a walk

If you’re feeling tired and sluggish, you might need a boost of physical activity to get going. After all, It’s basic science–an object in motion stays in motion.  You don’t have to do anything crazy. Even a 30-minute walk can burn an extra 100-300 calories. And if you don’t have time to walk for 30 minutes in one sitting, you can split it up into 10-minute spurts throughout the day. You can also work in some extra steps throughout the day through other means–like parking at the back of the lot, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. 

Get a good night’s sleep

You can’t go 100% all day, all the time. If you want to give your best performance at work or the gym, you need time to recharge your batteries. Getting a good night’s sleep is the best way to do that. The CDC recommends a full 8 hours of rest every night for adults. But even a quick power nap can offer benefits. Plus, sleep also has a powerful effect on your immune system. If you’re feeling under the weather, grabbing some extra z’s is an excellent act of self-care. 

Listen to your body’s signals

Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to self-care. What works for your friends or your partner might not work for you. Self-care involves listening to our body’s signals and determining what they need. If you’ve gone hard at work this week, a relaxing weekend curled up on the couch might be in order. But if you’re feeling depressed and stuck in a rut, going for a jog might be exactly what you need to feel reinvigorated. 

Always pay attention to your body’s internal signals. They’re the key to discovering exactly what self-care means to you.