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Mental health and self-care are becoming more and more prominent as their importance becomes well-known. Implementing self-care habits and strategies in your life can help you become more creative, better focused, increase your self-esteem, have greater productivity, and in general have a better life. Here are some great strategies for getting started with self-care in your own life.

Mediation

Meditation is a great way to practice self-care and mindfulness. Online meditation sessions are great for people who don’t have time to go to in-person classes or prefer to stay at home. Some companies now provide online meditation for employees as part of their benefits package. If this is the case for you, consider at least trying a few of the sessions to see if you find them beneficial. If your employer does not offer this, you can still find paid subscriptions, video sessions, and virtual classes. Many providers offer a free sample session or have free online videos to let you try before putting any money down.

Relaxation Practices

One way to increase your self-care at home is through specific relaxation strategies. For some people, setting aside time for relaxation or rest can be very difficult and they feel guilty or restless anytime they are not working or doing something productive. Learning how to set aside time for rest can be hard for these people.

Choosing specific things to do during your rest time can help develop a habit of setting time aside for yourself. Taking a weekly bath, enjoying your morning cup of coffee from the front porch while watching the sunrise, or spending a few minutes each evening reading a novel or working on a puzzle are all good ways to incorporate rest and relaxation into your daily life.

Hobby

For many people, starting a new hobby or getting back into an old hobby can be a great way to focus on self-care. Many hobbies are creative and encourage self-expression such as painting, crafting, and woodwork. These hobbies are good ways to help people relax and express their feelings through art.

Other hobbies such as sports, outdoor activities, and gardening contribute to mental well-being by giving participants a reason to go outside and get exercise. Spending time outside and exercising can be healthy ways to decrease depression and anxiety and are also good for physical health.

Healthy Food

A healthy diet full of nutritious food is important to help maintain mental and physical health. When choosing foods, focus on healthy ingredients full of protein, vitamins, and minerals. If this is an area you struggle with, consider getting the help of a dietitian or nutritionist who can help you choose healthy vitamin-filled foods.

Eliminate Bad Habits

One way to take care of your mental and physical self is by eliminating bad habits from your life. While this is an important way to take care of yourself, it’s also one of the most difficult. Bad habits such as smoking, not getting enough sleep, or excessive drinking can contribute make mental and physical health problems worse. If you have unhealthy habits such as these that you just can’t seem to break, consider getting help such as group accountability sessions.

Online Therapy Sessions

Online therapy can be helpful for several different reasons. If you have trouble getting out of the house, it can be beneficial to have sessions virtually because you are more likely to follow through with them. Some people also benefit because they have anxiety about going to sessions in medical offices and similar areas. For other people, there may not be any services available nearby, and online sessions can save a lot of drive time and expense.

Exercise

Adding an exercise routine is one of the best ways to increase your self-care. Exercise has many mental and physical health benefits beyond weight loss. One of the best advantages of exercise is the increase in happy hormones such as serotonin which can help decrease depression and anxiety levels. Exercising outdoors has even more mental health benefits and people who exercise regularly also tend to sleep better at night.

Set Routines

Having set routines can help develop healthy self-care habits. For some people, basic life skills and tasks can be difficult to keep up with. Having set routines for tasks like cooking, showering, and exercising can help these people consistently perform these tasks. Linking tasks that need to be performed regularly to things you already remember to do can help you develop new routines. For example, if you always forget to exercise, do it right before something you already do consistently, such as eating breakfast.

Journaling

Journaling can be a healthy form of self-care. Journaling can take many forms such as a diary-type account of your day, an accountability journal helping you work towards your goals, or a journal used to write about feelings and heal from trauma.

For many people, journaling can take the place of having a person to talk to in a situation where they don’t have someone available or aren’t comfortable talking to someone. For other people, journaling is simply a way to document their progress or get their feelings out on paper.

Healthy Sleep Habits

Developing healthy sleep habits is a big part of self-care. While it can be difficult to develop bedtime routines and learn to consistently get a good amount of sleep, you will find that it will benefit every part of your life. Getting enough sleep can help you physically feel better, boost your immune system, make you more alert and creative throughout the day, and increase your mental well-being. For people who struggle with depression or anxiety getting enough sleep can be very important.