Healthy body image: 6+ tips to practice self-care
The Health Journey is long and takes a lot of energy, but constantly worrying about your size, look and appearance can cause extra stress.
I don’t know about you, but 'Im so tired about being told how much I should weigh or look like. Seriously! My body is curvy and beautiful and I’m very cool with that. But it took me a long time to accept, appreciate and nourish my inner essence.
Practicing self-LOVE and self-CARE is as much as important as the food you put into your body. You can eat as healthy, avoid heavily processed foods and only choose organic, but thoughts and emotions have equally influence on your digestion, absorption and general well- being.
What is 'self-care'?
Self-care is the toolkit that sums up the acts of love you show for yourself.
Interestingly, self-care might look very different for everyone. The things you consider self-care might have a very different affect on others. It's called 'self-care' for a reason – it's for yourself!
To help you further reflect more on what self-care means to you here are few questions:
What’s your favorite thing to do by yourself?
If you had a whole day to yourself, what would you do?
What things calm you when you’re feeling frazzled?
What things ground you when you’re feeling out of control?
If you’ve had a long day at work, how do you chill?
Self-care requires knowing your needs and wishes in every moment. Practicing mindfulness and checking in with yourself will help you discover the needs and help you fill your toolkit to satisfy these needs.
Here are a few tips that have helped me:
1. Be one with Nature
Have you noticed how ‘imperfect’ Nature is? Accepting that you are not perfectly shaped or formed is way harder than you think, but I promise you it will give you the freedom from worrying every day.
Own the way you are. Own the shape you are born with and stop denying and fighting the aspects you cannot change.
2. Nurture the Goddess within.
You are a goddess, a beautiful individual placing your heart and irresistible essence into this world. Be responsible and respectful to who you are and what you do. The goddess within you listens and hears the words and whispers you have in your head. Nurture her with beautiful, warm, loving and encouraging words. Ask her for guidance and support.
3. Sit in ‘Ceremony’ with yourself
Self-love and self-care go hand in hand. Find the time to sit and listen to what your body, mind and soul needs. Only in the quite moments can you here the wisdom and intuition coming through. Gain the trust and connection to the inner source by sitting in silence. Find a piece in your home that reminds you to have regular ceremony. This can look like Meditation, a candle, saging, incense, or music.
4. Celebrate yourself more often
I sometimes have the drive to open up a bottle of wine and start dancing. Singing, jumping and celebrating myself for the person I am. Celebrate yourself for the things you do and have been through, the things you want to achieve and the possibilities that lie ahead. Be grateful for the beauty you send out into the world. You are truly a magical being!
5. Take yourself out for dates
Sounds cheesy, but it does magic. Head to the coffee shop or go for a walk to lift your spirit and spend time with yourself. I sometimes get caught in daily day-to-do list and lose the fun. So creating some time to do whatever you want, even if it's only 30 minutes or an hour. It can help to lift the spirit and gain the momentum back.
6. Create routine
Whatever you think or do in the morning sets the tone of the day. What do you need in order to feel empowered, centered and energized during your day? Find the things that make you happy and develop a routine (even if its only 10 min) to start the day. It's also important to help your body and mind to slow down and prepare yourself for a restful night. Sleep is very important and gives your body time to process, repair and prepare it for the next day. A small routine signals your body that its time to rest.
Other simple ways to practice self-care:
Meditation
Going for a walk (forest bathing)
Journaling
Mandala coloring
Arts/crafts
Epson Salt bath
Listening to music
Yin/ restorative yoga
Literally doing nothing
Saying 'no' more often
Switching mindset from 'I'm sooo busy' to 'I'm doing my best to accomplish my goals'
practicing long exhalation with 4,7,8 breathing technique
What Do You Think?
What are your favorite forms of self-care? What effects have you seen in your life after practicing self-care? Comment below — it may be just the thing that someone else needs to read.