Self-Care 101

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve your physical and mental health. Regarding your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a significant impact. 

Toward that end, we’ve put together a few things you might add to your self-care activity.

1. Exercise

Benefits include improving your mood, boosting your energy, getting better sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and even preventing and combatting diseases. 

But how can you get motivated to exercise? 

• Start off with baby steps. Try to exercise 10 minutes a day and then up your time as you get into the routine. 
• Make it fun. Take a hike, go to a dancing class, or even take a walk through campus.
• Make it social. Find a workout partner or partners to make sure you stay committed. You are less likely to cancel on a friend than you are yourself. 

2. Journaling

Benefits include helping you manage anxiety, reduce stress, and cope with depression. Journaling also tracks day-to-day symptoms so you can recognize some of your triggers, and you can work on how to deal with them better while also providing an opportunity for talking positively to yourself. 

Try these tips to help you get started with journaling.

• Set aside just a few minutes a day to write in your journal, and then make it a habit.
• Make it easy on yourself and don’t think too hard about what you need to write about. You can write anything. Extra tip: always keep a pen and paper handy, so you can journal whenever you feel like you need to.
• You don’t have to write words; you can draw, and it expresses your feelings the same way. There is no “right” way to journal. 

3. Skin Care

There are plenty of benefits of skin care, including reducing stress, encouraging self-care, strengthening your self-worth, and improving social bonding, all while keeping your skin healthy.

Here are a few tips on how to get started on your skincare routine: 

• Figure out your skin type and what you are trying to improve in your skin. For example, if you have oily skin, find a lightweight and water-based moisturizer. If you have dry skin, find a moisturizer that includes hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, as these ingredients keep you extra hydrated.
• Your skincare products do not have to be expensive There are plenty of drugstore options that work amazingly.
• Make it a routine. Start with doing simple care every night before bed, and as you get into the habit of it and learn more about it, you can add more products and tools to make your skincare routine fun. 

There are many ways to care for yourself; you just have to find what works for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things if something doesn’t work out for you. 

If you need help with maintaining a self-care routine and making yourself a priority, email Emily Cook, director of Counseling Services, at ecook@bluefield.edu for more information.