Summer’s here, and you know what that means: It’s time to put self-care at the top of the agenda. With longer days, warmer nights, and a general shift toward prioritizing relaxation, it's the perfect season to focus on your well-being because everything about the season pushes you in that direction anyway!
Remember, self-care isn't just about pampering ourselves. It is also about taking action to preserve or improve our health. Let’s take our cues from Mother Nature and explore why self-care should be your top priority this summer.
1. Your Mental Health
Practicing self-care can be hugely helpful to your mental health. It’s easy to get caught up in balancing work, your social life, and your family throughout the year and let taking care of yourself go by the wayside. Ensuring you’re making time to focus on yourself this summer can work wonders for your mental health.
Self-care could be something like giving yourself a day off every weekend or even just one evening a week after work to do only what you want to do. Relax and watch a trashy reality show, take a long luxurious bath, or spend time at the gym if working out is your go-to ‘me time.’
It could also be simple actions like taking a break from screens, reading a good book, or practicing mindfulness to ensure you’re present in your life and your body. Whatever suits you and your lifestyle, you can seriously reduce stress levels and boost your mental health by practicing self-care rituals.
2. Your Physical Health
Sometimes, we think of self-care as being a bit indulgent. But simply getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and regular exercise are all parts of taking care of yourself, so they count!
Spend more time walking when the weather’s nice, and keep to a regular sleep schedule, even though it can be tempting to stay up all night when the evenings are so balmy and warm.
Also, when thinking about your diet, certain nutrients, like those lovely omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, can boost your immunity. Yes, that's right, even those fish oil benefits play a part in your summer self-care routine! Omega-3s like those found in fish oil can promote a glowing complexion, too, which is ideal if you want to see the inner glow you get from prioritizing self-care shining outwardly, too.
3. Your Overall Productivity
If you’re worried that self-care will take too much time in your schedule, here’s something you might not expect: Self-care can make you more productive! Taking time for yourself isn’t a diversion from your important tasks; it's a strategic move.
Regular breaks, healthy eating, exercise, and adequate sleep improve concentration and efficiency. Think of self-care as refueling the tank. When running on full, you’re better equipped to tackle your tasks head-on.
4. Your Relationships
Relationships are the backbone of a rich, fulfilling life. Prioritizing self-care allows us to show up as our best selves for the people we care about.
We can contribute more positively to our relationships when physically healthy, mentally resilient, and emotionally stable. So, by looking after ourselves, we also care for our loved ones — it's a win-win!
5. Your Self-Image
Caring for oneself is a strong assertion of self-love and self-worth. When you invest time and energy in your well-being, it’s a declaration that you matter. This self-affirming practice, over time, enhances self-esteem and cultivates a positive self-image.
How you treat yourself sets the tone for how others treat you. So, give yourself the care and respect you deserve.
6. Your Self-Knowledge
Lastly, embracing self-care is an invitation to learn more about ourselves. It allows us to explore our likes, dislikes, and what truly makes us feel good. Understanding our needs, setting boundaries, and discovering new interests are all part of the self-care journey.
Plus, it's summer! What better time to embark on this adventure of self-discovery? You might even surprise yourself.
Fun in the Sun
There are countless reasons why making self-care a top priority this summer is essential. By embracing self-care practices, you can experience a transformative impact on your overall well-being. Life can get busy, especially in the winter when days are shorter, and it feels like you never have enough time to check off every box on your list.
In the summer, days get longer, you have more energy, and it often becomes a bit easier to prioritize self-care.
That said, why stop at summer? Let's make it a year-round practice. Because self-care isn't just about indulgence, it's a necessity, a non-negotiable aspect of living our best lives. So, let's embrace self-care and let our inner glow shine through, not just this season but every day of the year.
WRITTEN BY
Jacob Maslow