[Upbeat Music] Hey, Psych2Goers! Welcome back to another brand new video! Do you find it hard to follow some of the
self-care routines advertised outside? Whether it’s because you don’t know what
you need to do, or because you’re just too busy all the time, like many others, you keep
putting off your self-care plans for later. But taking some time for yourself is incredibly
beneficial for your mental health and general well-being, and it can be surprisingly easy
to do.
Although self-care varies from person to person,
certain aspects, such as reducing stress, eating better, and getting enough sleep, serve
as the foundation for self-care. So if you don’t know where to start, here
are five simple self-care tips to help you become a better you. Number One: Make a sleep routine Do you have a consistent time to go to bed? Practicing self-care is easier when you create
a routine because it mentally prepares you to disconnect. And it’s especially helpful when it comes
to going to bed. If you find that you have trouble falling
asleep, try to create a plan that prepares you for bedtime.
Drinking water before bed or reading a book
to wind down are some things you could try. Some even say that dimming the lights before
sleeping works well as it signals your brain to start producing melatonin, the sleep hormone. This tip works great especially if you spend
hours in front of a computer. Number Two: Eat Mindfully Are you mindful of what you eat? While working out is always mentioned in self-care
articles, what you put into your body is also equally important. Apart from how it affects your physical wellbeing,
it also can play a role in your mental health. Consider the 100 million nerve cells that
line your gastrointestinal tract that is in constant communication with your brain. According to an article published in 2017,
inflammation of your bowels may be one of the causes of issues like stress, anxiety,
and depression.
Ultimately, you might want to consider making
it your goal to eat better to feel better rather than only to look better. Number Three: Create and enforce boundaries. Do you set boundaries with other people? While some may falsely believe that boundaries
exist to deliberately exclude certain types of people from your life, it doesn’t. Although it can end up doing that, boundaries
primarily exist as a reminder that you need to take care of yourself first. They serve as guidelines for other people
on how they should approach and treat you. It can also save you from a lot of emotional
or mental distress and help you foster better relationships with other people. Number Four: Disconnect Are you always plugged into your computer
or your phone? This may be difficult to do, especially with
how much your work and personal life require you to be online all the time, but taking
time to disconnect is important for your mental well-being.
Whether it’s because your scrolling through
your phone to look at the news, social media, or because of work, looking at your screens
for a long period of time without breaks is an unhealthy habit. This is why it’s crucial you spend some
time offline as well. Perhaps, you can go for a walk, do some yoga,
or get involved in a hobby. Whatever it is, being disconnected from your
screens from time to time can help you clear your mind and relieve stress. Number Five: Organize, inside and out What does your room look like? The environment around you can have an effect
on your mental health. Researchers have shown that a disorganized
home can actually contribute to depression, anxiety, and weight gain.
So if you find yourself surrounded by a lot
of clutter and mess, it may be time to start organizing the things around you. Whether it’s following the ways of Marie
Kondo by looking at what sparks joy or just sorting through your things one by one, you
can start to take the steps to create a more tidy and clean environment for yourself and
your mental well-being. Number Six: Do something you love Are there hobbies that you love doing? When most people think about self-care, it’s
probably something that involves dancing around to your favorite music with a face mask on. While you might think it’s cheesy, the point
is that you’re doing something fun. Ultimately, self-care is about you, so do
something that makes you happy. Whether it’s reading a book, or going for
a run, as long as you’re not harming yourself or other people, doing something you love
and making yourself happy is essential in caring for yourself.
Which tip did you find most helpful? Let us know in the comments below. If you find this video helpful, be sure to
like, subscribe, and share this video with those who might benefit from it, and don’t
forget to hit the notification bell icon to get notified whenever Psych2Go posts a new
video. The references and studies used in this video
are added in the description below. Thanks for watching and see you in our next
video! Thanks for watching! Video by Psych2go..