4 Easy Ways To Practice Self-Care

"Self-care is never selfish." Now say it again for the people in the back! Self. Care. Is. Never. Selfish. Feels good, right?

The key to a long and happy life is taking time to put yourself first. And since July is National Self-Care Month, there’s never been a better time to focus on yourself. So, whether your self-care routine includes going to the gym, reading a book, or taking a moment to relax after a long day, make sure you take the time to prioritize your emotional well-being.

While there are so many forms of self-care, our partners at Virtua Health shared four of their favorite tips.

We’ve all heard hundreds of times how important it is to “get to bed early” and how “you need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.” And honestly, it’s the truth! Sleep is essential and promotes countless health benefits. Here are 3 ways to improve your sleep:

No need to grab the yoga mat, sit with your legs crossed, and play meditation music. While those activities can help improve the experience, meditation can be as simple as removing all distractions, especially your phone. Then just relax and focus on your own thoughts and emotions for a while. Everyone meditates differently, but the benefits are endless, like reducing stress, improving your emotional health, and even increasing your attention span.

You don’t need to lift weights all day like The Rock or dominate a tennis match like Serena Williams to get valuable exercise. Getting out and going for a walk or a bike ride are easy ways to get some exercise. Adding an hour or even 30 minutes of exercise to your routine can positively impact your physical and mental health.

Exercising your mind is just as important as physical exercise. Learning a new skill helps your brain stay active as you age, which can increase memory and cognitive function. A new skill could be as simple as learning to solve a Rubix Cube, which may be cliché, but it will still stimulate your brain. You can even push your brain by learning a new language! The most important part is choosing something that you want to learn, this will make it easier to stay motivated.

Remember to take extra time this month to focus on your own self-care. If you ever feel like you could use some extra care for your mental health, our friends at Virtua Health can help. Connect with their team today.

Every once in a while, taking a big deep breath is just what the doctor ordered. We know it probably seems impossible to relax when you’re running on pure adrenaline and have an endless to do list every day. But finding that time is extremely important for your mental health.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, our friends at Virtua Health put together this list of five mindfulness activities to help you relax, take a deep breath, and calm your mind.

If you’re stressed out and feel like nothing is going your way, take time each day to make a list of between five and 10 things that you are grateful for. This will help ground you and allow you to focus on all of the good things in your life.

Journaling is proven to help with emotional processing and self-reflection, both of which are important for mental health. It can be done in a variety of ways, such as answering a specific prompt or by writing about how you’re feeling. You will be more relaxed once you get your feelings onto some paper!

When it comes to mental health, yoga is amazing. It helps to boost mood, reduce stress and anxiety, improve quality of sleep, and help you feel more connected to yourself. It also improves cognitive function and can help your entire body relax. Best of all, it’s something that anyone can do from anywhere.

One of the most fun ways to help calm your mind is coloring. Coloring can help reduce both anxiety and depression. There are a ton of different coloring book options to choose from, but we recommend a “mandala” like adult coloring book to help your mind simmer down. Happy coloring!

Taking a dip in a freezing cold tub and taking ice cold showers have been huge crazes lately. And rightfully so. This trend greatly benefits both your mental and physical health. It helps reduce depression, provide stress relief, enhance quality of sleep and more. Talk to your doctor to make sure it’s a good option for you.

Now more than ever, it’s important to put your health first. If you aren’t feeling like yourself this season, our friends at Virtua Health can get you the care you need. Get the conversation started and connect with one of their primary care physicians today.