Self-care is a concept that seems simple enough. It’s the idea that taking care of yourself is important. However, there are many who don’t self-care and many more who have misconceptions about it. In this post, let’s look at what self-care is and why it’s needed.
What Is It?
Self-care is taking some time to take care of yourself. That’s it. There are many people who feel guilty over the idea of self-care, believing that if you take some “me time,” it means you don’t care about anyone else. This is not the case. It’s important to both care about others and yourself.
Self-care can be simple. It can mean taking some time out of the day to exercise, practice a skill, or do something else to make you happy. Here are some reasons why it’s needed more than ever.
Times Are Rough
We live in tough times right now. Obviously, times are tough every year, but with the pandemic and everything else going on in 2020, taking care of yourself is more important than ever. It isn’t enough to socially distance; you should also be keeping your physical and mental health up.
Mental Illness is Growing
One thing that has been rising is people diagnosed with a mental illness. This may be due to the fact that testing has improved, but the world itself can be to blame as well. For example, 2020 can make people develop chronic depression. Practicing self-care techniques like meditation and mindfulness can help with this.
We Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep
Because of the stresses of the world, and also because the constant news cycle means people will be looking at their phones even at bedtime, it’s becoming harder to get some sleep. Most adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep each night. If they do not get enough sleep, it can lead to several mental and physical health issues.
There is no shame in unwinding for the night and taking some time to have a good night’s sleep.
We Are Overworked
If you live in America, you are in the most overworked nation. While many Americans may have had their way of life changed because of COVID-19, many are working even more. Working so much can cause one to lose track of their self-care, leading to many health issues.
Getting Help for Mental Illness is Still Stigmatized
While we are doing better with addressing mental health issues, there’s still a ways to go. Many people have trouble diagnosing and treating mental health problems, or believe that seeking treatment is a sign of weakness. It is not at all; in fact, it takes a strong person to want to seek help.
This should not be the case whatsoever. It’s important to not only seek self-care for a mental health issue but also seek help through a mental health professional. Diagnosing your problem is a valuable first step, and one way to do it is by visiting this website: https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/.
About the Author:
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with Mind-Diagnostics.org. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.