In today’s 24/7 world, where work follows us home—or even on vacation—and stress is a daily fact of life, it is no wonder that there is a renewed emphasis on carving out time for activities or habits that promote wellness in our lives. And that’s easier and less expensive to do than you might think.
“Wellness” doesn’t require a potentially costly membership at a yoga studio or weekend meditation retreat. Often, wellness starts with self-care, and self-care is something that doesn’t necessarily require a great deal of time or financial effort. Put simply, pursuing wellness is more approachable than you may think.
“Self-care is a way to recharge our mental and emotional energy,” says Dr. Ryan Hooper, a clinical psychologist. “If we don’t do self-care on a regular basis, we will eventually feel drained and burned out. Self-care doesn’t have to take a ton of time; in fact, sometimes it’s the quick, simple things that are happening on a regular basis that keep us recharged.”
Dr. Farrah Hauke, Psy.D, a licensed psychologist, adds that self-care is “absolutely vital” to emotional well-being. “It is incredibly important because it can decrease stress as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms. It also helps us to be more productive and mindful of our needs which helps us to proactively address problems.” She too agrees that self-care “does not have to be time-consuming or expensive.”[1]
Just taking a moment during a busy day to de-stress can be beneficial. For example, spending even five minutes meditating may help you “detox” after a long day. In addition to meditation, practicing mindfulness—being present in the moment—is a relaxation technique that you can do even while you’re engaged in daily chores.
Whatever method you choose to exercise self-care, be it through meditation, a quiet walk in the park to clear your head, or creating a list of things for which you are grateful, you are actively countering the impact of the daily stressors that can have a negative impact on your health.
[1] Spector, N. (2018, July 29). 8 ways you can master self-care without spending a dime. NBCnews.com. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/8-ways-you-can-master-self-care-without-spending-dime-ncna895341.