Ways To Take Care Of Yourself

There are far too many stressors thrown at you every day. They range from the minutiae in your personal life to the business of a professional persona. Ultimately, regardless of where those stressors lie, you are still one person who has to handle them all. Take some time to tackle a few tasks as a form of preventative maintenance and stress reduction to achieve balance in your life.

Prioritize Your Dental Health

If you have not had a dental visit over the past year due to the pandemic - make one now. You should schedule routine care with a trusted dentist at least annually. Most dentists will recommend you visit twice per year or quarterly, depending upon your specific dental needs. Having a healthy smile goes deeper than showing off a gleaming set of teeth. When your teeth receive frequent inspections and cleanings from a trusted professional, it will benefit your overall health by eliminating dangerous bacteria and plaque from your body.

Of course, you should do your part at home, as well. Make it a routine to brush and floss after every meal if possible. Try making the ritual more exciting by playing your favorite playlist or listening to a new podcast. Carry a travel toothpaste and toothbrush for when you are out of the house to keep your teeth and body healthy.

Find Ways To Reduce Stress

Be proactive in your personal life to reduce stressors. If you find yourself under too many obligations daily, seek out assistance. Should you have a partner or responsible family member who can assist you in care-taking, grocery shopping, or general housekeeping, do not hesitate to ask. Consider trading services with a like-minded friend or neighbor for lawn care or childcare. Sometimes, all you need are a few hours to yourself each week to accomplish tasks, take care of the finances, or relax with a good book. Ask for help when you need it and accept it when it is available. Focusing on your needs will give you a refreshing new perspective to take into the next day.

Reducing stress is imperative in the workplace, as well. If you feel overwhelmed by new technology or processes - ask for help. There is a tutorial for most work-related tasks. If a manual or guide does not exist, consider spearheading an initiative to create one. This will show your supervisors and colleagues that you have initiative and drive. Additionally, you can learn the processes in every step while you detail them for others to gain a greater understanding. 

When your workload is too great and you are unable to handle it all, speak to whomever you report to. Before going in, gather your projects and determine which ones you can complete and by what date. Be prepared to present yourself as an asset who can deliver on time, every time, when you have enough time to do so. Sometimes finding a mentor is beneficial in that they have had similar experiences to what you are currently going through. They will be able to relate to your situation and offer their wisdom and encouragement.

Here are a few tips for finding a mentor.

In life, there will always be a responsibility, a stress-inducing situation, or a deadline. Stay on top of routine healthcare by making dental appointments and annual exams. Take time out of each day to accept and offer help. Take care of yourself to take care of your future.

3 Signs You Aren't Taking Care Of Yourself

It is no secret that it has been a challenging year. With so many different things to think about - from losing out on work to ensuring you can pay the bills, you've likely put self-care on the back burner. Unfortunately, this happens all too often, even without the extra stress that 2020 has brought along. 

As a result, you must develop healthy habits to take care of yourself. Remember, if you don't look after yourself - you can't look after others.

With that in mind, here are three signs you aren't taking care of yourself.

You're always tired

It's okay to feel tired from time to time, especially if you're reaching the end of a long week. However, if you are exhausted continuously - it is a clear sign that you aren't taking care of yourself properly. When you are tired, you are less productive, irritable and can even make yourself sick. Therefore, you must begin to prioritize rest and relaxation over being always on the go.

Here are some things you can do to combat fatigue. 

• Go to bed earlier.

• Turn off your phone an hour before you sleep, giving you time to wind down. 

• Avoid caffeine in the evenings, helping you drift into sleep.

• Don't overexert yourself. 

• Consult with a doctor to find out if you have an iron deficiency. 

• Meditate 

• Take part in some light exercise that can improve your energy levels

You're often sick

Getting sick is often unavoidable - and we all have a terrible cold now and then. However, if you find that you are always sick - be that coughing or sneezing - you need to try and find ways to boost your immune system and better protect yourself from illness. Here's how!

• Get enough rest, as this can weaken your immune system.

• Exercise regularly, at least three times a week.

• Prioritise self-care, don't let stress consume you

• Follow a healthy, balanced diet  healthy, balanced diet that can boost your immunity 

• Cut down on unhealthy snacks and alcohol 

• Take vitamin supplements when necessary

You don't seek help when you need it. 

Many of us chose to avoid our problem for as long as possible. Say you have fallen over at work and hurt your wrist. You may shrug off the initial pain and hope for it to go away over time, ignoring the fact that you could have sustained a severe injury. This avoidance is a clear sign that you aren't taking good care of yourself, and you should always ensure you seek help or additional treatment after an injury such as this. Then, if you want to make a claim, you can get in touch with professional injury lawyers, such as Prince Law Firm, who can use the medical evidence and records to support your claim. 

Though many of us are quick to ignore physical injuries, emotional pain is disregarded even quicker. However, if you are bottling up feelings of anxiety, depression or stress, they will only build up over time. You cannot merely box them away and forget about them - they'll find a way out. Therefore, you must reach out when you need help - whether you talk to a friend or a professional - it will make a huge difference.

Tips To Look After Chronic Health Conditions

A chronic health condition is something that can be hard to explain to those who’ve never experienced it. And for that reason alone, it can be hard to appreciate just how much invisible pain is a condition that needs to be focused on. Chronic health conditions can affect anyone and everyone of all ages. With that being said, here are some tips to look after chronic health conditions.

Forgive Yourself When You Have Tough Days

We all have tough days, and when it comes to getting through those days, it’s important to acknowledge the pain and to forgive yourself for, however, you feel or react. You should feel guilty for having reacted a certain way towards others as long as they’re aware of your condition. It’s something that cannot be helped, and the last thing you want to be doing is guilt-tripping yourself when there may be enough of that already out in the world. Be a positive influence for yourself and try to find that forgiveness when it comes to your own body. Don’t be down-heartened and accept that this a day that wasn’t fantastic. You’ll have tomorrow and the day after that. Focus on the future and projecting positive thoughts into your life

Get Professional Help

For any type of medical treatment, whether visible or not, it’s essential to get to professional help you need when it’s required. For chronic health, there are not as many helpful resources out there in comparison to other traditional conditions. However, that’s something that’s changing, especially as more research goes into exploring chronic conditions and how to fix them or relieve the pain somewhat. It’s worth looking at helpful companies like the Stradtman Family Wellness who is finding ways to help clients in overcoming their chronic health conditions but in a natural way.

Keep Yourself As Healthy As Possible

In order to look after yourself, it’s important to keep your body and mind as healthy as possible. Although it’s not a cure or solution that works for everyone, reducing stress can be helpful. Eating well and doing exercise regularly can also be a good way of getting your body fit and helping your body feel it’s best at all times. The more time you can commit to looking after your body, the better.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is an important thing to practice when it comes to your health, and it’s one that we don’t really do enough of. When practicing self-care, do things that make you feel good. Make sure these are things you do for yourself and on your own, rather than with other people. Spending time along to do what you love can certainly give you a greater quality of life. Chronic health conditions could certainly benefit from some self-love every now and then, right?

When treating a chronic health condition, it’s going to be different for everyone. Use what you know and research other ways that might be able to help with your condition in making it more manageable.

Wellness Tips For Winter

We are rapidly hurtling towards the winter months. Before we know it, the temperatures will have plummeted, the nights will have drawn in and we will be eagerly awaiting the return of the spring.

Winter is the season that takes it out of us the most, and this year, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic taking centre stage, it is possibly going to be even more challenging than usual. It is cold and dark, we are all more susceptible to illnesses and viruses - COVID-19 notwithstanding and it can be much harder to get out and about. Because of this, loneliness and isolation become more common and those who suffer from chronic pain or illness see symptoms worsen.

November and December are often ok - we have Christmas and the new year celebrations to look forward to, and the really bad weather hasn’t quite kicked in by then. However, January and February can seem long and depressing. Life is supposed to be normal but the lighter nights and warmer weather seem so far away still.

Fear not though, although we can’t do anything about the weather, we can take action to make it seem a little more bearable. Here, we look at some simple self-care and wellness tips to help you get through the long winter months.

Have a bedtime routine

If you are going to do just one of the things on this list, do this one. Without sleep, your body does not get the chance to rest and recover, and nor does your mind. Try to aim for around eight hours of sleep a night. Stick to a regular routine, going to bed at the same time every night, regardless of whether you have to get up or not in the morning and get up at the same time, even on weekends. Avoid using a screen for at least an hour before you head up bed - the blue light cell phone and devices emit can prevent sleep. Ensuring your room is a comfortable temperature and as dark as possible can also help to encourage restful sleep. Some people find that white noise in the background can be very soothing.

Plan a wellness activity

This can be as simple or as grand as you like. It could be something as easy as setting up a spa at home - a long, hot bubble bath, all of your favourite skin care products, face masks and so on. It may be a real spa-day, with massages and facials to get your skin and body prepared for the winter. It could be booking into a NAD Treatment Center to really turn yourself around both physically and mentally.

Eat well

When we think of winter food, we think of rich, hearty meals that are warming and comforting. Sadly, these are often not particularly great for us - they can be stodgy and laden with carbs. This can make us feel good for a short time, but in the long-term make us feel lethargic. Try to incorporate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet as you need plenty of vitamins to keep yourself well at this time. Homemade vegetable soups, berries in oatmeal and stews and casseroles packed with seasonal veg are all great ways to get those vitamins in you. Enjoy the hot chocolates and the pumpkin spice lattes, but make sure you are drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated, too.

Socialise

In winter, it can be all too tempting to stay in wrapped in a duvet and watch Netflix rather than get dressed and go out with your friends. It will be even more difficult this year with the restrictions that the pandemic has put upon us, but hibernating can lead to isolation and loneliness, and this is not good for your mental health. Make an effort to meet up with friends with a walk or a coffee date if you can, or if you can’t get out, join with quizzes and throw virtual parties on apps such as Zoom.

Exercise

Almost no one wants to drag themselves out for a run in the middle of winter - that is reserved for the most hardcore of fitness fanatics, but taking regular exercise will make you feel so much better. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout in the gym or a long run - Zumba in your lounge, an online dance class with your friends or a swim at your local pool can all be ways of getting in some physical activity.

How to Take Stock of Your Mental Wellbeing

Many people are facing pressures from different angles every day. These include financial uncertainty, family constraints, and health issues. There are many factors that can affect your mental wellbeing and it’s important to step back from time to time and assess the situation. If you take stock of your mental health you can look for areas for improvement. Perhaps there are ways you can make the situation better. Here are some steps you can take to feel more positive and get more out of life. 

Mindfulness

The art of mindfulness is about focusing on the present moment and the world around you. Meditation is a big part of it, as it helps to develop your sense of awareness and change your perspective. Take more time to think about things and make careful decisions. You’ll find with time you’ll start to feel more positive about life and be better in the way you approach challenges. You can try following guidelines on how to practice mindful meditation online. 

Stay active

Physical activity is proven to be beneficial to your mental wellbeing. It’s a good idea to set yourself fitness goals however small. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, you can try monitoring your posture, breathing, and general habits with obvus.me. This way you can pay close attention to your physical health, and find the causes of any issues whether it’s lack of exercise, pain from work, or diet. Find a new sport or activity that you enjoy and it will help boost your self-confidence and improve your mood.

Work on your relationships

Your personal relationships will have a big impact on your mental wellbeing. Try to make an effort to connect with people and spend time with your friends and family, even virtually. Provide emotional support to others and they will in turn do the same for you. If you focus on trying to improve your personal relationships it will be very beneficial for your mental wellbeing.

Learn something new

Studies have shown that learning and working help improve your mental health. It helps you develop a sense of purpose and refrain from getting stuck in a rut. Learning something new whether it’s work-related, studying a course, or simply a different fun hobby can improve your mood and give you something to focus on. It’s important to find something you enjoy and have a genuine interest in, however. That way you can really benefit from it. 

Acts of kindness

If you’re taking stock of your mental wellbeing, you might want to consider how your behavior affects others. If you make an effort for other people it will create positive feelings and a sense of self-worth. It’s proven that random acts of kindness help you to gain perspective. You can start small with a simple act of gratitude, or even consider volunteer work. Making a difference in the community is very rewarding and you can connect with people as well. Giving to others is very beneficial to your mental wellbeing.

Dealing With Pain That Comes From Your Work

It can be hard to live a normal life when you are in pain all the time. Many people live with extremely painful conditions, struggling to get through work, and finding it hard to have a good social life. Of course, though, when something like this is being caused by your job, there are often ways that it can be overcome. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the pain that can be caused by normal work, giving you an idea of how to fight back.

Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common forms of recurring pain. A lot of people end up in very bad shape because of conditions like this, finding it hard to sit at their desks for long days with their back in agony. Seeing a chiropractor can be a good way to overcome an issue like this, making it possible to work towards easing your pain. Alongside this, though, your employer should also be willing to provide you with the tools to ease your back pain at work.

Headaches

Headaches can be impossible to work with, making it hard to concentrate and making most people feel like they want to go home. There are loads of things that can cause headaches, from dehydration to exposure to fluorescent lights, and many of them can occur at work. You’ll need to find the source of your headaches in order to combat them, and this means that you will probably need to spend some time researching this type of condition.

Wrist & Arm Pain

Using a computer all day can lead to some interesting health problems. The most common of these occur in the arms and wrists, with many people experiencing long-term pain when they use a keyboard all day. Wrist rests, ergonomic keyboards, and desks with adjustable heights can work to combat pain like this, ensuring that you are able to keep working without worrying about causing permanent damage. If you find your wrists hurting, it can be worth using a brace until you can see a doctor.

Joint Pain

Finally, as the last type of pain to consider, it’s time to think about joint pain. Knees, elbows, and hips can all cause a lot of pain, but most people aren’t aware of how they should combat issues like this. Jobs that involve repetitive stress on these parts of the body should be handled very carefully. Braces should be worn while doing heavy work, and you should spend some time learning about your body’s mechanics to avoid putting stress in these sensitive areas.

Pain can be incredibly hard to live with. A lot of people experience long-term pain thanks to their work, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Your employer is obligated to look after your health, and this means that you need only talk to them to start working towards solutions to the pain you’re experiencing at work.

Could Past Trauma Be Causing Your Mental Health Issues?

Unpacking your mental health issues and identifying the cause is a very important step in your recovery. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, that’s not very easy to do. There isn’t always a specific reason why people develop mental health problems and our brains are very complex, so it’s tough to point to one single thing.

However, a lot of people develop mental health issues because they have experienced trauma of some kind. You may not necessarily make the connection between the two and often, trauma related mental health issues go undiagnosed for this very reason. That’s why it’s important that you understand the link between the two. So, what is the connection between trauma and mental health issues?

What Happens When You Experience Trauma?

When you go through a traumatic event, your body has a physical reaction. You may notice an increase in your heart rate, sweating, and nausea. This is your body’s flight or fight response and it’s perfectly normal for this to happen. In many cases, you will recover after the event and things will be fine. However, a lot of people experience feelings of denial or guilt and when those feelings don’t go away, they can turn into more serious mental health issues. 

Post traumatic stress disorder is very common in people that have been through something difficult. You may experience flashbacks or nightmares about the event and it’s common to feel incredibly anxious, even years after the initial trauma. Many people also experience depression, which is often linked to feelings of guilt or helplessness that do not go away after a traumatic event. 

Dealing With Trauma 

If your mental health issues are caused by a traumatic event in the past, it’s important that you are able to deal with that trauma if you are going to improve your mental health and overall wellbeing. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding bad habits that harm the brain is important, but you will also need treatments to directly deal with the trauma. 

Talking therapies are one of the best ways to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic event. It’s very cathartic to talk to somebody about what happened and it will help you to understand how that traumatic event is impacting your mental health. A professional therapist will also teach you ways of dealing with those difficult emotions so you are able to overcome them. 

In recent years, there has been a lot of research into new ways to manage trauma. Some people have been treated using psychoactive substances, like LSD or MDMA, and although these treatments are in their early stages, the results look promising. You can find out more information about these treatments from the Psychedelic Spotlight website. It is believed that talking therapies are more effective when patients are under the influence of very small doses of these psychoactive substances and it helps them to get to the root of the issue. 

If you are struggling with your mental health and you believe that you may be affected by past traumas, it’s important that you don’t suffer in silence. There are treatments out there, so reach out to those around you and get help.

5 Ways to Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health Throughout the Years

Life is uncertain and you never know what’s around the corner. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t look after your physical and mental health throughout the years. 

Practicing self-love is essential if you want to live a healthy life. But working out the ways that you can care for your physical and mental health might feel a little daunting. To help guide you, here are 5 suggestions of ways you can do this:

Seek Additional Help When You Need it 

Although it’s easy to put others ahead of yourself sometimes, it’s important not to neglect yourself. If you notice a problem, whether it be with your physical or mental health, it’s vital that you speak to a health professional as soon as possible. There’s no shame in asking for help if you require it – and in the long term, you’ll be far better off by doing this. 

This is important over the years, no matter what your age. From talking to a doctor to looking into assisted living benefits when you’re older, whatever outside help you need, research into what options are out there. 

Keep Up an Exercise Regime 

This might sound obvious, but it’s surprising how many people don’t prioritize this. By keeping up an exercise regime, you’ll ensure that your mind and body stays strong and healthy. Giving you a break from the stresses and strains that every day brings, you’ll wake up in the mornings feeling refreshed and ready to start your day. 

Focus on Keeping a Balanced Diet 

By focusing on keeping a balanced diet, your mind and body will thank you in the long run. Physically, this ensures that you’re feeling energized and that you’re at lower risk of developing health problems – from diabetes to high blood pressure. Mentally, it will guarantee that you feel motivated and determined to take on any task that comes your way. 

Prioritize Sleep

Sleep plays a huge part in your physical and mental health. Therefore it’s something that should not be ignored. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body and mind will start to shut down. So make sure that each night you’re going to bed at a reasonable time and waking up at least 8 hours later. 

If you suffer from insomnia, there are natural supplements you can take to help you fall (and stay!) asleep. Melatonin, a hormone that your body naturally produces to make you drowsy, can be boosted by taking it in supplement form. If anxiety is preventing you from getting regular sleep, check out CBD store products to treat your insomnia.

Socialize, Socialize, Socialize 

At the moment, socializing in person is still not really the norm. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t talk to your loved ones virtually – through Zoom or a similar software. By doing this, it will ensure that your mental health is kept in check. No matter how long you talk to them for or what about, having a catch up will make you feel a lot better in yourself. 

So, there you go. Those are 5 simple methods you can use to help take care of both your physical and mental health. Of course, what you decide to do is up to you. But whatever proactive steps you take towards a healthier you, the more wonderful your life will be.

To Be Black and Well

Glow

One of the biggest investments that a black person can make for themselves, is a consistent and healthy skincare routine. And to top it off, there are plenty of black owned organic skincare brands for you to choose from. For starters, just make sure that you have a cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

Mental Wellness

Another healthy habit that I’ve gotten into is daily meditation. Day and night. The first thing that I do when I wake up is focus my attention and energy before I even start my day. Resist the temptation to reach for your phone as a first activity in the morning!

Eat Well

This could go without saying but eating healthy is another investment that is guaranteed to pay off in the short and long term. It helps with your skin, digestion, mood and even energy levels! Even though we’re in quarantined due to COVID-19, don’t eat too much junk food. You’ll thank yourself later.

Exercise

The single most important act of self-care that I’ve implemented into my routine is exercising. Even if you don’t necessarily have a fitness goal, make sure that you’re going for a run, doing a few sit-ups, or whatever you have to do in order to make sure that you’re your healthiest self. After all, if you aren’t well yourself, you won’t be of much service to others.

All Photo Credits: Buttah Skincare Website

Report: Julian Randall

Loss During a Quarantine

As quarantine progresses, it dawns on us that our lives won’t be normal and it makes us miss the times where we can be outside. The times in which we could hug our family and friends without the thought of being the cause of them contracting this virus that can be deadly. The mental toll this takes is significant.

As someone who was dealing with a great loss right before the lockdown and then another one during the lockdown, it severely plays a strain on your mental health. Being locked in your home alone while trying to heal is hard. Not many can handle the silence around you. Finding ways to distract you is harder because now you have no choice but to sit with yourself and deal with the pain. It can put you in a damaging space and you can lose yourself. Just remember it's okay to seek help.

Some tips I can give those who are struggling like I am is to call a friend or a family member. Pick up a new habit or use this time to invest and put your all into a passion you have been neglecting. Most of all, reach out to a therapist. Having someone to talk to helps and being able to release that pain and have a healthy way to express yourself is always the best option.

So many of us are dealing with loss during this time of quarantine, so check on your friends and family. If you are going through the emotion of losing someone it’s okay to get help and talk to someone and just know you are not alone.

Photo Credit:

Loss picture: jfcsmpls.org

Therapist picture - Verywellmind.com

Report: Maya Howard

How to Make Your Beauty Routine Greener

Any changes that improve our well-being and the health of the planet are good steps in the right direction. Another thing is that the number and volume of such changes are different for everyone. For someone to buy a shopper or to hand over batteries to the nearest collection point is already a feat. And someone has fully implemented the principle of zero waste and is constantly looking for new opportunities for a waste-free life.

One of the simple but important ways to become more conscious is to revise your beauty routine. Here is our list with ways to become more beautiful and eco-conscious.

Every day, a dozen disposable cotton pads are sent to the trash. Meanwhile, in the production of cotton pads, natural resources are wasted, the atmosphere is polluted. Go for reusable cotton discs or muslin napkins that can be machine washed.

Replace cotton buds with a plastic base with bamboo or paper. They decompose, which means they will not add dirt to the oceans choking on plastic.

The best beauty behavior is full awareness and buying cosmetics as needed. According to estheticians, the minimum set for skincare looks like this: a cleanser, exfoliant, cream, or serum with antioxidants, protective cream with SPF.

Report: Olha Dzharyha

A Post-Lockdown Personal Tuneup Guide

After a global pandemic and sweeping political upheaval you can be forgiven for feeling a little worn out from this year already. However, while lockdown was a vital measure for many understandable reasons, it’s important to note that you needn’t have to feel that sense of weariness and fatigue for longer than necessary. Now that lockdown is starting to slow, and things are beginning to return to however we’re supposed to define normal right now, it can be helpful to develop your own post-lockdown treatment plan.

But how does this work, and what might it look like? It can be very worth asking these questions, because otherwise we may stumble in the dark trying to feel like our past selves but struggling from the effort.

So, where do we begin? Well, let us start off by first suggesting that you are enough, and that you’re merely restoring your beauty through the following guides, not adding to it. Furthermore, doing what feels good and having fun with this process should be mandatory. If you feel put-out by this process, something is wrong! With that being said, let’s consider the following advice:

Great Dental Work

Great dental work can be a great starting point, as deep cleaning teeth can help you enjoy a whiter smile, feel more confident, and also uncover other dental issues you may wish to have worked on. Great dental work also allows us to start feeling more confident in our style, as when issues with our teeth cause us pain or a lack of confidence, it can be hard to feel your usual radiant self.

Stretching & Yoga

Stretching and yoga can not only help remove some of your physical cobwebs that grow in lockdown, but you’ll remove some of your mental fatigue, too. It’s a meditative act to engage in either one of these practices regularly, and if you can do that you’re much more likely to feel confident, and peaceful in a given day. This will also help you feel a little less culture shock returning back to normality, as you’ll have given your body the practiced warm up it needs every day to function well. As far as that’s concerned, you’ll be on the right track.

Massages & Spa Experiences

A good massage and spa experience can help you remove all of your stress from your shoulders, take a little time for you, and for some people, enjoy some peace and quiet at long last! This is not an overly indulgent treat to invest in, we’d say you deserve it after many months in lockdown. Relaxing and spending time with a friend in these surroundings, or simply going solo, can help you take stock of your life, reflect a little, feel more comfortable in your physical body, and generally feel renewed and refreshed. You could do much worse than this.

With this advice, we hope you can go through the best post-lockdown tuneup guide.

Self-Love: The Road to Happiness and Growth

Self-love is regard for one’s own well-being and happiness.

Sometimes we tend to forget about ourselves and shift our focus to the ones we love most. We also lose ourselves. Death, breakups, any loss or heartbreak can sometimes to lead to carelessness which can become dangerous if action is not taken.

Self-love is essential in order to live a happy, and healthy lifestyle. Self-love comes in different forms. First there’s taking care of your appearance. Second there’s wellness or your health. Third, there’s self-reflection.

Grooming is important because that is what usually makes you feel good. For women, think about when you finally get your hair and nails done. Think about when you wear a nice outfit or your makeup is done. How does that makes you feel? For men, think about when you get a haircut, line-up or even shave. Think about when your wearing your best outfit and fresh scent of cologne. Men know one way to a woman’s heart is that smell of cologne. Then there’s also pampering yourself. This can be going to get a massage, maybe taking a bath with some bath bombs in your tub, or going on a vacation or to a spa.

Health is top priority. When you look good, it is important to feel good too. Healthy eating and exercising requires consistency that can be hard but is possible. Even mental health is important because this is part of your well-being. Going to a gym, working out at home, even yoga or meditation can help when it comes to your body. A safe and relaxing space is needed in order to have a peace of mind. Once you’re at peace with yourself, you will handle stressful situations effectively. Self-reflection is important when it comes to self-love and growth. You need to be able to think about your actions, motives and character. You must question yourself and your past. Maybe you had a pass situation that you did not handle too well. You ask yourself “What could I have done differently?” Maybe there are things about yourself that you never came to terms with but someone close to you has. They’ve told you things that they notice about you that hasn’t changed for the better. You ask yourself “What steps do I need to take in order to change?”

Self-reflection starts with you and it is when you make startling and surprising realizations about yourself that you never even knew. Maybe in this process you realize new things about yourself based on the situations and experiences that you have encountered. Self-reflection is the key to growth.

Self-love starts with ourselves. Always remember that you have to love and take care of yourself as best as you can because if you don’t, who else is going to? Find peace and happiness within yourself, don’t settle for less and be open to change.

Report: Juana Norales

Instagram: @juana.n_