The Power of Rest and Self-Care
Do you constantly live with a steady hum of anxiety behind your back? Do you find it difficult to keep a lid on it? In today’s day and age, anxiety, and stress go hand in hand. It’s just impossible to navigate this hectic lifestyle without letting it consume our well-being.
In fact, stress and anxiety are such typical problems that almost 1 in 10 people in Singapore report having mild to severe stress. Especially with the ongoing pandemic. The rest of the population is equally struggling with mental unrest.
2021 reports show that anxiety disorders are affecting 40 million American adults annually. That’s about 18.1% of the population. And people with any anxiety disorder are 3 to 5 times more likely to visit a doctor. In this world of chronic stress and anxiety, using self-care strategies can make all the difference. Here is why.
The Basic Elements of Self-Care and Actual Rest
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
Most people fill their days with endless activities. Most of which don’t matter in the end. They tend to do the things that please those around them, rather than something that makes them happy. In the end, they sacrifice their health and the best years of their lives without actually chasing their dreams of finding their passion.
The truth is, this distracted and busy world may look normal, but it doesn’t represent a productive life. A busy life creates distractions, with a detrimental impact on a person’s body and soul. The question is, do you truly rest? Do you give yourself the self-care you deserve?
Rest is pointless when it’s crammed between packed schedules and constant deadlines. The goal of rest is to be able to make the most of one of the most precious commodities in our lives – time. The more time you dedicate to yourself, the closer you get to pursue your goals and aspirations.
Self-care means committing to taking a role in shielding your personal physical and mental state, particularly in times of distress. The meaning of self-care can be seen in the actions you take to amplify your personal stamina, self-esteem, resilience, and emotional state. People maintain a positive outlook on things regardless of the challenges that lay ahead or the major injustices that happen around them.
Self-care is about focusing on oneself to attain long-term results. For that, you need a heart, body, and soul that isn’t addicted nor drained by the distractions and limits of your busy environment. That way, you can perfect some practical self-care techniques for stress that can truly turn the tide.
Self-Care – Why Does It Feel Like I’m Doing Something Selfish?
Only 30% of Americans dedicate time to self-care. While 1 in 3 people feel guilty if they do take time for themselves, a survey shows. That’s because they are going against the things they’ve been taught all their lives. And that is to be a good spouse, friend, parent, and coworker, you must prioritize others.
Self-care is about prioritizing yourself, your feelings, and your emotions so that you can experience joy, find your purpose, and fulfill your potential. It may seem self-centered, but it actually means working and living in a way that is consistent with the way we want the world to work. It isn’t a selfish behavior since it is done with the intention to care for oneself, not with the idea to cause harm to others.
It’s about replenishing the personal resources that make you feel happy, rested, and reserved, without actually depleting someone else’s resources. Whereas being selfish means you have a desire to take from someone else, typically to their detriment. Selfishness carries a “me, me, me” mentality, while self-care is about fulfillment and joy.
5 Benefits of Self-Care That Are Worth the Effort
Selfcare has a myriad of beneficial properties all tailored towards your well-being. Most of them are intertwined, meaning that they have a lot to offer in the long run. These merits include:
- Anxiety & stress relief
- Amplified physical health
- Better self-esteem
- Stable mental health
- Improved relationships
When dealing with regular anxiety symptoms, it becomes downright taxing to figure out how to overcome anxiety problems. But, when you focus on yourself and take the time to care for your body and mind, you can tackle some of the most difficult problems. Sleep can help with that.
How Does Sleep Help With Self Care?
A lot of people wonder is sleeping considered self-care? The answer is yes. Sleep is without a doubt one of the key pillars to a healthy life. It has a great impact on your psychological and physical well-being.
What Are Viable Self-Care Skills?
There are a couple of self-care strategies that can prove useful. Such as meditation, taking a break from the news, opening up to someone about your problems, doing yoga, etc. To practice self-care techniques for stress make sure to take good care of your body. Do activities that can help you unwind and sleep with ease. Meditation classes Singapore can set you on the right course.
References
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
https://www.birchbox.com/guide/article/how-to-practice-self-care
https://rcchicago.org/self-care/
https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/health-matters/health-and-wellbeing/what-is-self-care-and-why-is-it-important
