It’s important to love yourself and take care of yourself.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Sometimes, it’s hard to take care of ourselves when we don’t even know where to begin. Self-care is so important because it helps with your mental health and your body. Taking care of yourself is a great way to keep you feeling healthy mentally, emotionally, and physically.

There are so many different ways to take care of yourself. The first one may be obvious, but it’s to drink water. I have a bad habit of never drinking water. I used to only drink coffee and soda, which is so unhealthy, but lately I’ve been switching to water. Water helps to not only clear your skin, but it help to hydrate your body as well. Hydrating your body will help you feel good and less tired, dehydrated, and sick.

One way that I practice self-care is by taking a bath. I know so many people are against taking baths because it’s like “sitting in your dirt." Of course, take a shower after you take a bath, but honestly, taking a bath is so calming. It’s relaxing and it lets you rest your body in warm water. Sometimes, the best thing for your body is to take a break. Let your body relax for a bit and the best way to do this is to take a bath. You can play music, read a book, or even take a power nap in the tub. Letting your body relax is one of the best ways to take care of yourself.

Another form of self-care is meditation. It’s good to seclude yourself from the outside world and put yourself in a nice, quiet room. Give yourself space to breathe and think. Sometimes, being around noise is a huge distraction and it can take a toll on your body. It’s okay to put your homework and responsibilities down for a little bit. If your favorite place to be is your room, then put your things down for a little bit and go to your room and meditate. You can meditate for 10 minutes or longer, depending on what you need. I recommend at least 15-20 minutes so you will have time to fully relax your mind.

One of my favorite things to do for self-care is to take a nap. Of course, I give myself a specific amount of time to take a nap. This can either be a power nap or an hour long nap. I don’t recommend napping for more than one hour because it’s easy to want to keep sleeping. One hour long naps should be the maximum. Take a nap to relax your body and mind. This is a good way to make sure your body is resting and it also ensures that you’re not stressing yourself out as well.

When it all comes down to it, the best way to practice self-care is to listen to music, read a book, or take a walk. When you give yourself time to relax, your body will thank you. We all have busy lives with a million things to do, but it’s important to give yourself a break and take time to relax. Let yourself recharge before going back into work mode. Take 20 minutes to listen to music. Take half an hour to read a book. Take a 5-minute walk. As long as you are giving yourself breaks, your mind will be more focused and your body won’t crash in the long run.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s important to put your body and mental health first. It’s okay to stop everything and just breathe. It’s okay to put everything down to give yourself a break. You deserve it. What are some ways that you like to practice self-care?