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Be Better With Self-Care

Get yourself some you time

By now, you’d probably heard about self-care. A phrase people threw around during the brunt of the Circuit Breaker. Even now, we still don’t know what happens next, and that’s scary. How do we even begin to cope? Well, before we go on to fix the world around us, let’s start with taking care of ourselves. There may be a lot of things that we can’t control, but we can control how we can take better care of ourselves. So here’s Tropika Club’s guide on how to be better with self-care.

No Time to Read? Here’s a Snappy Summary of This Article

  • Tip 1: Identify your needs and preferences – Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and that one should find out what works best for them, based on their personality, lifestyle, and goals.
  • Tip 2: Set boundaries and say no – Self-care involves respecting one’s limits, prioritizing one’s needs, and saying no to things that are not aligned with one’s values or well-being.
  • Tip 3: Practice gratitude and positivity – Self-care includes cultivating a positive mindset, expressing gratitude for what one has, and focusing on the good aspects of life.
  • Tip 4: Connect with others and seek support – Self-care does not mean isolation or selfishness, and that one should maintain healthy relationships, communicate with others, and seek help when needed.
  • Tip 5: Engage in hobbies and passions – Self-care involves doing things that bring joy, fulfillment, and meaning to one’s life, such as hobbies, passions, or learning new skills.
  • Tip 6: Take care of your body and mind – Self-care entails taking care of one’s physical and mental health, by eating well, exercising regularly, sleeping enough, meditating, relaxing, and avoiding harmful substances.
  • Tip 7: Create a routine and stick to it – Self-care requires consistency and discipline, and that one should create a routine that incorporates self-care activities into their daily schedule.
  • Tip 8: Be kind and compassionate to yourself – Self-care involves being gentle, forgiving, and loving to oneself, and avoiding self-criticism, comparison, or judgment.

Read Also:

7 Tips to Deal with Social Distancing


Self-care: Demystified

It sounds like a broad concept – because it is. There are plenty of definitions out there. But, we’re going to take it from a local source. HealthHub SG defines it as “Self-care is a broad concept which encompasses any action you take for your physical, mental and emotional health.” And you can see how extensive the breadth of self-care can be in the definition by the World Health Organisation (WHO) – it covers disease prevention and control; self-medication; health promotion;  providing care to dependent persons; seeking hospital/specialist care if necessary; and even rehabilitation including palliative care.

Basically, it’s about creating a time and space where you can experience life in the present.

The key thing to realise is that self-care not like a one-size-fits-all Uniqlo t-shirt. Whatever you see on Pinterest, Instagram, or Tumblr may or may not work for you. Other’s idea of holistic wellbeing may not fit with yours. 

That being said, it’s also important to understand the difference between self-care activities with unhealthy coping mechanisms. It’s not just about making yourself feel better in the short term. The idea is to achieve better health outcomes. There’s no need to jog 5km or have salads for lunch every day, but it may be a good idea to have a walk once every few days.


Read Also:

Q&A with Wah Chun: Leaping Through Time


5 Easy Steps to Better Self Care

You don’t need a lot of time, or money, to make self-care your priority. So, let’s get to finding your happy place with these self-care practices.

1. Social Media Time Out

The juice cleanse is out, but the digital cleanse is in. According to a 2019 report by HootSuite and We Are Social, Singaporeans spend around two hours and eight minutes a day on social media. In fact, just by unplugging from social media is a form of self-care. After all, you’re avoiding all the side effects of social media on your mental health. And, just imagine all the extra time you’ll get for other self-care regimes too!

2. Have Healthier Meals

Again, we’re not suggesting you have a salad for lunch every day. Besides sticking to fresh ingredients for healthy meals as best as you can, the idea here is to nourish your body because our body needs proper nutrition for it to function properly. And, it helps to give you a sense of balance in your life too. Here are three easy rules you can follow to make sure your body has all the nutrition it needs: 

  • Have more colours in the food you eat – so you get nutrients from diverse sources
  • Eat regularly – so your body gets its fuel throughout the day
  • Adopt the 80/20 mindset – sticking to your nutrition goals 80% of the time, while indulging mindfully the rest of the 20%

Read Also:

The Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep


3. Get Better Sleep

There’s the oft-heard rule of sleeping at least 7-8 hours of sleep every day. But the challenge is to increase the quality of your sleep, rather than just how much you sleep. To start, try to sleep around the same time every day. You could try aromatherapy to help you relax too. Essential oils such as lavender, jasmine, bergamot, and ylang-ylang can help you ease anxiety. Our next tip might help you get better sleep too.

4. Get Moving

Another cliché, but only because it works. By having an active lifestyle, you get to reduce stress and manage anxieties and depression as your body releases endorphins. It can help with your mental health too, just by being in a different environment, its easier to take your mind off your troubles. You can also find new avenues to vent your frustrations and anger in your workouts, such as taking up weight training or martial arts. You can start small, like a walk in the park in the morning every day.

“…it’s about creating a time and space where you can experience life in the present.”

5. Set Regular Times for Emotional Self-Care

Besides taking physical self-care, emotional self-care can be easier to neglect as we go through our lives. When we have short-term troubles, we usually just grit our teeth. As the uncertainties we face extend, we have to acknowledge that our lives have been disrupted. So by setting aside time to process our frustrations, we can find better ways to regulate our emotions, rather than suppressing or ignoring them.


Read Also:

6 Tips to Stay Healthy While Staying Home


Reminder: Self-care is Not Selfish

We can’t emphasize this enough, because your well-being matters. Small lifestyle changes can have big effects. Once you’ve established a self-care routine and followed it on a regular basis, you might be feeling less stress, improving your immune system, and get higher self-esteem. Don’t know what’s the first step to take? Why not try this self-care assessment before making your own self-care plan.

Conclusion

  • Summary: Self-care is a holistic and personalized approach to well-being – The article has shared 8 tips on how to practice self-care, which can improve one’s physical, mental, and emotional health, and enhance one’s quality of life.
  • Recommendation: Implement the tips that suit your needs and preferences – The article has suggested that self-care is not a fixed or rigid concept, and that one should experiment with different methods and activities, and find out what works best for them.
  • Call to action: Start your self-care journey today and enjoy the benefits – The article has encouraged people to take action and start their self-care journey today, as it can boost their happiness, confidence, productivity, and resilience.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between self-care and self-indulgence? 

A: Self-care is a deliberate and intentional act of taking care of one’s well-being, while self-indulgence is a spontaneous and excessive act of satisfying one’s desires. Self-care is beneficial and sustainable, while self-indulgence can be harmful and addictive.

Q: How do I find time for self-care in my busy schedule? 

A: Self-care does not have to take a lot of time or money. You can start by setting aside a few minutes each day for yourself, and gradually increase the duration and frequency. You can also incorporate self-care into your existing routine, such as listening to music while commuting, reading a book before bed, or meditating in the morning.

Q: How do I deal with guilt or resistance when practicing self-care? 

A: Self-care is not selfish or lazy. It is a necessary and responsible way of taking care of yourself, so that you can take care of others and your responsibilities better. You can overcome guilt or resistance by reminding yourself of the benefits of self-care, seeking support from others who practice self-care, and celebrating your achievements and progress.

Q:  How do I measure the effectiveness of self-care? 

A: Self-care is not a competition or a goal. It is a process and a journey. You can measure the effectiveness of self-care by how you feel, not by how much you do. You can ask yourself questions such as: Do I feel happier, healthier, and more balanced? Do I have more energy, motivation, and creativity? Do I cope better with stress, challenges, and emotions? Do I have more positive relationships with myself and others?


Meanwhile, Check Out Tropika Club’s Ecosystem of Websites

Tropika Club Magazine and Tropika Club Deals

Tropika Club Magazine – Tropika Club Magazine is a Singapore-based publication that features articles on a wide range of topics with a focus on local businesses and content for the region. The magazine emphasizes supporting local businesses through its #SupportLocal initiative, which includes coverage of everything from neighborhood hawker stalls to aesthetic clinics in town. In addition to highlighting local businesses, Tropika Club Magazine also covers a variety of local content, including beauty, lifestyle, places, eats, and what’s on in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.

Tropika Club Deals – Tropika Club Deals is a leading online deals and voucher shopping site in Singapore, offering amazing discounts on beauty, wellness, and fitness products and services. It’s the perfect platform for customers who want to discover the best deals without having to commit to a specific appointment date and time. These deals are available at major beauty stores, facial salons, hair salons, and other brands in Singapore, with no minimum spend required. Choose from guaranteed discounted deals in the categories of hairstyling, hair removal, facial & aesthetics, body slimming, brows & lashes, nails & makeup, massage & spa or fitness & wellness. Tropika Club Deals is also ideal for customers who want to buy vouchers as gifts or to use for the future. So whether you’re looking to save money on your next haircut or want to treat yourself to a relaxing massage, Tropika Club Deals has got you covered with the best voucher and coupon deals in Singapore!

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Terence is the deputy editor for Tropika Club Magazine. He is an analytical individual who enjoys learning about animals and different cultures. He has a curious mind and is always seeking knowledge and understanding. Terence is also a friendly and approachable person who enjoys making connections with others. He is passionate about his work in the publishing industry and takes pride in his collaborations with authors and editors.

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