A Short Guide to Self-care

Stress is a normal part of our everyday lives. Something that might be stressful for one person might not be stressful for another. How you react to it can lead to a variety of mental and physical health problems. Long-term stress can increase blood pressure and cause serious heart-related issues. That’s why it’s crucial that you practice self-care. There are many different forms of self-care that can promote physical, mental, and emotional health.

Physical self-care includes prioritizing quality sleep, adopting an exercise routine, and choosing healthy and nourishing foods instead of processed foods. The best diet for preventing heart disease is full of fruits and vegetables and limits foods and beverages full of sugar. Exercising is one of the most important things you can do to manage stress. Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Spending some time outside every day can help reduce stress and improve your sleep.

Mental and emotional self-care is affected by the way we think and involves things that stimulate our minds. Some ways to stimulate your mind are to read books, listen to podcasts, learn a musical instrument, or work on a puzzle. Dedicating at least 10 to 15 minutes a day to practice meditating has a variety of health benefits.

Stress can cause be an underlying cause of many heart-related issues. Prolonged effects of cardiovascular stress may include:

• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood sugar
• Blood vessel damage
• Inflammation

The impact of stress can cause damage not only to the heart but can also be detrimental to overall health. Weight gain, sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, and anxiety are all common symptoms of poor overall health. Stressing over your health and getting overwhelmed by performing daily tasks can have a far more negative impact on your overall health. Staying calm and in control of your life and putting together an easy health routine is the best way to stay stress-free and healthy.

Self-care can have a positive effect on your overall health, but it requires commitment. Take some time to assess which areas of your life need some attention and take small steps to incorporate new habits into your daily routine. Practicing self-care shouldn’t be overwhelming. You should ease into it by starting small. For example, making your bed in the morning can give you a sense of accomplishment early in the day.

Here is a list of some great practices you can implement into your daily routine to stay stress-free and healthy:

• Read
• Meditate
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat natural whole foods until you are full
• Exercise for 30-60 minutes
• Find a fulfilling and engaging hobby
• Spend time talking with loved ones
• Spend time in nature
• Spend as little time as you can away from your phone/computer

Do not get upset if you were not able to do everything on the list. It is better to try and come short than not to try at all. These things take time and it is important that you forgive yourself and show some lenience, especially when starting out.

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