Self Care has been defined as “what people do for themselves to establish and maintain physical and emotional health and prevent or deal with minor illness, injury, or chronic conditions”. This incorporates concepts such as exercise, hygiene, nutrition, medication, and environmental and socioeconomic factors.
How can I maintain my physical and emotional health? Some ideas:
– Do some Physical activity: including exercise, physical activity is widely recognized as one of the key health behaviors for maintaining health and enhancing quality of life for all age groups. The World Health Organisation recommends adults aged 18–64 should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week (or an equivalent combination of both).
-Get some good sleep: scientists have just begun to identify the connections between insufficient sleep and disease. Most experts have concluded that getting enough high-quality sleep may be as important to health and well-being as nutrition and exercise.
– Good nutrition: Eat a wide variety of foods from different food groups, with an emphasis on plant-based foods. Choose fresh and home-prepared, locally produced foods. Avoid highly processed foods, especially those which are high in fat, sugar or salt and/or low in vitamins, minerals and fibre.
– Listen to your body: take time for yourself, do things that you enjoy, have fun, laugh, try to put the stress away and to understand the demands you place on your body every day. Relaxation, mindfulness, meditation and yoga are some of the most recommended techniques for stress; massage, physiotherapy, dry needling and acupuncture are ones which health professionals recommend for pain relief. At Wellness Embodied, we also offer Craniosacral Therapy as a means of alleviating emotional and physical trauma held in the tissues.
By Clara Andrich, Physiotherapist, Wellness Embodied.
To book an appointment with Clara, click here.
To see Clara’s video bio, click here.
Check out a video on some of Suzanne’s self care recommendations here..
