Two Essential Wellness Secrets You Need to Know

Staying both physically and mentally well can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle. We spend so much of our time rushing around, back and forth to our 9-5 job and looking after those closest to us, which we often forget about ourselves.

This needs to stop. In a society where we seem to be rushing from A to B at a million miles a minute, it is time for us to take a step back and focus on our well-being. Work is expecting more of their employees to remain connected to the office via smartphones and the internet, even when on holiday, and our social lives can, therefore, suffer. Putting ourselves first should be your priority.

It’s only natural to put others before your own needs, with society feeding the myth that if you put yourself in first place, you are selfish. It’s a myth that needs busting. Taking care of yourself doesn’t make you selfish; it makes you smart. By looking after your health, you can successfully look after your friends and family without burning out. What are the secrets to this lifestyle, however?

Look Good, Feel Good

The relationship between how we feel about our physical appearance or our capabilities has a huge impact on our mental health. Taking control of this is a way to regain a handle on your mental and physical wellbeing.

Allow yourself the chance to try something new with your appearance, or spend the afternoon being pampered. While it may feel terribly indulgent, booking a beauty treatment can do wonders for improving your overall wellness. A massage, for example, not only relaxes you but will also work out any tension and aches and pains from your muscles. A new haircut will have you feeling like a new person.

As Hiscox’s survey of 2,000 UK adults found, the biggest incentive for getting a beauty treatment is boosting confidence. After all, when you look good, you feel good! It’s all about making the time to do so, however. If you need to, arrange a day’s holiday from work. If you’re a parent, choose a day when your little ones are at school, as this way, you won’t have to worry about childcare or being disturbed while you unwind.

Make Time For You, and Only You

As mentioned above, we are often told that caring for yourself is selfish. It’s self-absorbed when really, you should be thinking of everyone else first, whether that’s your children, your partner, your parent, or even your boss! This mentality is damaging. It causes people to work themselves to the bone without a rest because of two primary reasons.

• One: The idea of selfishness is so toxic and unacceptable that to be considered such is to feel like a social pariah.
• Two: The idea of letting someone down is one which fills people with guilt and fear.

In the workplace, it means people turn up at the office, regardless of whether they are too sick to work or not. At home, it means parents don’t spend a moment gathering their own thoughts before attending to every need of their children. It’s an admirable trait, but for an employee who turns up to work unwell, there’s a risk of spreading the illness to more members of staff. For the parent who doesn’t get a moment of peace, there’s a chance of becoming so overwhelmed and stressed, you cannot control your emotions a moment longer.

What’s the solution? It may not sound like the most fun, but to prevent such situations escalating, you need to take the time to be by yourself. Turn off your phone, close the bedroom door behind you, and simply just be. Read a book, take your time drinking your favorite beverage, and enjoy the silence. It will take some practice to truly let yourself unwind and relax, but once you master it, this is something you’ll regularly be doing!

Final Thoughts

Taking care of yourself can feel like a delicate balancing act some days, especially when you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. However, it’s crucial to remember; it is not selfish. You deserve this time to unwind, relax, and recharge your batteries, mentally and physically.