Taking care of yourself: some tips
Taking care of yourself is all the rage these days. Individuals seem increasingly aware of the positive impacts of physical, psychological and relational well-being, among others. Here are some tips if you too want to take care of yourself:
1. Optimal well-being is not possible at all times
One of the most important things to know about taking good care of yourself is that optimal wellness is not possible at all times.[1] Our stress levels fluctuate from day to day, week to month, to month to month.
When we are going through a more stressful period of life, many tend to imagine that the unhappiness will last indefinitely, when that is not the case. Keeping this in mind is essential in order to avoid, paradoxically, experiencing more stress by trying to experience less. In the same sense, accepting that moments of optimal well-being are also impermanent, allows us to cultivate greater capacities for adaptation.
2. The wellness industry is very lucrative
Keep in mind that the wellness industry is very lucrative, and be wary of instant solutions (for example: “Use our lavender bubble bath every day and you will feel relaxed like never before!”; “Meditate 10 minutes a day and you will see your productivity at work increase drastically!”
Indeed, be wary of these simplistic messages which lead you to believe that by changing one aspect of your life – your appearance, a habit, etc., you will suddenly see your well-being change significantly. Taking care of yourself takes more time and effort.
3. The universal recipe for well-being does not exist
Take some time to think about what makes you feel good . Each person has a very personal concept of what allows them to take care of themselves. There's no one-size-fits-all recipe for wellness, and you don't have to feel guilty if a popular way of self-care doesn't work for you.
Or, for each person, certain self-care tips work better at certain times than others. For example, going to the gym works best when you have extra energy to burn, and taking a nap works best when you need to rest. It may seem simple, but it's easy to forget to listen to yourself in the quest for well-being.
[1] Science table with Sonia Lupien and Nicolas Chevrier , Radio-Canada Première, July 10, 2020.