The holidays. Regardless of what you celebrate, you either love them or loathe them. This time meant for togetherness and reflection is often marred by packed schedules, long to-do lists, social obligations, and just an awful lot of stress. When was the last time you took a break from thinking of everyone else to think of YOURSELF? If you put your own needs in the backseat last month, we’re with you. But now it’s January. New year, new you.
The term “self care” was coined sometime in the 1950’s. It was popularized during the Civil Rights movement of the ‘60s due in part to its use by activists of the time, such as poet Audra Lorde. What was originally seen as a revolutionary act–taking care of yourself in the face of major social and personal trauma–has become something we now understand is hugely important for your physical and mental health. When you are not properly managing your stress, it can manifest in a variety of symptoms, such as insomnia, lack of concentration, irritability, headaches, and gastrointestinal distress. Repeated acute stress (stress that affects you frequently) has also been shown to contribute to inflammation in the circulatory system!
That all seems pretty serious, but let’s talk about how to manage it before you get stressed out about your stress. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recommends setting time aside for activities that promote mental and physical wellness. For example, taking a walk for just 30 minutes a day can greatly improve your mood. Additionally, saying “no” to things/people and setting boundaries is important to avoid burnout. Lastly, it’s important to take time out of your schedule to do activities that relax and nurture you. This could be something as simple as curling up with a book, having a bath, or getting a facial in an environment meant for total relaxation.
So let’s start this year off right. Taking care of yourself is imperative to whole body wellness. The way we react to stress greatly affects every aspect of our wellbeing, from our quality of sleep to our appetite to the health of our circulatory system. Wrinkles? Yup. Acne? Absolutely. That’s right- skin conditions can be caused by stress! It’s OK. The skin professionals at La Bella Derma have got your back!
Written by Taylor Blair for La Bella Derma
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2011.01014.x
https://mhanational.org/taking-good-care-yourselfhttps://mhanational.org/taking-good-care-yourself
https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/care-for-yourself/index.html
https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-and-why-to-find-time-for-yourself-3144757
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-care
