Self-care is such an important act to do. Looking after our mental health is just as important as looking after our physical health.
Doing acts of self-care is especially good to do if we have health conditions, physical or mental health as sometimes we’re so busy with appointments and juggling booking appointments, taking care of our medical devices, ordering medication and medical supplies and then putting them away when they’re delivered, staying on top of our symptoms and so much more. This means that our emotional well-being and needs often get forgotten about. Also having a physical health condition will often affect our mental health and vice versa.
Try to do acts of self-care on a regular basis, such as making it a weekly thing in your schedule.
Here are some ideas:
- Settle down somewhere comfortable such as your bed or your favourite chair or outside if the weather is nice and read with your favourite drink. If reading is difficult you could put some headphones on and listen to a book or podcast.
- Spend time outside. Nature is so good for our mental health. I love to go out for rides outside with my Batec - a power add-on for my wheelchair. You could go for a short walk, or like me go for a ride with your mobility aid. You can stay local or if possible you could go somewhere scenic like I enjoy going to our local country park and in the summer I’d love to go to the woods.
- Paint your nails. For added jazz you could try out some nail art like stickers, nail wraps or using dotting tools to do dots, flowers or animals. Or you could use a matte top coat, or glitter polish or crackle effect polish (I highly recommend the OPI brand crackle polish). MoYou also sell gel nail wraps that you don’t need a UV light for so that’s an easy alternative for jazzy nails.
- Put on a face mask or under eye mask.
- Give your feet a pamper with a foot mask and soak in hot soapy water and give them a scrub to have nice soft skin.
- Have a bit of a pampering bath with a bath or bubble bar and relax in the hot water. If you have sensitive skin you could use Epsom salts to help ease and relax your muscles.
- Put on a self-warming eye mask such as SpaceMasks. You can even make your own if you have a sewing machine.
- If you’re a crafty person why not buy a craft kit to try out a new craft. You could try iris folding, needle punch, embroidery, needle felting, sewing, decoupage and many other crafts.
- Call or message a friend or close family member. Sometimes illness can be very isolating so reaching out to people is really important. I like to write people.
- Talk about how your illness is affecting you. You could talk to a friend, family member or a professional like your GP or a therapist. - There’s no shame in going to therapy and sometimes it can take a while to find the right therapist and type of therapy for you, but don’t give up. Therapy can do wonders. Some therapists offer virtual sessions over platforms like Zoom if you’re unable to leave the house.
- Holistic treatments are great for self-care, our emotional wellbeing and for symptom management. You can book in for a massage or facial or other therapy treatment. If being touched is too much for you could try reiki. There are some holistic therapists that specialise in treating people with chronic health conditions so the focus of treatment is on helping with symptoms as well as having a nice relaxing time. Some of these therapists work in the community and can provide treatments in your own home. Having regular massage therapy myself really benefits my physical and emotional wellbeing; it helps my symptoms and gives me something to look forward to as well.
- Have a little tea party. I have a small teapot and I like to make a pot of tea and drink out of my teacup and saucer. I do the same with coffee too and enjoy a nice cafetière coffee as a treat. If you want you can add cake or biscuits as an extra special treat.
- Another self-care drink idea is to treat yourself to your favourite drink. You could go to your favourite café and either sit in or use the drive through. You can also buy in your favourite drinks to have at home - I have some chilled oat Starbucks coffees and Oatly Matcha Latte.
- You can also light your favourite candle, or use your favourite wax melts. My alternative is to use my aromatherapy diffuser.
- Some people find sensory things good for self-care. You can use things like weighted blankets, sensory lights - I have a Mathmos Space Projector, or sensory toys like tangles, kinetic sand or bubbles.
- Snuggle up in bed or on the sofa and have a film night with your favourite film or a newly released film you want to see if you’re unable to go to the cinema. You could add popcorn or your favourite snack.
- Have a pyjama day wearing your favourite pjs.
- Eat your favourite meal.
