Practicing self care should not be put on the backburner, instead it should be a top priority. Far too often do people get caught up in their busy schedule and lives, and why wouldn’t they? The society that we live in tells us that we need to stay busy and be successful. Taking time for ourselves should come third or fourth in line to family and work, otherwise we are seen as lazy and unmotivated.
However, this might be a false reality that society places on people. Prioritizing your mental and physical health, not only keeps you happy and relaxed, but stimulates productivity and hard work. If you are not practicing healthy self care habits, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage in other aspects of your life.
Studies show that more than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Taking time for yourself, doing the things you love and practicing self care are some of the best ways to improve your mental health and give you the energy and motivation to keep moving. The great thing about self care is that it is different for everyone, and gives you time to be in tune with your body and mind.
“The hardest part about practicing self care is finding the time to do the things that relax and calm you down. Our lives are usually pretty busy, and self care is not really etched into our daily schedules. The best way to relax is to incorporate it into the things you love,” says Corey Pearson, Chief Quilt Artist and Brand Ambassador at Linda’s.
If your brain is not healthy, then the rest of your body is not either. One of the best ways to relax and stay calm is by taking up a craft. There is no universal regime for self care, and crafting is proven to also have positive physical and mental effects on your body. For example, research shows that crafting can give people a serotonin boost. Serotonin is a chemical in your body that helps reduce anxiety and depression. This means that crafting of any kind, is related to positive mental health.
Having a serotonin boost like this in your body can help lower blood pressure, ease stress, improve hand-eye coordination and bring back a little more joy in your day. Crafting is an opportunity to express yourself and take your mind off your day-to-day worries. From quilting, crocheting, painting or even scrapbooking, taking up a craft is a great way to wind down.
“Crafting is a great way to get your heart rate down and focus on something other than the usual stressors of our lives. When you put your mind to another task it can help give you a space to almost remove yourself from reality. Crocheting, going on a walk or watching your favorite movie gives you the space to not worry about the other things in life. Self care means taking care of yourself physically and mentally, and crafting is a great way to nourish your body and mind,” says Pearson.
Self care is exactly what it sounds like…taking care of yourself. To be productive professionally and personally you cannot get burnt out and unmotivated. Doing things for yourself to relax and stay calm, will help prevent burnout and keep you productive in other areas of your life. Crafting is just one great example of how you can express yourself and take the necessary time to recenter your mind. You get the opportunity to step away from the worries in your mind, and instead channel that focus into something more productive and meaningful.
Life is stressful and busy, so it’s important to prioritize things that make you happy. Staying healthy physically and mentally does wonders that you might not even realize. The stigma that society places on mental health and self care does not define you. Taking care of yourself can be just as important as family or work. In fact it’s all connected. If you are not fulfilled personally you will not be fulfilled professionally. It’s time to break those barriers and focus on self care as a preventive measure for your health.
