After two years of state lockdowns and general uncertainty, it’s never been more important to look after ourselves and prioritize self-care.
A 2021 survey found that 42% of Americans were more interested in taking care of their body and mind as a result of the pandemic. Gen Z in particular was affected by burnout and stress, with mental health suffering as a result.
As we start the road to recovery, we need to put self-care first and look after ourselves. Here, we’ll cover how you can incorporate self-care into your existing routines.
Using your skincare routine as self-care
Skincare got huge during the pandemic. As we were stuck at home with nowhere to go, many of us minimized our beauty routines and never looked back. Makeup was out and skincare was in. We learnt the ingredients that were good for our skin and those that were potentially damaging and started treating our skin with kindness.
Minimalist beauty is here to stay and we’re sticking to our pandemic skincare routines. But did you know that the act of applying your skincare can boost your well-being? Taking the time out to look after yourself and rhythmically apply your toners, serums, and moisturizers can be therapeutic.
In times of stress, it can be hard to carve out time to look after ourselves. But these types of activities are proven to soothe us, reduce stress, and give us time to relax. Plus, it’s the perfect act of self-love!
Affirmations for a confidence boost
In our journey to better well-being and confidence, affirmations can be super powerful. Reminding yourself that you’re worthy, capable, and an all-round babe boosts your confidence and can even help you to achieve your goals in life.
When it comes to affirmations, be specific. If you need more body posi in your life, you can learn to love yourself again through these reaffirming mantras. Repeating affirmations like “my body deserves love and respect” and “I accept my body the way it is” can help you to undo negative thought patterns about yourself and your body.
Writing down these affirmations and speaking them aloud to yourself can massively boost your self-esteem and mental health. What’s more, you can do this while applying your skincare routine for a double helping of self-love. Before you know it, you’ll be a confident, powerful goddess who can face anything life throws at you.
Body care for calming relaxation
Is there anything more relaxing and indulgent than a soak in the bath, followed by a session applying our favorite body lotions? These moments where we take time out for ourselves are therapeutic. When our lives get busy, it can be hard to fit in activities like this. But taking the time to do so is a way of telling ourselves that we’re worthy of self-care.
There’s a science behind why we feel so relaxed during and after a bath. They decrease stress hormones and feelings of depression and provide the perfect environment for reflection and meditation. You can lie back, relax, and practice mindfulness. Then, once you’re out, applying your body lotions and tanning water is therapeutic in the same way as applying your skincare routine.
Make it a habit to practice these relaxing rituals at least once a week. Even if you’ve got a busy schedule, taking the time out will decrease the stress you feel from living life at 100 miles an hour.
It’s safe to say we’ve lived through stressful times in recent years and it’s impacted our well-being. But thankfully, we’ve recognized a need to take better care of our minds and bodies as a result of the pandemic. It can feel difficult to make the time for ourselves sometimes, but by building self-care into your existing routines, you can keep on top of your well-being and make sure your body and mind are happy and soothed at the same time.