Helping other people by volunteering your time and talents is a way that you can practice self care. By reaching out and giving of yourself, you also gain. When you’re investing in the lives of other people, you’re giving yourself an outlet.

As you go through your day, you experience things that give you stress. These things can also add to your emotional burden and cause you to feel upset, anxious, sad, or even depressed.

When you volunteer, the act of reaching out to other people alleviates your stress. Many studies have shown that people who volunteer have a higher happiness factor than people who don’t.

One theory for the higher happiness level is thought to be because when a person volunteers, he or she has others around that help to combat negative feelings. When you give of yourself to other people, it causes the brain to release endorphins, which instantly improves your mood. Continue reading →

Gardening is a great way to not only get in touch with nature, but to practice one of the most soothing forms of self care. Plus, you can grow whatever you like – from flowers to fruits and vegetables.

When you’re digging around in the soil, it gives you an endorphin boosts and your mood lifts. You feel happier and more relaxed. Watching things grow that you planted and nurtured gives you a feeling of having nourished yourself and you’ll be able to see the fruits of your labor.

There’s something positive about sitting outside in the warm, gentle sunshine with the cool soil on your hands. It makes you more aware of yourself and your life. Plus, it helps with the mind, body, and spirit connection.

You’ll feel at peace and the stress just melts away. Digging in the dirt helps bring you back down to earth, to recognize and realize what’s important. It helps you understand that the 101 irritations and the busy life you lead don’t have to weigh you down. Continue reading →

Self-care plays an important role in our life. It comprises of the attitudes and actions that result into emotional, mental, physical, environment and spiritual health. Unlike other aspects of life, self-care does not need any medical intervention or professional consultation. It is something you do yourself. In this post, we are going to focus on the importance of exercise on self-care.

Reduces Stress and Depression

Exercise has been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. When you exercise, the body releases endorphins, feel-good brain chemicals. The endorphins work to improve your moods and emotional health.

In addition to improving emotional health, exercise acts as a distraction, taking your mind off your worries. This helps you get away from a continuous cycle of worries that worsens the symptoms of stress and depression. Research shows that exercise prevents the symptoms of depression and stress from coming back. Continue reading →