Eryn Hays, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist
Recently, among American society, the idea of self-care has become more and more prominent. What is self-care exactly? Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our physical, mental, and emotional health. Why is self-care starting to take off in American society? Well it has been proven that any form of self-care helps people function better in society. Self-care improves our self-esteem, creates better productivity, improves mood, increases our self-knowledge, and even improves our resistance to disease. Here are 5 easy ways to incorporate some self-care into your life, even with a hectic work schedule:
Exercise daily as a part of your self-care routine
Exercise is known to release body chemicals called endorphins, which essentially help you brain reduce the perception of pain. Not only that, but endorphins also create body positivity much like that of morphine.
Eat right to help that gut health
Eating right is one of most important things for self-care. The type of food you ingest affects both you mood and your gut. Not only does it help any kind of indigestion (which we know can just ruin a day), but healthy foods also affect short-term memory loss and inflammation in the brain. If you don’t know how to create a “healthy” meal, or if something just isn’t working for you, take a quick trip to a nutritionist and let them determine what the best diet for you could be.
Sleep, sleep, and more sleep
Most people underestimate the power that sleep has on a person. Without adequate sleep, a person can be grumpy, tense, and all around unhappy during their day. Exhaustion is a silent killer, and if you’re tired go ahead and go to bed that hour early to make up for it. Your health is more important than the work you have to get done.
Go get a massage
Initially, people did not understand the effects of massage on the body and believed it to only be a luxury. There have been studies that show massage lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels after only 10 to 15 minutes of chair massage. Massage is typically used for physical pain relief, but it also has an effect on stress, anxiety and depression.
Get outside
Studies show that getting outside helps to reduce fatigue, and overcome any feelings of depression and burnout. The power of sunlight and fresh air!
Many people believe that self-care rituals are impossible with their rigorous work schedule, which I used to believe as well. I never practiced any form of self-care because I was always so tired after a shift and didn’t want to do anything. However, the moment I began to incorporate it into my everyday life, it became easier and easier to make it a part of my daily routine. The outcome of making it a part of my daily schedule, was that I began to feel happier, healthier, and just all around better than I used to.
Eryn Hays L.M.T., A.M.T.A. member, is certified in Quantum Shiastu, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release Technique, CranioSacral, and Thai Massage. Her techniques are used in order to help the body release any blockage that might be occurring within the client. Whether this is within the muscular, nervous, or energetic system, her goal is to find the root of the problem and prevent the blockage from reappearing again and to create a whole body health experience.