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How to Use Self-Care in Service to Your Heart, Body and Mind

Dec 04, 2019
How to Use Self-Care in Service to Your Heart, Body and Mind
Self-care is more than just a millennial fad—it’s a lifestyle must-have for everybody. Its well-known benefits for mental health are unparalleled, running the gamut from stress relief to increased focus and productivity.

Self-care is more than just a millennial fad—it’s a lifestyle must-have for everybody. Its well-known benefits for mental health are unparalleled, running the gamut from stress relief to increased focus and productivity. Its physical benefits are just as impressive, too. In fact, self-care has been known not just to increase overall health, but also alleviate symptoms of diseases, including heart disease.

Needless to say, everyone benefits from a solid self-care repertoire, particularly older adults who suffer from heart conditions. Luckily, with the right mindset and sufficient motivation, self-care is easy enough to incorporate into your daily routine. Here’s how to get started.

Take time for “me” time.

Self-care is synonymous with “me” time in more ways than one. It’s no wonder that simply taking time for yourself accomplishes a multitude of objectives, including reducing stress.

The beauty of “me” time is you can do whatever your body, mind, and soul need, whether it’s doing something you’re passionate about or doing nothing more than nursing a cup of tea. This is, by far, one of the most effective ways to relax and bring down your heart rate to an optimum level, as well as connect to your deeper self in the process.

Give attention to your body.

Of course, much of self-care involves taking care of your body and treating it as a precious vessel. This inevitably involves physical activity. In fact, it’s a well-known truth that exercise helps manage and even relieves stress.

Now, while you may balk at the idea of exercise when you have a heart condition, know that you can still engage in some physical activity safely. It’s a good idea, however, to check with your physician to know your options. Just as good an idea is to invest in a fitness tracker like an Apple Watch or a Fitbit Versa as these devices not only keep you motivated by tracking your workouts and steps but, even more important, monitor your heart rate during exercise, so you remain at the top of your game.

To complement exercise, you also need to be mindful of what you put into your body. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to stick to non-processed food and natural remedies to avoid pollutants. And don’t forget the power of honest-to-goodness sleep.

Just say “no.”

It’s true that much of the stress that occurs in our lives can be avoided by one simple word: No. This, however, is not as easy as it sounds; in fact, it’s so much easier just to say the opposite. Unfortunately, taking the path of least resistance does take its toll eventually, especially when the tasks and commitments that you said “yes” to start piling up.

You might be surprised at how liberating avoiding the affirmative from time to time can be. Best of all, it frees up your time and energy to pursue worthwhile things that mean more to you, subsequently easing often-undue burdens on your mind and body.

Embrace help.

And just as saying no can do wonders in reducing burnout and improving heart health, so can eschewing certain responsibilities and welcoming help. Indeed, there’s a good amount of stress that can be had in your surroundings, especially at home, which is why it’s a good idea to tidy up and get rid of eyesores like clutter. Unfortunately, this also means cleaning up, which could be another stressor on its own, not to mention, potentially physically demanding.

Don’t be afraid to find assistance as and when you need it as an investment in your health. Case in point, hiring a cleaning service to deep clean inside your home in a town like Katy can set you back between $116 and $209. However, the convenience and benefits to both your physical and mental wellness are often priceless, ultimately making it a wise expense.

Indeed, self-care is a way to take care of your whole self, holistically. So, if it’s good-quality living that you’re after, do yourself a service and make self-care an enduring part of your life.