We think it’s about time to prioritise self-care, and hey, so should you.
But first, what is self-care? Simply put, self-care is taking care of your physical, mental and emotional health. It varies for everyone, but ultimately it’s activities that help you to relax, support your mental health, and are kind towards your body. It’s incredibly important to make time for self-care, however, you’re the one who chooses if, when and how you wanna do it – and what it means to you. Just always remember that it’s not selfish to put yourself first. Pls.
In celebration of self-care and our fab, limited edition Valentine’s Day razor (we’re soooo excited), we wanted to put together a little self-care checklist to do whenever you want; every day, on self-care Sundays, or maybe even on VDay itself.
Self-care Checklist
Do them all or just the ones that tickle your fancy.
Start a self-care journal
Journaling isn’t for everyone, but don’t underestimate it! It can be difficult to understand and reflect on your own feelings and experiences, and if you’re not ready to talk to someone else about it, why not try talking to yourself?
Pick out a nice journal, and have a go at reflecting on your day, whether it was really bad, great, or just average. What did you get up to? How did you feel? What made you feel grateful?
But if that’s not for you, even simply writing down checklists of things you need to do can be an amazing way to help organise your thoughts and help you feel less overwhelmed.
Get creative!
As adults, we can sometimes think art is only for those with a creative gift, but even if you’re not Picasso, you can still benefit greatly from some sweet ol’ artistic relaxation. Try an adult colouring book or crack open the watercolours. Even if you don’t have a vision, just go for it and see what you create, and more importantly, see how it makes you feel.
Go dog-spotting (aka walking)
You might not always feel like doing intensive exercise every day, but it is important to get your body moving, even if it’s just a walk around the neighbourhood or a trip to the shops. Physical activity is proven to boost your mood and energy levels, as well as improve your sleep – all things your mind and body love.
Do some gentle stretching or meditation
You don’t have to just sit in silence in the middle of your room, stare into the wall or ohm for hours on end. Find what works for you :) Maybe put on some relaxing music, try a guided meditation or burn some incense. Ask yourself, do I feel most comfortable sitting or laying down? Maybe standing in some advanced yoga position? There are no rules, so find what makes you feel the comfiest. Then, simply close your eyes and try to keep your mind as empty as possible. Thoughts might pop-up, and that’s just normal. Every time your mind wanders, try to regain focus on your breath and body.
Meditation or stretching can help you focus solely on yourself instead of everything else that’s going on around you. Even if you only stop for a few minutes, regrounding yourself and checking in on your mind is essential, so just do it when you can.
Cook or eat something delicious!
Never undervalue the power of the perfect mouthful of food (we sure don’t). Food is not only nourishment but also a source of energy, comfort and enjoyment. Sounds like a pretty good act of self-care if you ask us, tbh!
Try to listen to your own body to find out what it is it’s really craving, whether that’s some comforting ramen, some crispy french fries or something sweet and tasty. Whatever it is you love and crave. And if you want to, try making it yourself – cooking can be quite meditating.
Take a hot steamy bath
Now, it’s important to clarify that we don’t mean the kind of shower or bath where you’re getting ready to go out somewhere. We’re talking about a ‘nowhere to be’, ‘no plans’ kinda shower or bath. No stress or time limits, just soak in the steamy water while using your fave Estrid skincare products ofc ;) Ooh la la.
Masturbate!
Self-care looks different from person to person, but we do think that masturbation is a really important part of it, and worth shouting about! It’s true that not everyone masturbates, but a whole lot of us do, and no one should feel ashamed about it either way.
There’s plenty of evidence that flicking the bean or yanking the chain (or whatever you wanna call it) can help relieve stress, tension and pain, make it easier to fall asleep, and boost your mood and concentration. Wowza, brb.
So that’s that, Estrid’s self-care checklist! It’s super important to look after yourself, however you do it, just make sure it’s what’s best for your mental and physical health.
