For many of us, when the pandemic first started, having to stay at home in our sweatpants almost felt like a welcome break from our hectic routines and fast-paced lives. Not having to dress up or leave the house every day was, ironically, kind of freeing.
However, after many, many months of restrictions and lockdowns, this low-key kind of lifestyle is starting to feel a little lacklustre for some of us—and the stress and anxiety of pandemic life are catching up.
Under these conditions, self-care, or intentionally doing things to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health, is more important now than ever.
First things first: self-care isn’t selfish.
You’ve probably seen the memes, the posts and the pins with this message, but do you really believe it? Taking time for yourself, investing in your personal care and putting your own well-being first is a necessity, not a luxury—and it certainly isn’t something to feel guilty about.
You can’t pour from an empty cup, right? The better you feel the better you can take care of who and what is important to you in your life.
Got it? Okay then.
Self-care is different for everyone.
Self-care practices are things you do for yourself, not for other people. Think about what makes you feel happy, relaxed or recharged. Whatever lifts your spirits is what self-care looks like to you.
For some people, self-care is a simple bubble bath, a face mask or (an uninterrupted) glass of wine. For others, it’s a long run, an hour of meditation or writing in a journal.
As a hair salon dedicated to serving fashion-forward clients, we can’t NOT talk about how your outward appearance influences your inner self.
Even though you’re probably not going out much these days, getting your hair or nails done, or even just getting dressed up once in a while can give you a good boost of self-confidence. There’s no question that how we look impacts how we think, feel and behave.
Updating your look—whether it’s new highlights, a fresh cut or a trendy new outfit—is sure to put a bounce in your step, even if you’re just hanging out at home for the foreseeable future.
It’s like insisting on wearing lip gloss under your face mask. No one can see it, but it makes you feel happy and confident.
Makes sense, right?
Self-care, no matter what it is for you, is something to prioritize in your life.
Like anything else, if your self-care practice or routine isn’t in your calendar, it’s probably not going to happen. So, go ahead and make self-care a priority today! Book an hour or two for yourself on the weekends, get up an hour earlier a few times a week to fit in some “me” time. Make that hair appointment, book that pedicure or buy that at-home spa kit. Not only do you deserve to—you need to.