What Does Self Care Mean To You?

You probably hear the words ‘self care’ banded around like nobody’s business. There’s a reason for that, though. People may only just be putting a big focus on it, but caring for oneself is crucial if you’re going to live a happy, low stress life. Perhaps, like most people, you spend a lot of your time worrying about and looking out for other people and your own self care falls by the wayside. Self care is not selfish, and it doesn’t mean you spend every waking hour only thinking of yourself. It does mean, however, that you put as much importance on yourself as you do other people, and you ensure that you’re not caring for others to your own detriment. You can’t pour from an empty cup, after all! 

Self care can mean different things to different people. So, what does self care mean to you?

Taking A Break From Technology

Technology consumes our lives these days. We work on computers, we carry mini computers in our pockets, it’s no wonder we all feel disconnected and unhappy. Take breaks from technology. Get rid of the apps that you don’t really need, and have set times for checking your phone. Try to fill the time with more fulfilling things instead. The time you scroll mindlessly really adds up. That time you spend focusing on the lives of people you don’t know anymore could be spent on a hobby of yours or learning a new skill - even just sleeping! 

Pampering Yourself 

Many people view this as the classic form of self care, and it is great if you need a little TLC. Take a hot bath and use fancy products. Wash your hair, paint your nails, apply a mask - do what it takes to make you feel good. Don’t feel bad because looking good makes you feel better. We all like to look good, and if it boosts your confidence, then do it. You are worth it.

Eating Nourishing Meals

Nourishing meals are a wonderful form of self care. Being busy often means we forget to eat and just grab snacks that aren't great for us, running off coffee and adrenaline. This will catch up with us eventually. Trying to eat nourishing, balanced meals will make a huge difference to your health, energy levels, and more. If you can prep in advance you should find this easier. If not, bear in mind that you don't need to eat 3-4 balanced meals a day. You can eat 2 healthy, balanced meals a day providing they are big enough and include important nutrients, alongside snacks. Some people even manage to eat one huge meal a day, but it may not be possible for you to get all of the calories and nutrients you need this way. 

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Spending Time on Hobbies and Things You Enjoy 

Spend time on the hobbies you have lost along the way. Paint again, even if you feel out of touch. Write poetry, even if it’s terrible. Stop doing things with a goal in mind, or because you think you need to be ‘good’ to do it. You don’t need to write a prize winning novel or paint a picture somebody is going to want to display. Just do it for sheer enjoyment. If you do it often enough, you might just get better at it. Focusing on the result, rather than the process, however, is not a good idea. Do it because you like it and see if you can get into the ‘flow’ state. Studies have shown that we all need to spend more time in this state for overall well being and happiness. What is the flow state? That place where you’re so focused on what you’re doing, you lose track of time. Many people find this state when playing an instrument, knitting, or running. Find what gets you into the flow state and do it!

Setting Clear Boundaries 

Most people don’t set boundaries. This can happen for quite a few reasons. For one, we’re rarely told how to set them or why we should set them. We’re so worried about being viewed as nice and potentially upsetting other people, that we let them take advantage of us and betray ourselves. This doesn’t even need to be in clear, obvious ways. The other person may not know that that’s what they are doing. But it’s something you will carry with you for a long time. To set boundaries, we need to know what our own boundaries are. For example, if a friend constantly calls you in the middle of the day and drags you away from work because you work from home, it could be time to set a boundary and let them know that it’s not ok, and that you’re working. Tell them you’ll call them back later, or that they can call you back. You don’t need to be available for everybody all the time. Set boundaries with your partners, and insist your needs are met and that your well being is cared for. Failure to do this could mean you need to go for chlamydia treatment and end up feeling angry and resentful towards the other person. Worry less about being nice and worry more about upholding your own values and caring for yourself. 

Getting To Know Yourself

Becoming more comfortable spending time alone is key, and you can do this by getting to know yourself. Don’t try to fill up all of your time with the company of somebody else. Spend time reading, pampering, doing art, walking, and more. Get comfortable with your thoughts and who you are with nobody around. 

Learning Something New 

Spend time learning new things. Many of us stop learning once we leave school, but life is a lesson!

Reparenting Your Inner Child

We all have an inner child that needs reparenting. It’s rare we actually had parents who knew exactly what they were doing and reacted in the right way to every single situation. Take the time to figure out what your inner child needs and do more of it.

Common Pains That You Should Definitely Not Ignore

There are statistics that say that around 10% of adults suffer from chronic pain. While some of these symptoms are just a byproduct of getting older, there are also some pains that can be indicators of something much more serious. If you have any new pains, or ones that are lasting longer than usual, then it is important to not ignore them and to get them checked out, in order to maintain your health. If you are experiencing any of the following, then seeking medical advice is important. 

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Lower back pain

Back pain can be fairly common, especially if you are someone who sits and works at a desk for pretty long hours. If you have any sudden or severely painful back pain, as well as things like bowel changes, then it could be a sign of something more sinister. You could also have something like a ruptured disc in your back when you get lower back pain. These things can lead to needing surgery if they are not dealt with promptly. So if you are experiencing serious lower back pain, then making an appointment to visit the emergency rooms is a good idea so that things can be checked out.

Tooth pain

We can all experience pain with our teeth from time to time, especially if you have a cavity that needs to be fixed or are someone with sensitive teeth. As a result, it can help to be seen as soon as possible by your dentist, in order to get your teeth sorted out. If you need to have a tooth removed as a result of the pain, then you might think about dental implants instead. This can sound like a scary procedure, as it does mean your original teeth will change shape, in order for the implants to fit. However, if you read an article like this one, 4 ways to improve your life with dental implants, then you will be able to see that there are some benefits to getting dental implants. So seek advice if you are having pain with your teeth and gums, or want to improve the look of your teeth.

Calf aches and pains

If you start to get some calf pain, especially quite suddenly and not as a result of something you know like an injury, then it can be a sign of something else more serious. A condition called deep vein thrombosis results in calf pain, and that is essentially clots in the veins in your legs. If you have been on a plane recently, or are quite sedentary in your lifestyle, or sit at a desk for long hours and experience calf pain, then it is worth checking out. Alongside this, if your skin color discolors in the area, or it feels hot, it can be another indicator that it needs to be checked out. 

The bottom line is that in order to maintain your health, you need to take charge of your health. Don’t just dismiss things, especially when it comes to pain. Seek advice and it can be dealt with before it becomes anything else.

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7 Simple Beauty Tricks You Wish You Knew Earlier - Hair, Makeup, Nails, And More

The makeup and beauty industry is a multi-billion one with so many trends and products that are quite challenging to keep up with. But, with so many options available, you still have the chance to learn something new every day- newbie or pro. Unfortunately, not everything you know would help achieve your beauty goals - meaning the search must go on. Luckily, there are tried and tested beauty tricks that work; some you may know about, many you would be surprised to learn.  Does your morning routine involve spending hours sitting in front of your mirror, trying to keep up with beauty trends? Have you spent so much money on different beauty products that don’t seem to work? Here are some beauty tricks you wish you knew earlier.

1.) Do not rub perfumes on your wrist

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Before you think about looking good, you need to smell good. You may have noticed that the smell of your perfume tends to vanish after a short while. Maybe you have been applying it the wrong way all this while - that is if you rub it on your wrist. Heat maximizes the effect of perfumes by activating it. This means that our body areas like the back of our knees, wrists, neck, and other pulse points are the best places to apply your perfume. However, it is better to dab your perfume onto your body instead of rubbing. By rubbing it, you mix the perfume with your body’s natural oils, which eventually reduces the perfume’s smell.

2.) Use different face masks to increase results

From smelling good to looking good, let us talk about the face. When it comes to making the skin look beautiful, there are different solutions for different skin types. The trick here is to customize your treatment to suit your skin’s needs to get the right results. When applying your face mask for example, you can use the multi-masking trick instead of a single mask. For multi-masking, you use different facial masks or have them in different layers to take care of various facial skin problems. You can place hydrating masks over parts of your face that are dry while using a charcoal one for the oily parts. Depending on the skin issues you have, you can get led light therapy, which works on different skin issues and rejuvenates the skin.

3.) Use the right eyelash curling techniques

Still on the face, let us shift our attention to the eyelashes. Many women apply the wrong techniques when curling their eyelashes- clumping down and counting to three to finish. There are two problems with this technique; first, the curl might not last, and second, the method creates an unnatural crease in your eyelashes. For the best effect, begin curling at the eyelash base and pump the curler three times. Once done, work on the middle section of the lash and repeat the same technique. Finally, move to the tip of the lash and apply the same number of pumps to create a beautiful sweep without crease and to ensure it lasts long - this is called the pump technique. 

4.) Braid your wet hair and blow-dry it to create wavy hair

If you are a lover of a wavy hair look, this simple trick will come in handy. If you have straight hair, you will want to manipulate the hair while it is still drying in a way that will cause it to alter the pattern. You should take note that this trick will not necessarily work on already wavy natural hair. So, how does it work? While your hair is still wet, make braids according to how long and full you want your waves to be. After braiding your hair, blow dry it and take the braids out. It is that simple!

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5.) A touch of Vaseline for a smudge-free manicure

Up next are the nails. If you have been struggling for so long to have a smudge-free nail finish, then here is a secret you need to hear - apply a touch of Vaseline. When doing your manicure at home, it can be a little challenging to keep your nail polish away from the skin surrounding the nails. To achieve a smudge-free, pro-like effect, apply Vaseline around the cuticle, focusing on the space where the nails end and where the skin begins. Once done, wait for a while to give the manicure enough time to dry, then wash your hands. The washing process will ensure that any polish that went outside the nail boundaries will be removed.

6.) Dry shampoo trick

You may not always have enough time to give your hair a good wash. In such cases, the dry shampoo technique is a complete lifesaver (and time-saver), as it allows you to get your hair in the right condition in record time. Despite the benefits of dry shampoo to most women, not using it correctly means you will not get the desired results. Dry shampoo gives a similar effect as traditional shampooing, as it leaves the hair fresh by absorbing excess oil in it. However, if you do not give it enough time to dry, you may still end up with a bad hair day. When applying it, with the help of your fingers, ensure that it reaches the root of your hair, then give it about five to ten minutes to absorb the excess oil. 

7.) Use Scotch tape when applying eyeshadows and eyeliners

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You do not need to be a skilled makeup artist to create a flawless eyeshadow and eyeliner effect, especially if you have Scotch tape at home. All you need to do is use a piece of tape as a form of a ruler to help you create a sharp edge when applying your eyeshadow. This method reduces the amount of time spent working on your eyeliners. Only ensure that you place some tape on your hands first to avoid irritation and some stickiness, and to easily remove the Scotch tape when you finish.

Now that you have got some tricks that are guaranteed to work, get started- try them out! You would be glad you did. 

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