National Self-Care Week encourages everyone to practice “self-care for life.”
The purpose-built week, which runs from November 14 to November 20, emphasizes key self-care messages in an effort to make a bigger impact and reach more people.
The theme of exercise refers to both engaging in physical activity and practicing self-care.
This ranges from the most basic daily decisions—like choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator or brushing your teeth—to more involved ones, like managing your long-term health and preserving your mental well-being.
Jo Smith, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s strategy lead for health and wellbeing, said: “It is so vital to practice self-care and to highlight the value of self-care.
“All our lives can be so hectic at times with work and family commitments that we often forget to prioritise ourselves.
“It is crucial for long-term health and pleasure that we even set aside a small amount of time each day to focus on enhancing our own mental and physical well-being.”
LSCft will be providing self-care advice all week long, including:
- Set a higher daily step goal. Not everyone can walk 10,000 steps per day, but anyone may increase their daily steps with purposeful effort. You can accomplish this by opting to walk rather than drive, parking farther from the store entrance, or adding an extra lap to your dog walk.
- Go to bed 30 minutes sooner. Sleep is a necessary process that allows your body and mind to recover so that you can wake up feeling rejuvenated and aware. Your body and mind will reward you if you merely extend sleep by 30 minutes.
- Detox from social media and unfollow any profiles that make you feel bad. Social media can be really overwhelming, so if you’re experiencing this, take a break and unfollow any accounts that might be upsetting you.
- Take a break and chat about your feelings with a coworker. Self-care involves being honest about your emotions, and telling coworkers about them might reassure you that you’re not alone.
- Prepare a novel dish. If you enjoy cooking, use self-care week to experiment with a new, veggie- and protein-rich cuisine. Without the nutrients it requires to function properly, your body is more susceptible to illness, infection, weariness, and poor performance. A balanced diet provides these nutrients.
- Spend 5 minutes stretching since it improves blood flow, oxygen levels, and the delivery of nutrients to your muscles, all of which can make you feel more energized.
- Peruse a book. Reading is healthy because it enhances concentration, memory, empathy, and verbal and written communication. You may feel less stress and live longer as a result. Reading gives you the chance to pick up new skills that will help you succeed at work and in relationships.
Please seek assistance if you or someone you know is having problems with their health. A dedicated Wellbeing Helpline and Texting Service is offered by LSCft. The service is accessible Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on weekends from 12 p.m. to midnight. Volunteers and people with lived experience who can provide emotional support and discuss mental health work for this service.
