Explore What Incorporating Self-care Routines Can Do for You!

The term “self-care” is circulating now more than ever, and for good reason! At a glance, self-care is defined as acts and routines taken to improve and preserve one’s own health, both physically and mentally. In a world where everything moves so fast, it is easy to forget to slow down and take time just for ourselves. It’s very important to incorporate small moments of self-care into you and your loved ones’ daily routines to promote overall health.

Take a moment to consider what self-care looks like to you and your loved one. If you are unsure of where to start, our expert team here at The Gardens at Brook Ridge Transitional Assisted Living and Memory Care has compiled a list of ideas for you to use as a guide.

Self-Care May Look Like:

• Taking a nap or some time to rest
• Connecting with friends or family
• Developing a skincare routine
• Taking a bath
• Setting aside a few minutes each day for alone time
• Exercising or meditating
• Preparing and enjoying a favorite meal
• Performing breathing exercises

The Benefits of Self-Care:

• Improves Emotional Health – Taking the time to give your mind and your body what they need is crucial to maintaining your emotional health. Not only does this allow you to find new activities and routines that are important to you, but according to Western Tennessee Health, it can help to soothe the symptoms of a mental illness. Adding in a routine for caring for your physical and mental needs can help improve your mood and overall emotional well-being.
• Improves Physical Health – Due to the fact that self-care can include physical activities, it can quite literally help get you in better shape, which is great for your physical health. However, it is not just building muscles and improved endurance that self-care helps with–reduced muscle tension and increased relaxation are also positive effects of proper self-care. A balanced diet is also included in many guides to self-care, and coupled with physical activity, displays how self-care can work to improve your physical health.
• Helps Manage Stress – Similar to how self-care can improve emotional and mental health, it can also help manage stress. A large component of self-care is the relaxation factor involved in each activity. Incorporating consistent activities that are targeted at relaxation and stress relief can help train your body on how to cope with long-term stressors. If stress is something you or a loved one deals with consistently, specific self-care routines and activities can help reduce these stressors over time.
• Can increase connection – It’s easy to get lost in the daily routine of caring for your loved one and making sure their physical needs are met. Adding some intentional self-care activities that you can do together is a great way to take some time to connect. Whether you take a walk together or simply enjoy a conversation over a cup of tea or coffee, self-care can include time for you and your loved one to intentionally connect.
• Can make you a better caregiver – Let’s be honest, it is hard to care for others when we are not caring for ourselves. That is why we recommend that our caregivers not only help implement self-care routines for our residents, but also for themselves. Taking time to decompress from work and participate in activities necessary to maintain your own health and well-being will help improve your ability to care for others. While it is easy to think we are doing enough for ourselves, now is the time to take a step back and evaluate what you could add to your routine that would bring you joy, happiness, or peace of mind.

Self-care is crucial to a happy and healthy life, which is why all of us here at the Gardens At Brook Ridge strive to incorporate self-care into our residents’ lives every day.

To learn more about our memory care senior residence or schedule a tour of The Gardens At Brook Ridge, contact our friendly team today.

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