a self-care guide: the body
Okay. So last week we covered self-care of the mind. Now let’s talk about self-care of the body. Although I do believe in the whole “Mind over Matter” thing, the body and mind are still so closely linked and have an innate effect each other. Therefore, even taking care of your physical being can be tied into managing your mental health.
Yoga
I don’t know what kind of instructor I’d be if I started this self-care of the body post without addressing yoga. The term “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj” meaning “to yoke” or “to unite.” There are many ways to interpret this, but many of us yogis believe that it speaks to the union of the mind and body, as well as the union of oneself and the universe.
I personally love yoga because, similarly to meditation, it forces me to focus my attention on one thing, which prevents my mind from traveling into the past or future. The difference is, that in addition to focusing on my breath, I also invite movement into my body. Yoga is based on breath. Each movement is tied to either an in breath or an out breath. Therefore, the speed of a yoga flow comes from the pace of breath and vice versa. This syncing of breath and movement is where I feel that I am pulled back to the present moment and my mind and body come together as one. I truly recommend yoga to anyone and everyone.
Skincare
I really used to think that skincare was a scam. Honestly, maybe it really still is one that managed to grow on me, who knows. Though I will say, I am currently living in the driest climate that there ever was. A friend just told me yesterday that where we live is actually classified as an “alpine desert,” meaning that we get most of our moisture in the wintertime from snow! Oh boy. In other words. It is DRY here–like nosebleeds every morning kind of dry. And when I first got here, my skin was feeling like a scratchy dryer sheet AFTER use.
I was like alright, maybe I will give this skincare stuff a try because honestly, it cannot get worse than this. I decided on Rhode Skin products and–I know, Hailey blah blah drama whatever I don’t care because–immediately after starting it, my skin was so plump and vibrant. I cannot imagine what the effects would have been if I were in a more humid climate, like wow the potential! I also started using face masks weekly. I don’t know how much they help throughout the following week, but I know that my skin is a lot softer and more moisturized for at least the first few days after I use them.
Above all else, you should moisturize–even if your skin is oily! And obviously drink lots of water. All of this helps prevent breakouts and skin irritation. I know that there are so many products out there, but the trial and error will be worth it once you find what works for you.
Maintaining Appearance for Yourself
I am guilty of not abiding by this one sometimes. I don’t always keep up with my appearances, even when I go out because I’m like, “Why would I put in the extra effort to look good when I’m not trying to impress anyone?” But no. It is so important to impress YOURSELF.
Oh this is going to get so TMI, but like for instance, with hair removal, whether that be shaving, waxing, or tweezing, sometimes I wait just a little too long between those sessions. It's not until I’m like ok, I don't even want to expose these parts of my hairy skin when I go out that I take action (not saying that body hair is bad btw, I know that we all have a personalized approach to this subject #beautystandardslander). Once I do whatever to get rid of the hair, I’m like omg–I feel really good now! But more recently, I have started to remove body hair whenever it starts to feel uncomfortable or bothersome to me instead of waiting until I feel unpresentable to others.
Today, even if I were living as a recluse for the next year, I would continue keeping up with my own body hair maintenance, and I apply this to everything else as well. Like skincare/exfoliating, haircare, nail care–all the things that make me feel beautiful and clean. I do it to make myself feel good rather than to look good for other people. Maybe this is something that everyone else already does and you’re all like “Um, Lyv, why were you not waxing regularly?” But I hear this all the time from people, “I don’t shave my legs in the winter because no one sees them,” so I don’t know… lol.
Anyway! The overall moral of this whole thing–make yourself feel pretty and keep up with your own appearances, even when no one is watching because, ultimately YOU are watching and feeling it all. There is no one who is going to appreciate your maintenance in appearance and hygiene more than yourself! Start doing things for you!
Clean environment
We touched on this one last week. I said that having a tidy space doesn’t really help me focus better than a messy one. Although that’s still true, I do think that it’s still good to have a clean space because the connection between oneself and their environment is important in general. That’s why we either physically retreat to a “safe space” or mentally retreat to a “happy place” in times of stress.
I am a strong believer that a physical space can reflect someone’s mental state in that a not-so-put-together area can be a great indicator that something is off mentally and same for the opposite. Whenever I look around my apartment and see that it’s messy, I take a moment to consider what weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders recently. Then I take some time to do chores around my apartment because I know that looking around and seeing a cleaner space will sort of trick my brain into thinking that I am actually in a better mental spot. And usually it works! I feel like, “Oh I must not have that many problems because I can at least take care of the space that I’m in.” The beauty of placebo.
On that note, sometimes I know that keeping a clean space can be really intimidating. Especially for neurodivergent individuals, cleaning can bubble a lot of emotions up to the surface. It’s so important to recognize that even though it’s often made out to be really simple, tidying up is actually a large feat. When it comes to cleaning, remember that despite it being on the list of self-care methods, self-compassion is much higher on that list. Grow compassion for yourself. It’s okay to accept if you can’t complete every chore that’s on your list–it’s even okay if you can’t complete a single one. Your mental state is so important, and harboring disappointment or ruminating over stuff like chores can sometimes feel like the answer. However, letting those feelings go and instead fostering an understanding for yourself will serve you so well.
Vitamins
Lastly, I want to bring vitamins into this. I am a vegetarian who also doesn’t eat eggs or drink milk. My nutrition levels are very sporadic and that often used to lead me into a place of exhaustion.
Maybe I’ll do another blog post in the future covering different vitamins and their purposes, especially in relation to a woman’s body, just because I feel like we don’t typically receive a lot of information about that stuff. But I’ll keep this short by saying that since I have been taking a woman’s daily vitamin (and they’re vegan gummies woohoo!), I have felt holistically better. My energy levels seem higher, I’m less irritated, and I think more clearly. Keep in mind that I didn’t start taking these vitamins in some kind of controlled environment with scientists and therapists measuring my well-being. There could very well be a lot of factors contributing to these discoveries, but I do have a gut feeling that taking these vitamins have really helped me.
Vitamins also help with adding a sense of routine, control, and regulation to someone’s lifestyle. It’s something that is guaranteed every day and so it feels anchoring for the mind, but it's also comforting for the body. Once again, no science experiments here, but I can imagine that having a daily dose of good vitamins is more helpful for the body, in the sense that it knows what’s coming and what it can work with–puts it in a groove!
That’s another note–take them every day! I used to take random vitamins at random times and they never helped because why would they? Taking them every day is KEY! It is said that you can feel the effects within two weeks of taking them daily.
Okay, that's all for today. I thank you for tuning in, and you should thank yourself too! Be so proud of yourself for seeking ways to improve, the first step is always the hardest and you’re already making moves:) Have a good start of your week, and I’ll see you all later <3
