In the hustle and bustle of this world, people often forget to relax and pamper themselves. They continue to live the same mechanical life that ultimately makes them dull and spiritually low. And their low spirituality ultimately leads them to hopelessness and even the worst of conclusions. But if you want to break the monotony of this routine then you have to add self-care in it. As the famous saying goes:
“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.”
William Shakespeare (Henry V)
Pampering yourself is the best option to reduce all sorts of anxieties and insecurities. It is a way of acknowledging your efforts and giving a pat on your own back. It is something beyond self-indulgence as it not only gives you inner satisfaction but also helps you to maintain balance in all affairs of life.
So, if you’re interested in self-care but don’t know the ways to relax and pamper yourself then continue reading. As this article will provide you with a lot of ideas to give self-care to yourself.
Why is self pampering so important?
Giving yourself time and care is the very first step of living life rather than just spending it. So it must be a part of your to-do list in the day’s schedule. Here are some points that tell you why caring for yourself is so important:
1. It revitalises you
After the day-long tiring routine, a small act of self-care can easily revitalise you. Then either it be a warm bath or a favourite book, it will always leave you with the most refreshing version of you. Self-pampering keeps you fresh by shifting your focus from weary activities to rejuvenating activities that nourishes your soul, mind and body.
2. It helps you become the best of your version
You give what you have. So, if you want to show love, compassion and gratitude to others then it’s necessary to have all these in your own cup first. Practising self-care gives you a feeling of self-satisfaction that maintains your emotional and mental well-being. This well-being ultimately keeps you in a balanced state. And if you feel balanced and at peace with your own self, only then can you give the best of yourself to others. So, remember to relax and pamper yourself first.
3. It cultivates self-love
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
– Buddha
Self-love is so crucial to estimate your own worth and place in this universe. It is a source of self-awareness. It works as a double-edged sword to cut depression, anxiety and all negative feelings about yourself. And the best way that helps cultivate this self-love is pampering yourself and caring about your own being.
Ways to relax and pamper yourself
Following are some great ideas to practise self-care:
1. Self-pampering through mindfulness
1. Practise Yoga
“A healthy body processes a healthy mind”
It’s a much heard maxim. But literally it works. Practising yoga reduces muscle strain and it also relaxes your mind. You feel self-satisfied by investing time on yourself. It is a great idea to pamper yourself after getting free from a hectic schedule.
The best time to get great results from yoga is early in the morning. Just grab your yoga mat, find a calm and airy place and start practising mindfulness.
2. Grab your favourite book
Personally, in my opinion, nothing can relax and pamper so much as reading a good book! When you start reading a book that you are interested in, your mind automatically breaks the ever-continuous flux of tiring thoughts.
And you enter a world of imagination where you feel at peace. So, don’t think much and find a comfortable place, brew a mug of coffee and start delving into the world of your imagination with your favourite book.
3. Listen to your favourite person
Love, compassion and care is in the soil of human beings. If you feel tired, depressed and have no way to get out of this trap, then go to your loved one and listen to them. Listen to all the advices or soothing statements they have to give you.
When you listen to someone whom you love the most, you hear not just words but love. In their voices, you find your lost solace and strength and you realise that you are not alone. As the famous saying goes:
“Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.”
– J. Isham
4. Practise gratitude
Practising gratitude is a very unique idea for self-pampering. You can develop a habit of writing journals where you list the things from your life that you are grateful for. Also you can show your gratitude to your loved ones by simply making statements like, “Wow! Thank you for a delicious meal!”, “I’m so blessed to have you in my life!”.
Such small statements of love and gratitude literally fill your life with positivity and help you see how blessed you are.
2. Home-based self-pampering:
1. Treat yourself with a delicious meal
Having your favourite food on the table is the best way to bring a big smile on your face! Also, not only having the food makes you feel delighted but the process of making it can also revitalise you. So, you can pamper yourself by making a delicious meal for yourself.
An additional tip here is, if you make it for your whole family or siblings then your level of happiness will be multiplied many times.
2. Take a long warm bath
Taking a warm bath can reduce your muscles’ tension and leave you with a relaxed body. Also, a cosy bath helps you minimise the headache and gives you a sense of satisfaction. Washing all the impurities away from your body literally works like if you are removing all the negativity out of yourself. So, you can give it a try, if you are really into caring for yourself.
3. Try a good hair mask
It’s natural to be peaceful when you care for your body. A good hair mask can give you a sense of nourishment. You can try a ready-made mask or make a DIY at home. So, get your mask ready, apply it and have some snacks till it shows its magic. You can also go for a face mask if you want. And one important point here is, that this tip is not gender specific, those who’ve hair can give it a try.
4. Watch your favourite movie
After a long day’s hustle bustle, one of the best options to relax and pamper yourself is to grab your comfy blanket, find your favourite couch and lay down to watch your favourite movie. You can make it even better if you add some snacks in it.
3. Some creative options for Self-pampering
1. Write your heart out
Writing provides you a harmless outlet to your perturbed emotions. It happens many times that we get frustrated by the monotony of things or by the attitude of our work-mates. But if in that hyperactivated state we try to do some remedy then it may be even more destructive for the situation. So, the safest way to relax and pamper yourself at that point is to write your heart out on a piece of paper. After getting relaxed, you can handle the situation well.
2. Use self-love affirmations
Practising unconditional self-love affirmations help remind you of your own worth. It is a good idea to give self-care to yourself. In a busy schedule where you forget yourself, a small sticky note on the top of your laptop stating “let’s have a glass of water!” or “Do you want a biscuit?” can be the best self-pampering idea. Here are some great affirmations for self-care and self-love:
- “I’ve a positive soul!”
- “I eat healthy meals on time!”
- “I prioritise myself!”
- “I practise meditation daily!”
- “I can say ‘No’ to unnecessary things!
3. Try painting/colouring
Getting your hands full with colours and putting your imagination on canvas is one of the best ways to practise self-care. You feel relaxed when through your eyes, your mind receives some vibrant shades. And if painting is your hobby then nothing else can be as soothing as making a beautiful piece of art.
So, grab some beautiful colours of your favourite medium and throw them on the canvas and your soul will be in your body again!
One additional point here is, if you are not much into such creative things then don’t worry. You just have to throw the paints on canvas in your desired direction, and whatever the thing comes, you can safely title it as an abstract art piece!
4. Give yourself a gift
It happens often that we have some special things in our wishlist that we want as a gift. But why don’t we give them to ourselves on our own? Afterall, we deserve self-pampering as a reward for following such a hectic schedule for so long.
So, next time if you want a classy bag or a pair of some amazing shoes then don’t wait for anyone else to give you that. Just go and buy it as a gift for yourself!
5. Try gardening
Gardening is a natural therapy to reduce stress and anxiety and if you want to practise self-care then it can be very helpful. Sitting in the calm and serene company of plants, giving them water, caring for their growth and strengthening them can actually strengthen your inner being. The oxygen-rich environment and vibrating colours give you a sense of affection and you feel yourself at peace.
How to manage time for pampering yourself?
No one ever wants to neglect themselves but one thing that makes this negligence easy is the busy schedule. We slowly in the same routine year after year get accustomed to permanently forgetting such words like self-care or self-love. So, firstly we have to realise the urgency of the situation and only then can we do some remedy for that.
Here are some ideas to manage time for pampering yourself:
1. Schedule your day
Before sleeping, try to make a schedule of your next day’s work in your mind and add an hour or half of self-care in it. Without a schedule you can never have time for yourself.
2. Priorities yourself
The universe is with you! I know it’s hard but be realistic and imagine if you die today then who will remember you for all the rest of their life? Maybe some of your loved ones. But they too get accustomed to living in your absence soon. And you’ll be replaced from all the positions you are dying to hold on now. So, stop ignoring your happiness, stop living for others and live life for yourself. Start to prioritise your well-being because your universe is with your well-being.
3. Say “NO” to extra things
Stop taking all the things as only your responsibility to fulfil. Try to figure out if something is really important for you or other people have made it so. Because usually due to our extra politeness, people around us start to exploit us and we continue to be exploited for so long because we think “It’s not nice to say No!”. But what is not nice is to tease your own self and to make it bound to do unnecessary stuff along with all the necessary responsibilities.
So, one of the strongest ways to pamper is to say “NO” to all those things which are taking your peace.
FAQs
1. Can self-care help me in controlling my mood swings?
Yes, self-care can help reduce mood swings. The basic cause for mood swings is some disturbance in your normal body functioning. It may be lacking proper sleep or some hormonal imbalances. So, if you relax and pamper yourself and keep it in good health then automatically you will experience less mood swings.
2. Does self-pampering make you selfish?
No, self-pampering is never being selfish. It’s a common maxim that ‘you give what you have’, so if you don’t have love, compassion and care for yourself then how can you give it to someone else?
So, stay positive and give self-care to yourself. But remember, excess of anything is bad.
3. Can I do my job better if I’ll start pampering myself?
Yes, self-care can actually increase your work efficiency. When you give time to yourself to relax and have some fun to refresh your mind then you come back in a much more powerful form. You get fuelled up and ready to give your best.