“In a society that says, ‘Put yourself last,’ self-love and self-acceptance are almost revolutionary.”
Brené Brown
Breathe.
Relax.
Slow down.
Nothing seems to work. The stress stays with you like your two-year-old when you want to go to the bathroom. Maybe it is because you haven’t placed the importance on your well-being as much as you should.
Now, more than ever, it is essential to take the time to take care of yourself. If you need a reason to do it, what better time than July which is Social Wellness Month? Take this time to nurture yourself and your relationships.
Why Is It Important to Prioritize My Needs?
According to this infographic from the International Self-Care Foundation, self-care is good for both society and the economy. Not only does it lead to better health, but it also creates less strain on health services. This infographic from Healthline displays the effects of stress throughout your body.
Where Can I find Self-Care Resources and Ideas?
Rent a Finn – Did you know that Finland was chosen as the happiest nation in the world for three years in a row? What makes them so content with their lives and how can we learn from them? Rent a Finn shares a virtual happiness guide created by Finns to share their values and traditions with others to help us all become calm and happier with our lives. Of course, an in-person trip would be much better, but a virtual trip works for now!
Wakelet Collection Teacher Self-Care: Resources to Help You Make Time for You – This collection created by TeachersFirst shares many ideas on how to reduce stress and maintain your personal well-being. It includes a mix of suggestions for self-care and social well-being tips.
Do Nothing For 2 Minutes (TeachersFirst review) – Just as the title says, this site helps you do nothing for 2 minutes. Don’t move the mouse or touch your keyboard – sit and relax for 2 minutes without resetting the timer. This site provides a helpful way to allow your brain to settle down, perfect as a mental time out.
Adult Coloring Pages – Some people find drawing, coloring, or doodling relaxing. I’m not one of them; I find it stressful, since I am not very good at it. However, if you do enjoy relaxing by coloring, choose from the variety of options to select a page or two to color. Share with a friend to color together or to compare your finished products. One tip: this site is heavy on ads. After choosing a page, look for the green download button to print or save as a PDF.
Duolingo (TeachersFirst review) – Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Duolingo gamifies language learning. Lessons adapt to your learning style and keep you engaged and interested in the learning process.
Highbrow (TeachersFirst review) – If you don’t think you have time to take a class or course, try Highbrow. Choose from over 300 topics including wellness, personal growth, and professional learning, and have five-minute lessons delivered to your inbox daily.
Ted Talks – Get inspired by Ted Talks. Choose from over 3,000 talks to learn more about the world around you. Select a topic you are interested in or discover something new. Sort topics by most viewed to find popular talks.
Goodreads (TeachersFirst review) – Are you looking for a good book to read? Goodreads will help you get started. Find book lists and reviews for any topic from summer reads to the zombie apocalypse. Make it social by signing up and sharing lists with your friends and relatives.
A Podcast Playlist to Help Distract You (for the Most Part) – Podcasts are a great way to catch up on the latest information and shut yourself away from the real world for a while. This crowdsourced list includes a variety of suggestions for passing the time and calming you at home.
Foodista (TeachersFirst review) – Many of us have headed to the kitchen for a mental break while quarantined. If you like to cook, try a new recipe or discover a new food blog from those shared at Foodista.
Next Steps
- Plan ahead: make it a goal to use the month of July to improve your social-wellness and overall well-being.
- Build time into your schedule for what you want to do. Make it non-negotiable and non-changeable.
- Ask a friend to hold you accountable for making time for yourself.
Use some of the ideas above to improve your mental state of mind and reach out to a friend to support your social well-being. Listen to a podcast together, share a recipe, or join an online book club. Whatever you choose, take time for yourself to rejuvenate physically and mentally. You deserve it!
Do you have self-care and social well-being tips? Help us all feel better by sharing your ideas with our readers in the comments below.