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He says - is Self-care selfish?

November 20 - 26, 2019
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Gulf Weekly He says - is Self-care selfish?

Gulf Weekly Stan Szecowka
By Stan Szecowka

The concept of self-care, for me, is synonymous with refueling – taking a step back to replenish my resources to perform important chores productively and consistently. As I grow older and experience pressure from varying sources, I seem to appreciate the importance of taking care of oneself to a larger extent to contain stress. Self-care encompasses a holistic approach towards a healthy body and mind.

At the outset, it is important to acknowledge that self-care has different meaning attached to it for different people; reaction to stress differs for everyone and this is what influences the relaxation technique meant for them. My research on the internet shows me that if someone displays a primarily fight response, more calming self-care techniques help to calm them such as meditation and deep breathing. On the other hand, if someone shows the flight response, that of being depressed, withdrawn or spaced out under stress, they may benefit from stress relief activities such as rhythmic exercise, massage, or power yoga.

Moreover, it is imperative that we spread awareness about the inherent need to look after yourself both mentally and physically. Physical fitness is easier to measure but mental fitness is equally important and self-care is a good way of approaching it. In fact, it is important to understand that self-care is not a response, it should be part of a regular routine, much like jogging or eating or socialising.

Personally, I find it very refreshing to take time off work and just do different activities that make me discover my other skills (or not) such as art (although I am not very good at it), riding my bicycle, reading science fiction, watching movies etc. My sister is a strong propagator of face masks and playing pool as a stress buster and my friends all have different methods. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that self-care is the human analogous to consistent vehicle services. It is integral to our smooth long term performance and a happier life. So venture out, find out what works for you and take care!







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