Self care and well-being are so vital to our health and happiness that National Self Care Awareness Month is observed annually (September) to promote its importance. But why wait? Taking care of yourself and feeling your best should be a life-long goal to focus on every day of the year!
Self care is an essential practice to maintain and improve both our mental and physical well-being. When life can get so busy, finding time for self care can feel overwhelming. But the truth is that self care isn't just indulging in a luxurious spa day every once in a while – it is an integral part of our everyday lives and can play a vital role in helping us stay healthy and balanced. It encompasses everything from managing stress to prioritizing sleep, eating nourishing food, engaging in activities we enjoy, and taking time for relaxation and self-reflection.
Creating a consistent and balanced self care routine is an important step to creating a healthier lifestyle, and integrating safe and natural remedies like CBD can help support this goal. In this post, we will explore different aspects of self care, offering a holistic approach to self care and well-being. By using this information, you can build upon a balanced self care plan to enhance your well-being in September and beyond.
Understanding Self Care for Mental & Physical Well-Being
Self care is the foundation of maintaining overall well-being. It involves nurturing both our mental and physical health. While mental self care focuses on our thoughts, emotions, and cognitive well-being, physical self care centers around our body's needs, including nutrition, exercise, and rest.
It is essential to address both aspects of self care for a holistic approach to well-being. What’s great news is that incorporating these techniques into one's daily routine can be easy! It can be as simple as setting aside a few minutes for reflection, establishing a regular bedtime routine, or taking a short walk during your lunch break.
Mental Self Care
Good mental health is crucial for a balanced and fulfilling life. By prioritizing mental self care, we can help reduce stress, enhance mood, have better mental clarity, improve focus, and more. There are various techniques and practices that can be worked into our daily routines to support our mental health.
- Practicing gratitude is an effective mental self care technique. By focusing on the positive aspects of your life and expressing gratitude for them, you can shift our mindset towards positivity and cultivate a greater sense of well-being.
- Mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools for reducing stress and enhancing focus. Taking a few minutes each day to sit quietly, meditate, and observe your thoughts can help ground you in the present moment and promote a sense of calm. Perhaps reciting a poem, lyrics, or a prayer can help reflect on peaceful times in your life.
- Other mental self care techniques include journaling, taking breaks from technology, focusing on time for hobbies and interests, improving time management, setting boundaries, doing visualization exercises, and socializing with loved ones.
Physical Self Care
Physical self care is equally important for maintaining overall well-being. Our physical health affects our energy levels, mood, and ability to handle daily challenges. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and vice versa. Engaging in physical self care practices can help you achieve this balance.
- Healthy diet and proper nutrition play significant roles in self care. Nourishing your body with nutrient-rich foods gives you the energy needed to thrive. Incorporating fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and some fresh fruit into meals can make a significant difference in how you feel.
- Regular exercise and movement are also essential for physical self care. Engaging in exercise that you enjoy, such as yoga, running, dancing, or workouts, not only improves your physical fitness, but also boosts your mood and reduces stress.
- Other physical self care techniques include getting proper amounts of sleep, drinking plenty of water, practicing good hygiene, enjoying time outdoors for some fresh air, moderating/limiting unhealthy ingredients or substances, reducing pain, and stretching.
CBD's Role in a Balanced Self Care Plan
CBD has gained popularity as a complementary approach to self care due to its potential benefits for both mental and physical well-being. By incorporating CBD into your regular self care routine, you can help amplify the positive effects of other practices and truly be your best self at all points throughout your day.
- Starting the day bright and early with CBD may help promote focus and concentration by calming the mind and reducing stress levels which in turn can provide mental clarity and ease required to tackle tasks efficiently and effectively. CBD can set the stage for a productive and centered day ahead.
- Throughout the day, CBD may help maintain mental balance and reduce stress, offering a sense of calm. For physical well-being, using products like CBD topicals, capsules, and gummies may help reduce everyday aches and pains or aid in muscle recovery after a workout.
- In the evening, CBD can be used for relaxation and it may enhance your sleep routine - providing better rest that sets up your body to take on the next day when you wake up. Try mixing a CBD tincture into a calming mug of chamomile tea to help wind down, or take a CBD sleep gummy before heading to bed.
Combining CBD with Self Care Techniques: A Holistic Approach
Integrating CBD with self care techniques can help enhance overall well-being. For example, combining CBD with mindfulness and meditation can deepen the relaxation and promote a greater sense of tranquility. Or, using CBD with a workout can help improve your exercise routine, which in turn improves both your physical performance and mental health.
Many individuals have reported feeling more grounded, centered, and less anxious after incorporating CBD into their self care routine. Studies have also shown promising results, indicating a positive impact on mental health and even physical ailments such as chronic pain.
In my practice, I have seen many patients use CBD on a daily basis. Many say it helps their back and foot pain from their common chronic medical issues. They say that it helps them stay on their feet longer throughout the day so they can get their daily duties done. Some of my patients have even lost weight because they felt better physically and were able to move more.
Integrating CBD with self care practices offers a holistic approach to wellness and can lead to a more balanced, harmonious lifestyle.
Starting Your CBD Wellness Plan
It's not hard to start a CBD wellness plan, but sometimes it can seem intimidating if you’re not familiar with CBD products. Not to worry! I understand and I hear you. I am always reminding my patients to “take baby steps” when making any routine changes. Perhaps starting with sleep improvement is the easiest step for most people. A cbdMD sleep product like gummies or soft gels would be one way to help start your “better you” project.
In conclusion, self care is essential for maintaining balanced mental and physical well-being. Wellness of the mind and body starts with simple things like rest, meditation, proper nutrition, and exercise. By incorporating self care techniques and CBD into your daily routine, you can enhance your overall sense of well-being and promote balance in your life.
Want more self care tips? Check out my blog on How to Start a CBD Wellness Plan for Self Care tailored to your specific self care needs and goals!
About Lucille Vega, MD
Dr. Lucille Vega is a highly experienced board-certified physician with a strong passion for cannabinoid medicine and its potential in improving patients' lives. She received her MD from Dartmouth, completed a residency at Brown University, and has 23 years of practice in Family Medicine. Dr. Vega is the physician/owner of Vega Direct Medical Family Practice, and has dedicated the past 7 years to incorporating Cannabinoid Medicine into her medical approach.