Self-care is more than just a buzzword

Self-care is more than just a buzzword – it’s a necessity!

Over the last few years, the term self-care has come to be known as a chance for you to buy a treat for yourself, get your nails done, go on vacations, or even indulge in excess sweets. While these are lovely things to do for yourself every once in a while, they aren’t truly what self-care means. Self-care is defined as the things you do in order to keep your mind and body healthy. This includes things like adhering to a healthy diet or going to the doctor regularly. It’s not simply about buying yourself a little treat.

At Sunshine Retirement Living, we embrace self-care in all of its forms and encourage the seniors in our communities to live with self-care at the forefront of their minds. We have compiled a list of some of the most underrated forms of self-care, so you can start incorporating them into your routine. Check out our list below!

Physical Exercise

One form of self-care that often gets overlooked is exercise. Perhaps this is because working out feels like just that– work. However, keeping your body moving is imperative not only for your physical health but also mental health. Exercise strengthens muscles and cardio fitness, but also releases endorphins which are a feel-good hormone, contributing to feelings of happiness and stress relief! Our Sunshine Retirement Living communities offer several forms of physical exercise classes every week, so consider joining your neighbors for a bit of social movement!

Be Social

Speaking of social movement, social interaction is so important for keeping the connection and your spirits high. Even the most introverted souls will admit that interaction with others can improve mental health, relieve stress, and even promote healthy eating or physical activity! If you’re naturally outgoing, this self-care tip might be very easy to incorporate, or you’ve already incorporated it without knowing its importance. If you happen to be on the shyer side, don’t worry. Think of solo activities you like doing, whether it’s hiking, reading, knitting, cooking, or even just watching a movie, and invite a neighbor or acquaintance to join you. By inviting them to a naturally quiet activity, you’re setting up an environment that feels comfortable for you. Don’t be afraid to walk in silence, or even decide that person isn’t the right fit for the activity, and invite someone else the next time. It’s all about incorporating social activity that feels good to you.

Sensory Play

Sensory play is a great way to alleviate stress and encourage a healthy mind – which is truly the point of self-care. While playing with playdough, kinetic sand, or even jumping on a trampoline can feel a little childlike, this is the point! Getting in touch with your inner child allows you to release daily stressors, alleviate tension, and get silly. Think about how lost you would get in play as a child, and how all your worries seemed to melt away once your hands were in the sandbox. Sensory play can have the same effect on you as an adult. We also think it’s a ton of fun to get a little messy and silly!

Sleep

Truly the most important self-care tip is prioritizing your sleep. Sleep is the way our body can heal itself, from reducing stress to getting sick less often to staying at a healthier weight, it allows your body adequate rest to recuperate. Good sleep hygiene is important. Start by implementing a routine. Waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day is an excellent way to get better and more quality rest. Also, make your sleeping area as peaceful as possible. Remove excess light, noise, and distractions from your sleeping space to ensure your sleep is uninterrupted and high quality.

Self-care is more than just a buzzword on social media, it’s a way of life and incredibly important for your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. We hope you give some of our ideas a try!

If you’d like to learn more about our wonderful retirement communities and the types of living choices we offer, please give our friendly team a call!