Are You Taking Care Of Yourself?

When people talk about taking better care of themselves, the first assumption is that they would be referring to their physical appearances. Hair, skincare, fashion sense, dieting and exercise – these are common areas that people would focus their time and effort on.

However what typically gets forgotten is the importance of someone’s emotional well being and mental state. Just like the other forms of self-care, emotional self-care is crucial. In reality, they frequently go hand-in-hand with each other. 

In order to practice emotional self-care, we must become aware of our emotions and take the required actions to respect and nourish them. The process is essential for our wellbeing… but also easier said than done. 

Think about it – when was the last time you put yourself first?

If you’re a spouse, an employee, a parent, or anyone who has commitments to others, it’s likely that you focus on putting others first. You prioritise the needs and wants of others over your own, often sacrificing your own time and comfort.

Maybe your manager asked you to work overtime… more than just a few times.

Maybe your friends were skipping out on a group project, and you covered for them because your grade was at stake too.

Maybe your spouse or kid is sick, and you had to tap out of that exciting hot yoga class you were supposed to take.

… And with every yes you uttered, and every smile you forced, a little piece of you crumbled away.

While it’s necessary to support people and leave your mark on the world, it’s also crucial to maintain a positive head space so that you may truly be your best self. Let’s talk about 3 little tips for emotional self-care that you can practice every day to feel better about yourself. 

#1 – Do Something That Makes You Happy

This small nugget of advice may seem obvious and cliche, but it’s actually very true! 

Finding your happy zone is the best approach to do this. That one thing, person, or place that brings out your inner smile.

Perhaps it’s that coffee or hot chocolate after class or work that perks your mood up, taking that lush bubble bath after dinner, or hopping onto a game of Valorant after waking up late on a weekend. Maybe it takes trying out something new, like roller skating, picking up Harvest Moon or reading a juicy new book. 

It could also be ordering a bunch of goodies and snack packs online to treat yourself – may we suggest looking through our food hampers in our shop? Check out our Simple Harmony wellness hamper, filled with an assortment of tonics and treats to lift both your mental and physical state. 

Make time for something, no matter how big or tiny, if you think it’ll make you happy. That’s all there is to it!

#2 – Set Weekly Goals

When it comes to developing a practice for emotional self care, goals are essential. They give us something to work toward and things to anticipate. Most of all, they give us meaning. Check out our blog on a Sunday night routine for a great start to the week if that helps!

Start with setting aside an hour for yourself each week, to do something that makes you happy – tying back to our first point. Or you could make small goals like drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, taking the trash out or doing your laundry. Your goal can also be bigger, such as working out multiple days a week, cleaning out the storeroom or trying out a new recipe. 

Most of all, it’s also okay to set multiple goals – both big and/or small.

By setting goals and continuously meeting them, you will give yourself an overwhelming sense of achievement and pride – and that goes hand in hand with a lift in your mood and mental well-being!

#3 – Learn to Say No

Even though the word “no” just consists of two letters, saying it can seem difficult or complicated. The act of saying no is awkward for many of us – it might even feel wrong. Especially to Asians in particular who come from a more traditional upbringing, where we’ve learned to bow our heads and agree with almost everything being told to us.

As humans, we work to preserve our relationships with our friends, family, superiors and more. We strive to impress others, or avoid disappointing our friends and hurting their feelings. Sometimes even by forcing ourselves to say no, we question ourselves and mull over it in regret.

However as it turns out, saying no can be of the best forms of self-care we can engage in!

If you need to, ask yourself these questions each time you’re caught in a dilemma;

• Will saying yes keep you from concentrating on something more important?
• Does their request align with your personal values, beliefs, and goals?
• Will agreeing make you tired, burnt out or stressed?
• Will agreeing be good for your mental health, or make it worse?
• Has there ever been a time where you said yes before, and you regretted it?

Now that we’ve figured out when you can say no, maybe you’re struggling with a polite way to reject someone. Some examples would be:

• “Sorry, I’ll need to pass on this.”
• “I’m sorry, but I’m not able to – but I appreciate you asking.”
• “Sadly, I can’t. But thank you for thinking of me!”
• “Thanks, but that’s not going to work for me.”
• “No, sorry, I’m not able to do that.”

Avoid wishy-washy phrases like ‘uhhhhhhhhh I don’t know’, ‘I’m not sure’ or ‘oh yeah maybe I can’. Offer an explanation if you want, but don’t feel obligated to do so! But being transparent about our feelings, needs, and boundaries can lead to healthier, more authentic relationship with others. Saying no and honouring your emotions and limits also leads to a healthier you.

Thankfully, saying no is a skill anyone can build – the key is to just keep practising!

Learn to Embrace Yourself

At some point in your life, you’ve probably been told not to be so hard on yourself.

And while that can be comforting to hear, it’s also extremely difficult to do. 

When things don’t go as planned, it’s natural to want to point the finger at another party, or doubt yourself. It’s also normal to occasionally feel bad about yourself. whether it’s a result of how you appear, act, or feel. 

But at the end of the day, no one is perfect – so you don’t have to be.

Treat Yourself with FlowerNBalloon SG

We pride ourselves on bringing chic, opulent balloon and flower confections around Singapore! FlowernBalloon has a variety of food, fruit and customisable balloon hampers that are able to brighten someone’s week, or perhaps your own. Check out our shop today.

Learn more about what we do on our website today. Free delivery available all around Singapore!