The Modern Man’s Guide To Self-Care

—

Repeat after me: Self-care is not a synonym for pamper. Nor is it still a dirty word for men. In fact, self-care has become a vital ingredient to a well-balanced life. Especially for modern men.

Yes, self-care arguably does involve pampering yourself. But it’s so much more than that. And self-care can come in many different forms too. For instance, swapping out your generic, chemical-based deodorant for a men’s natural deodorant is a form of self-care. Similarly, taking a long weekend here and there in between your hectic work schedule is another form of self-care.

Want to know a few other ways that you can practice self-care on a daily basis without necessarily ‘indulging’ yourself? To help you plug into the zen-zone, here’s our modern man’s guide to self-care.

What is self-care?

Before we dive into the key tenets of self-care, let’s first share our working definition of this lifestyle buzzword. At its most minimalistic definition, self-care is really all about setting time aside to focus on yourself. Simple as that.

You can practice self-care daily, weekly, or even monthly, depending on your self-care activities and your own personal needs. And what you do during your time for self-care is entirely up to you as well. The goal is to relax, recharge, reset; whatever you need to feel better and navigate life more smoothly.

While self-care is a simple concept, it’s also intangible. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, which can feel like both a blessing and a curse. But rest assured, if you take this opportunity to connect with yourself and your own needs, you can enjoy a lifetime of self-fulfillment from there onwards.

All you need to do is exercise a little trial and error to figure out what self-care activities work best for you.

Here are some common forms of self-care to inspire you:

Self-care: The Physical

We all know the undeniable benefits that physical activity has on our bodies. Yet, we often fail to recognize or acknowledge the equally-powerful benefits that exercise has on our mental health. A better night’s sleep, less anxiety in the office, higher self-esteem; so many things are suddenly within reach when we make exercise a regular part of our lives.

And we don’t just mean the gym. A weekly yoga class or a long bike ride on the weekend will have an almost immediate positive effect. And you don’t need to spend money on physical self-care either. Self-care can be as simple as a brisk stroll after work to decompress after a hectic work day. It’s free, it’s easy, and depending on where you live, it can be a wonderful chance to get out in nature.

Self-care: The Emotional

From the physical to the emotional. One of the main reasons we practice self-care is to better regulate our emotions. Emotions are wild creatures at the best of times; with the right routine in place, however, we can teach them to behave without suppressing them (which can be just as damaging as failing to monitor them).

One of the best ways to help regulate your emotions is to keep a journal. Writing down how you feel is a great way to track your moods, and can give you a deeper understanding of what your mood patterns are on a broader scale, or how you tend to feel across an entire day or week. If you’re one who often feels overwhelmed by plans and schedules, writing them down can make you feel less so. Think of it as opening a window in your mind and letting the breeze air the stuffiness.

The same goes for writing down goals. You’re bound to feel more motivated when you can see what you want to achieve written in front of you. Keeping a journal is also a great place to start if you’re interested in trying therapy but don’t feel quite ready to take the step.

Self-care: The Lifestyle

The focus of this guide so far has been on the internal, how self-care helps your body and mind. Now it’s time to explore the external. In other words, what it can do for your lifestyle. For this guide, lifestyle refers to your work life and your social life, both of which can demand an awful lot from you.

Again, the changes you can make are simple and effective. In your work life, taking regular screen breaks to rest your eyes and stretch your legs is key to reserving energy. So is knowing when to switch off. Yes, we all need to work overtime on occasion. Being constantly on the clock, though, is a dangerous habit. An easy remedy for this is to not check work emails after hours. Or on the weekends, for that matter.

Another good practice is to use your annual leave regularly rather than letting it build up. If you’re saving those days for an extended trip, fine. If not, then try to take time off work to reset and have fun.

Going on holiday overlaps with your social life. Spending time with friends and family, going to concerts, wandering around museums, all these things can help make us smile. They can also help wear us out if we let them take hold of the reins. The trick is to find a good balance between time alone and time with others. Remember: there’s nothing wrong with embracing a little JOMO in your life.

A self-care regime can be as unique and detailed as you want it to be. The important thing is to give it a chance to show results. While some aspects of your new routine may yield instant results, others may take time to blossom. Just stick with it and there’s no doubt your days will start to shine a little brighter as you maintain your self-care routine.

—