Loving Ways To Take Care Of Your Body

The simplest acts of kindness toward yourself can be the next step in taking care of your body.

You don’t have to try a new challenge, take a new magic pill, or start a diet fad to ensure your body is top-notch.

You get the opportunity to take care of yourself through self-care that can have long-lasting benefits in your life.

It may seem promising to make big life changes in the moment to achieve a certain outcome, and though risks can be necessary, taking care of your body can have a simple solution.

When you think about what you need to function, a slogan used in recovery may help, HALT.

If you are hungry, eat a nourishing meal or snack.

If you are angry, take a breath or pause.

If you are lonely, call a friend.

If you are tired, sleep.

The simplest actions can have the greatest results.

Take Care of Your Body through Mindful Eating

A nourishing meal may mean something different each time you eat, and that is okay. To take care of yourself and your body, healthy foods may mean that they are nourishing and they may not be.

Listening to your hunger cues can help you to understand what your body needs.

Tuning in to what your body is telling you can be beneficial to you. Food may provide comfort to you, and the way you talk to yourself about your food intake can be important.

Take a loving approach when you can and know that you can make small changes each day to meet your goals.

Take Care of Your Body Through Mindful Movement

Movement doesn’t have to achieve results every time. You can embrace how you show up for yourself and shift your perspective to acknowledge that you have done your best.

Read More: “The Benefits Of Gentle Movement”

Several small movements are more beneficial than berating yourself to make huge changes.

Physical activity may be the way to take proper care of yourself depending on the day.

You may feel like giving up on yourself if you don’t accomplish your goal. It may not seem worth doing if you have a result in mind that you don’t achieve.

This extreme thinking can be harmful to your overall mental health and lead to stress. If you fail once, you can try again.

Making mistakes is part of movement.

Going gentle with yourself matters.

When you move your body, you may improve your body image and healthy living includes rest.

Take Care of Your Body by getting sleep

Read More: “You Aren’t Perfect – Have Compassion For Yourself Anyway”

Another simple way to take better care of your body is by sleeping.

If you have trouble sleeping or it is impacted by a circumstance in your life, you are not alone.

It can feel impossible to get enough sleep as a parent of young children.

Even when that is the case, try to ask for help so that you are able to restore your mental health and physical health through sleep.

Your overall health and stress levels are impacted by your sleep. You deserve to maintain a healthy lifestyle no matter your circumstance. Good care of yourself includes sleep.

Take Care of your Body By Exploring Substance Use

Substance use can impact the benefits of taking care of your body, and there is help available if you feel out of control with alcohol or drug intake.

While using substances in moderation can be fun and a nice way to kick back, if they are becoming a means to managing stress, this might be less helpful in the long run.

Healthy choices start with you.

If you are unsure as to whether substances are causing harm in your life, a substance use therapist can help you explore this in a curious, non-judgmental way.

You may feel like you are alone, and the truth is many people need recovery to help manage their life.

Healthy habits can happen at any time.

Taking care of your body doesn’t have to be impossible, and there are simple solutions in place for you already.

Though simple doesn’t mean easy, you are not alone and can feel the benefits of balance too. When things become difficult to navigate, a therapist can help to support you.

There are resources available, and you don’t have to suffer in silence.

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Written by: Randi Thackeray, MA
Clinically Reviewed and Edited by: Julie Reichenberger, MA, LPC, ACS, ACC