Self-care with VOYA

Here at VOYA, we have been discussing the most important relationship, the one you have with yourself. As our culture and society get more and more into the idea of self-love through self-care, the concept of truly loving oneself has become even more important. 

Do you consciously and actively take care of yourself?

For most of us the answer will be No. You’re busy and finding the time to take proper care of yourself can be hard. But if you don’t, it won’t be long before you’re feeling exhausted and operating in a mental fog where it’s hard to be the best version of yourself.

WHAT IS SELF-CARE?

Self-care in essence is taking time to pay attention to you. It doesn’t make you selfish – it allows you to ensure that you are being cared for by you.  It can be constant repetition of many tiny habits you can incorporate into your daily lifestyle that don’t have to take much time or cost too much, small changes in how you deal with others or the little things that you can do day to day that spark joy.  How to practice self-care is different for each person. The important part is to find a balance of activities or changes that work for you. However, if you are looking for some inspiration on small things to start with, here are 5 things the team at VOYA have found helpful when it comes to practicing self-care.

Unplug

Unplug for a few days if you can. Mute the news and social media, turn off push notifications. There is so much chaos happening in the world right now and this onslaught of news and tragedy can become quite overwhelming. It’s ok to opt-out for a few days or a few weeks if helps to recentre and rebalance your mind.

Learn to say NO.

Embrace the famous quote “No" is a complete sentence”. Practicing self-care can be as simple as setting boundaries for yourself and saying “no” to the things you are either unable to do or simply don’t want to do without explanation. Saying “No” unapologetically prioritises you and your wellbeing over the needs of others.

Get Moving

Exercising is so good for your mental health, and it can be anything that gets your body moving. Whether that is going for a walk, dipping in the sea, going to the gym, togging out with your teammates, or getting physical or mental stimulation from a Yoga class. Taking time each day to move your body will help both physically and mentally and allows you to take the time to prioritise your wellbeing.

Make your Home your Sanctuary

Our home is the environment where we spend most of our time, especially since many of us are still choosing to work from home. Whether you live alone or share your space, crafting an inviting home can have positive effects on your sense of self. Take time to declutter and remove anything that doesn’t serve a purpose and bring joy to your home in the form of scents.  Scent is a powerful thing that can conjure memories and invigorate the senses, we love stepping into our home and smelling our favourite VOYA diffuser or lighting our favourite candle at the end of a long day.

Prioritise You

We all, but women in particular, tend to put others needs before our own. We run around taking care of everyone else first, children, partners, families, friends, work! Always leaving ourselves to last. But self-care is about ensuring that you’ve got the energy to give to others. Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish, it’s vital. It can be as simple as taking an evening to ourselves, light a candle, running a seaweed bath, putting on a relaxing playlist, and applying our favourite VOYA face mask