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The phrase "self-care" gets tossed around a lot these days.
And no doubt is it important.
Most lists of self-care advice I've seen include things like: meditate, exercise, eat healthy, say positive affirmations, and things of that sort - all of which are extremely helpful when put to good use.
Sometimes, however, we need just a little bit more to get us through.
Over the weekend, I caught myself doing three self-care habits that I don't typically see on these lists, and I'd like to share them with you.
Let's jump right in.
Our tap water contains harsh cleaning chemicals, like chlorine, that can irritate the skin and damage your hair. It also contains a number is dissolved minerals that can make it "hard". (What is hard water?) In college, I remember feeling my skin burning because of how "hard" the water was in the dorm rooms. In addition to minerals, our water can also contain metals like lead, zinc, copper, and mercury- all which can have negative affects to our body over time.
A shower filter can help prevent that.
This is the shower filter I use-
I absolutely love it and can feel a difference right away after installing it - which is incredibly easy, by the way. (I did it myself.)
My hair is softer, my skin is calmer, and I am happier.
And while we're at it- if you're going to use a filter for the water you use on your body, think about the water that you're putting in your body!
I highly recommend getting a filter for the water you drink because using bottled water is:
1. A waste of money
2. Bad for the environment.
After I got my water filter, I started thinking about what I had been giving my dog, and I immediately started filling her bowl with the filtered water as well.
As an avid water-drinker, I also strongly recommend the Brita Longlast+ filters as opposed to the regular ones. The Longlast+ filters seem to filter out more and make the water taste just a bit better in my opinion (not to mention they can last up to 4 months longer than the normal ones).
2. Block blue light.
As you're reading this, your eyes are being affected by the blue light coming from your screen.
Blue light is known for causing eye strain, fatigue, and disrupting sleep. According to a Harvard study, blue light at night suppresses the secretion of melatonin more powerfully than any other comparable light. Melatonin is the hormone associated with the control of sleep, and as we all know- getting good sleep is an essential part of self-care.
Recently the use of technology and screens has increased dramatically, with more people working and studying virtually. The long-term affects of too much blue light could be harmful, but it seems like we're not getting out of it any time soon.
So I recommend using an anti-blue light screen protector as part of your self-care routine.
I personally use electronics daily- both for work, and leisure. So these screen protectors are imperative for my daily function. You can find ones for both your phone and computer.
What's more important than the air in our lungs? Not much.
We live in a society that has many pollutants and irritants that get into our air. You might not realize that when you're outside, you are susceptible to the effects of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These are emitted into our air everyday from fuel oil, gasoline, and natural gas- all which are found in urban areas.
Okay, and let's say you're not in the city. If you're like most of us with allergies, pollen and animal dandruff can ruin your whole day!
Oh, and one more thing-
Cigarette smoke.
Hopefully you're not a smoker, but if you are or if you live with one, it is imperative that you take care of your lungs the best you can.
I personally get headaches the moment someone lights a cigarette (not exaggerating). I'm very sensitive to smells and fumes. So my air purifier is something I can't live without.
I may not be able to control the air outside, but when I'm at home- I want to make sure I'm taking care of myself.
I like this air purifier because, unlike a regular air conditioning system, it has a HEPA filter that filters out germs, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens as small as .3 microns from the air.
It even uses a UV light to kill airborne viruses, like the flu. And it's light indicator tells me when the filters need to be replaced.
After a week of using it for the first time, I noticed I was sleeping better. Prior to getting it, I was waking up with puffy eyes and a stuffy nose- from what I can only assume were allergens in the air.
This has helped tremendously.
So, are you doing these 3 things in your self-care routine?
If not, I hope you can add them to bulk up your list and ultimately feel better all around.
A big part of self-awareness and self-care is knowing what your body needs, and what your body doesn't like. Keep this in mind with all your daily habits.
Thanks for reading!