Balancing all the responsibilities that come with everyday life, regardless of age, can be highly stressful and can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Whether it's meeting stressful goals at work or making enough time for valued family bonding, you must take time out to focus on yourself and your needs.

Practising self-care involves being conscious about your well-being and deliberately trying to better your physical, mental and emotional health. However, as simple as it sounds, many of us ignore the importance of building a healthy relationship with ourselves. Doing so is far from selfish, as it makes you the best version of yourself, which radiates positive feelings to those around you.

We can practice self-care through a wide range of forms. Below are a few simple ways in which you can focus on your well-being.

Prioritise Your Sleep Schedule

Sleep is one of the most critical pillars in achieving a healthy and fulfilling life. Having a good sleep schedule can improve your mental health, metabolism, cardiovascular health and immune system. To maintain a healthy sleeping schedule, you should try to have a uniform wake-up routine, avoid caffeine before bed and ensure you have a good bedroom environment. This also includes making sure your bedroom is free of clutter and that you avoid using any electronics an hour before bed.

Mental Self-Care

All activities that make up our everyday routine have an impact on our state of mind. Whether the effect is negative or positive, we must make sure that we keep our mind sharp, active and most importantly, healthy. A few ways in which you can stimulate your mind include solving a crossword or reading a book. However, an important concept to understand is that self-care and self-love go hand in hand. To stay mentally healthy, you must practice self-compassion. You should ask yourself whether you are doing enough activities which mentally stimulate you and that you enjoy.

Focus On Good Nutrition

When we first hear the words "self-care", food is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, the food we eat can have a significant impact on our health both mentally and physically. If we ignore the importance of nutritious food, it can lead to several diseases such as diabetes and also result in our minds being less alert. Some of the most fulfilling foods to eat include leafy greens, nuts and fatty fish. Incorporating these foods into your diet can benefit your mood, reduce stress, and improve your overall health.

Self-care is an extremely personalised process. What makes you feel stronger, more motivated and healthier may differ from what helps your friends and family. Focus on implementing factors that benefit your mind, body and soul into your daily routine, to live your best life.