Self-Care for Men: A Complete Guide to Feeling Your Best

Self-care is essentially the practice of devoting time for oneself. You set aside some time every day, or perhaps even every week, to place your sources of stress on the back burner to improve your mental wellbeing. As a result of the last year’s utter turmoil, a rise in and emphasis on mental health has come to the forefront. 

During the pandemic, one in every three adults in the United States recorded signs of anxiety or depressive illness, implying that practising self-care in any way must become a necessity. While the notion that self-care is only for women is updating, it is still possible for men to forget to take care of themselves, particularly in the midst of everyday life’s grind and humdrum. However, it is critical for your mental health, particularly when self-isolating, to take out a bit of time to care about yourself. 

Here are some small things that any man can follow to enhance his self-care regime and raise his self-esteem. 

1. Stay fit but don’t lose yourself 

When most people think of self-care suggestions for men, a picture of a heavily muscled man comes to mind. Although having a sculpted body is desirable, keeping fit is beneficial. Do not strive for perfection all the time. The graph of goals is constantly evolving. There will always be someone quicker, bigger, or cleverer.

You just have to do better than you did the previous day, and it is alright if you do not. Stay healthy by doing a workout routine that fits your way of living and consuming nutritious foods. Consider it this way: You don’t put garbage in your wardrobe if it’s full of nice clothing now do you? So, just because you love yourself, you should choose not to binge on unhealthy foods. 

2. Recite affirmations 

Affirmations are optimistic words that can “rewire” the brain and mind to counteract self-sabotaging depressive thoughts. Affirmations penetrate both our conscious and subconscious minds, assisting in the reprogramming of our thought patterns. Affirmations are very personal and can be customized to your specific needs. Some people want to write their affirmations and read them out loud. Others prefer directed affirmations available on YouTube.

The best thing about directed affirmations is that you don’t necessarily have to listen to what is being said, your subconscious is processing the affirmation whether you are listening or not. Including affirmations in your self-care regimen is certainly worth a shot and must be done for at least 30 days (once in the morning and then again in the evening) to help change your attitude. 

3. Start Using Essential Oils 

Introducing essential oils into your usual life is a basic but effective method of self-care. Essential oils are substances extracted from plants to obtain their fragrances and medicinal abilities (the “essence”) and commonly used in aromatherapy. Because of how essential oils communicate with the limbic system, inhaling them is believed to be good for general wellbeing. The wonderful aspect of essential oils is that there is an essential oil for every issue.

Here are a few examples of essential oils that have stood the test of time: 

1. Peppermint: Can help with attention, concentration, energy, and stimulating the mind. When you need a boost, use a diffuser or put a drop below your nose. 
2.  Lavender: Lavender is excellent for tension and anxiety relief. You may use it in a diffuser or topically (remember to always use a carrier oil to dilute lavender). 
3. Cedarwood: This essential oil can be used topically on the ridge of the eyebrow, temples, and wrists to effectively promote sleep.
4. Rosemary: You can also use essential oils to stimulate hair development. Rosemary improves scalp circulation, which prevents hair follicles from falling off. 

The versatility of essential oils is one of their best features. Essential oils can be used in a bath, diffusers, foot soaks, massage oils, or even hair treatment; their versatility is infinite. 

4. Create a Solid Night Regimen 

Sleep is perhaps the most critical part of self-care, but it’s also the one that gets neglected the most. Setting up a night regimen will make you feel relaxed, promote a healthy body, increase energy and efficiency, and keep you looking as attractive as a stallion. If you have difficulty falling asleep, remaining asleep, or dealing with rushing thoughts at night, you should look into ways to relieve tension, anxiety, as well as external stimuli. The trick to getting a good night’s sleep is to create a calming atmosphere.

Here are a few ideas to help you build that ambience:

1. Drink calming tea: Teas, like coffee, can be a fantastic way to wake up your senses in the morning, but teas with naturally existing sedatives can make you calm and have a better night’s sleep. The best teas that will calm you include Chamomile tea, Lavender tea, and Mint tea.
2. Get a weighted blanket: This form of weight therapy is widely referred to as “grounding,” and it stimulates deep-pressure touch and employs hands-on pressure to lower cortisol levels and induce the activation of dopamine and serotonin. Consider the weighted blanket to be your snuggle partner. 
3. Develop a habit of reading: Getting absorbed in a book is a perfect way to tell your mind that it’s time to ease up and rest. Toss away the phone, shut down your computer, turn off the television, and prepare for quality sleep by reading for 15-30 minutes before sleeping.

5. Figure Out Your Burnout Signs 

Pay attention to the times when you don’t feel like yourself or when you’re tuning out. Little indications include being annoyed when someone brushes past your shoulder, feeling too tired to speak with someone after work, or becoming upset by something said in a discussion. They can vary from person to person, but they all signify frustration or a short temper. When you experience the first burnout symptoms, consider taking a day off or a short break to recharge.

Engage in enjoyable activities such as cooking, drinking soothing tea, or expressing your feelings in a journal. Write down things you’re thankful for or memories that come to the mind. It will provide you with some mind-blowing insights into your life.

6. Do Things That Make You Happy 

Lastly, try doing more things in your daily routine that make you happy. This may appear to be a self-evident concept, but it is all too convenient to say yes to numerous commitments without considering your own needs. Say yes to things that you genuinely want to do, and continue to keep up with your hobbies. This will assist you in prioritizing yourself and your wishes. In line with this, if you’re having trouble finding things that excite you, look to seek a hobby that will make you feel better after a long day at work while still providing pleasure.

Or better yet, find a job that enables you to be happy both at work and at home. If you are a nurse, for example, and you are not feeling challenged, or the work environment is too pressured, look for alternative career paths. You could take the TWU online nursing program and qualify as a nurse practitioner, where you can work in a clinic instead of a hospital. This could be a better work environment for you. Others may like the idea of opening their own practice. Take a look at Texas Woman’s University for more information on how you can pursue a job you love, and that makes you happy.

The main thing is that when you can find a job that fulfills you and leaves you feeling accomplished every day, you can boost your happiness levels massively. Whatever direction you take, as long as you are happy by the end, that is the most important thing.