Self-care & Sustainability

What at first seems to be way off subject is actually an important topic for both ourselves and the environment…

Never before have we understood mental health like we do now. In recent years, awareness around mental health and well-being has grown, and I’m sure many of use could recite some of the common tips: sleep well, eat healthily, structure your day etc… But you can never really understand these issues until they are experienced. In the last year, it is likely that the majority of people experienced some kind of mental health concern and some changes in their well-being stemming from the impacts of the pandemic. For myself, I feel as though I’ve made more decisions and changes to my ‘life plan’ recently than I have in any other time previously. And while that can still feel uneasy and strange, I have learnt a lot about myself and my mind which will help myself and my choices going forward. (Warning: this could be a long one….)

What has any of this got to do with sustainability? Well, as the quote goes, ‘before you save others, you must save yourself’. Environmental issues and the climate crisis are huge problems with devastating impacts if ignored, so its no wonder feelings such as eco-anxiety are on the rise, especially in young people, as feelings of helplessness lead to feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Therefore it is so important that we create our own inner strength in order to have the confidence and stability within to be the ones creating change for the planet.

• What comes to mind when you think of traditional self-care? Do you picture candles, baths, face/skin masks, having your hair or nails done, buying a new outfit? Often these are thought of as ways to look after ourselves, but in reality these things alone are not what brings sustained benefits. many of these activities relate to beauty on the outside – making a short-term impact to the way we look in the hope that if we look better we will feel better too. The actual action of lighting a candle isn’t what constitutes as self-care, but what we do in that time we allowed ourselves. Some of these beauty rituals can be environmentally wasteful too, such as disposable sheet masks or high consumption activities. So know you’re feeling worse than before, right? If I can’t have a bath what can I do? There is not right or wrong self-care, since as the name suggests, it is what is kind to you as an individual, but try not to allow material and disposable items define your well-being. For instance, lighting a candle can help you find time to sit still for a moment or meditate as it makes you stay near the place where the candle is (to avoid burning the house down…) and therefore may help you cope with distractions. Or maybe making a homemade face mask (the skin type not the pandemic one!) allows you to take 10 minutes where you are not able to do anything else, and therefore have time to relax or think. So focus more on the intention than the physical item if you are starting a new year self-care routine.

• Though skin is an important organ, self-care isn’t just skin deep, but involves the whole body. Having your hair done may make you feel great at the time, but it is difficult and high-maintenance to maintain, so a more nourishing, long-term solution may be needed. Cook nutritional meals using a variety of fresh ingredients and flavours to nourish the body and soul and use movement to reconnect with your body doing whatever exercise suits you. There is no set way to care for yourself, but hopefully over time you will find what works best for you: morning run or evening yoga, quiet face mask time or five minute guided meditation (try free Headspace for somewhere to start). The very first place to start is by identifying your needs as if you were a child – what do you need: water, food, space or a hug? From there you can build yourself up starting with a more supportive foundadtion.
• Finding your optimal emotional outlet is also essential for regulating our emotions and finding what we can do when we reach feelings of stress and of being overwhelmed. These activities may not be the typical, quiet, meditative activities, but are more likely to be the activities that bring you the most joy. For me, its following an online dance workout where I don’t have to think about the exercise but can just let out any tension by jumping around wildly to music (what an image…!). For others it may be crafting and getting creative, baking, playing/listening to a certain kin of music, going for a walk or playing a game. Nature is an excellent supporter of our health, so try finding a piece of green space or nature near where you can let the mind wander in natural surroundings. Over time you may also realise that you unwind best by yourself, or with others, helping you to better support your own mental health when things get too much by knowing what you need to do to instantly take a tiny bit of the pressure off.

• Sometimes we can feel detached and like we have lost our way. Sometimes, as has happened a lot recently, life reminds us that it is unpredictable and strays from the path we thought it would take. It is easy to say “c’est la vie”, but much more difficult to make decisions when you are not sure what is right anymore. Firstly, reflecting back on this past year or a different time for you personally may help you going forward. I have learnt that when things change, I have to listen to my gut and make difficult decisions that are right for me. A great exercise to do to try and reset yourself is to take time to make a note of your core values. You can find lists online, where you then pick a certain number, or you may wish to choose the ones that first pop into your head. From a sustainability perspective, you may find that when you pick sustainability as one of your main values in life, it is easier to make sustainable choices as it isn’t just something extra to think about that you carry around with you, but rather influences all your choices, from shopping to eating to where you go. For me, the past year taught me that my priorities are health and happiness – so if certain decisions or actions will adversely effect these, maybe I should question doing them? I’ve changed my mind many times over the past few months, and each time realised that when my gut is trying to tell me that something is not right or needs addressing, I should listen to it earlier, because most of the time it is completely right. Some of these unplanned decisions mean that I am able to write this blog, something I didn’t think I’d be achieving but that has brought me so much joy in being able to share my interests with others. So reacquaint yourself with your own key values and let what brings you joy and what you want out of life to help you make your own choices.

If you made it to the end of this post than you deserve a hot beverage and a biscuit my friend….. I hope some of you found this helpful for building a deeper self-care arrangement for yourself which isn’t just surface level, which will allow you to find the personal strength to motivate you to create change and face global challenges. A final point I’d like to make is a simple one – do you brings you joy and makes you happy! Not many people at the end of their life wish that they had gone to a more prestigious university or worked more hours overtime or ticked off more from their to do list, but will cherish the differences they made and the happiness they experienced. So in this uncertain time, support yourself and set your own goals which will allow sustainable personal well-being that can create sustainable change in your own life and on a wider scale.