At its core, self-care refers to a set of practices, regimens or rituals – it can be as simple as you’d like – that help individuals re-center, recharge, and achieve balance in their own happiness and well-being.
Self-care takes work and time and is more than just pampering yourself. And yes, it is something men should absolutely put to practice too. Though it might not always be bubble baths and spa days, men have slowly grown to accept that they too can practice “self-care.”
Our self care tips for men won’t just look at the obvious physical things, but mindset too…
Why is Self-care Important?
Our mind and body are connected and are constantly supporting each other. Having poor mental health can affect your body negatively as much as having good mental health and habits affects you positively, there’s a causal link to bad mental health and early death. Putting in a healthy self-care routine can minimise stress, anxiety and depression as well as it helps improve focus, energy and motivation, releasing endorphins and just allowing us to work stuff out!
Because self-care has always been thought of (and marketed) as something practised primarily by women, men are behind the curve by a long shot and may not even know where to begin. But why should men take the time to practice self-care? Well, just like women, we need to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. We’re all humans after all.
To practice self-care, you need to make time for it. However, when you work to nurture all parts of yourself, there’s a good chance you’ll be more balanced and happier overall. Although self-care for men can include any healthy activity that makes you feel good, we think these tips will help you make sense of it all.
1. Interact with others
It might be comfortable to live in your little cocoon and continue a monotonous lifestyle where you’re going through the same motions everyday, but that’s terrible for your mental state. Connect with other people who give you energy, even as an introvert find those people that you feel comfortable with. Once you start socialising more, you go from living in black and white to colour.
2. Work out
It’s important to work yourself physically. Nobody wants to be at the gym every single day but exercising not only improves your overall fitness, but also helps you emotionally. When you shop for clothes and everything that you put on just looks great, you’re going to feel good. The mental process and the discipline that you develop will certainly lift you up. Plus, working out is a great way to steam pent-up feelings, making the process cathartic for many.
3. Dress better
Dressing better is a sign of self value. When you’re dressed well, you start taking care of yourself right.
You don’t have to wear a full suit, even a nice T-shirt works, but whatever you wear, make sure it’s clean and fits you well. Make sure it’s NOT wrinkled, throw on some accessories and voila, you have levelled up your fit and the overall vibe you give off is going to be positive, making you more confident in social situations.
Read more about mens styling right here on Global Playboy.
4. Proper grooming
Experimentation is key, stepping up your game sometimes by changing some stuff around is so worth it. Change your hairstyle, and try something new. Who knows it might work like a charm? Always stay fresh and get a trim at least every month. You put more into yourself with the expectation of getting more out of yourself in return.
5. Meditation
You don’t need a slew of apps and online courses that promote mindfulness and wellness to implement practices like meditation. It’s really quite simple, just a matter of sitting in silence breathing in and out, allowing thoughts to come and go as they please. When your mind wanders away from something, simply bring it back. Meditation has been shown to calm the heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol levels amazingly, making it a really good habit to have. You’ll also feel more liberated emotionally and mentally.
6. Proper skincare
For men, good skincare involves more than a bar of all-in-one soap and a disposable razor from the local store. A skincare routine helps your skin stay fresh and look younger. It also helps prevent sun damage. Stocking up on just a few products like sunscreen, moisturiser, face wash and beard oil makes a world of difference. Products with Vitamin C can help boost the body’s production of collagen which is responsible for the elasticity of your skin. Plus, taking the time to care for your skin can give you that quiet moment by yourself during your day. Having clear skin may also boost your confidence exponentially if you’re insecure about your acne, etc.
7. Show gratitude
Perhaps one of the most important, but often overlooked concepts of self-care is to be kind to yourself. One strategy for being kind to yourself is by showing gratitude for small moments throughout the day: the glass of water nourishing you, a pleasant phone call with someone you love, it’s the little things. If you start training your brain to show gratitude, you’re more likely to be kind to yourself.
8. Give back to others
Giving back to others can improve your overall state of mind. Sign up to volunteer for an organisation that has a mission that inspires you. Or, get involved with a recreational sports league as a coach. The possibilities are endless, and you will feel good taking time out of your day to help others.
Self care for guys is an underrated man skill, and one that many men neglect – unfortunately.
Hopefully these self care tips for men have helped you out. Want more like this? Check out our life advice for men…
