The last lockdown has been tough on the mind and body, so we want to explore – when self care turns into self-pain.
Some restrictions will remain until the end of June so that the British public will have been in continual self-isolation for half a year. It’s a long time! If you’ve decided to undo some of the “damage” caused by the previous lockdowns, you can be proud of yourself.
Please note this is a collaboration post.
You’ve probably been working hard on your health, taking on running and thinking twice about your diet for self-care. And that’s really something you should embrace and be proud of. However, the thing is that sometimes, we are so focused on self-care that we don’t realise we may be hurting our mind and body. Here are warning signs:
Self-care and not self-pain
You’ve turned up the fitness dial too much
Understandably, getting fit is good for your mental and physical health. Running is a favourite as many enthusiasts talk about the runner’s high, the feel-good hormone production. Bening physically active preserves your health in many ways, from flushing away toxins to boosting organ oxygenation. But as tempting as it is to maximise the healthy benefits, you need to give your body time to recover. Overexercising can affect your muscle recovery and contribute to injuries. Ideally, you should plan active rest days that incorporate flexibility training into your fitness routine. Muscles can need a few hours to a few days to recover. If you have a strict training routine, make sure to vary active days with rest days and use mobility kt therapeutic tape to protect sore muscles around your articulations. Make knees and ankles a priority!
You’re too strict on calories or dieting
Healthy eating can feel restrictive, even if you try to convince yourself that it’s for your own good. More often than not, if your diet leaves you craving more food or different flavours, you are likely to make unhealthy choices at some point. Additionally, a restrictive diet can also lack nutrients, even if it’s said to be healthy. Individuals who choose the keto diet, for instance, find the menu too limited. Many also experience magnesium deficiency. Ultimately, even with the best health promises, a diet that leads to both deficiency and craving is not appropriate. That’s why more and more nutritionists recommend food freedom, a neutral relationship with food where you reject the feeling of guilt. Food freedom encourages food education, knowledge of hunger signals, and the right to indulge when you feel like it.
You have unrealistic expectations
When you invest time and effort on yourself, you want to see the results – preferably yesterday. However, nothing happens overnight. Unrealistic timelines can be damaging to your mental health. In the long-term, you could experience frustration, loss of motivation, loss of interest, and even low self-esteem on your quest for a better and healthier you.
Self-care strategies are all about improving your sense of self through activities that boost your mood and health. But when self-care becomes painful, physically or emotionally, it’s time to take a step back and reconsider your approach. As we are counting the days before we can finally hug our relatives and go back to life as normal, do make sure your lockdown self-care habits prioritise well-being rather than performance.
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