Wellness
Part 1. Vocabulary
indulgent | /inˈdəljənt/ adj. - willing to allow excessive leniency, generosity, or consideration: "indulgent parents" |
stuck | /ˈstʌk/ adj. - in a place or situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of. “We were stuck there for three days because of bad weather.” |
meditative | /ˈmɛdəˌteɪtɪv/adj. - involving or allowing deep thought or meditation “Meditative music” |
relentless | /rɪˈlɛntləs/ adj. - continuing without becoming weaker, less severe, etc. “Her relentless optimism held the team together.” |
replenish | /rɪˈplɛnɪʃ/ v. - to fill or build-up (something) again “plants that replenish soil nutrients” |
Part 2. Article reading
In the pre-COVID-19 era, self-care seemed an indulgent practice and something that was left to people with time and money to spare. But with lockdowns and social distancing measures, and everyone stuck at home, the idea has grown exponentially.
On Google, searches for “self-care” had a 250 percent increase since March 2020, its highest levels since 2004.
Today, self-care is mainstream and a lifestyle choice, and it’s all thanks to social media. Currently, #selfcare stands at 50 million posts on Instagram, and accounts for 42 percent of the most popular hashtags used on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
But self-care is more than just posting a photograph of yourself doing a face mask or DIY gua-sha on Instagram, or tweeting about the newest meditative techniques learned. The fact that many of us are trying to prioritize self-care is telling of our current mental state.
In fact, a recent study done by Professor Tazeen Jafar from the Health Services and Systems Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School found that one in three adults, particularly young women, experienced psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and even insomnia, from COVID-19 interventions like lockdowns, social distancing, and quarantine.
WHAT IS SELF-CARE?
“Self-care, as its name suggests, is about the care of the self,” said Lim.
How added: “It is the opposite of living life on auto-pilot in today’s world of distractions, multi-tasking, and relentless pace where you are just rushing from one to the next, unconscious, unaware, and sometimes even ignoring your well-being needs.”
Dr Chow recommended incorporating enduring self-care acts like practicing mindfulness, as these “long-term practices and habits (can) permanently strengthen neurological functioning” can help your mental well-being.
Self-care is more than just making ourselves feel good. It replenishes our mental, physical and emotional reserves, and re-energizes us, so we can help ourselves and the people around us.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong when it comes to self-care. Plus, self-care acts need not always be individualistic. Spending time doing activities with family and friends, such as learning a new sport with your girlfriends or baking with your kids, can be equally rewarding.
from Vanessa Chia article. Read full article https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/self-care-mental-health-wellness-advice-271841