How To Practice Self Care For Men

Oftentimes, the discussion surrounding self-care excludes men. Self-care is an integral part of life for everyone, and men certainly shouldn’t be left out of the conversation. 

Whether you’re looking for tips on managing stress or aren’t even sure what self-care is, it can be super beneficial to look into more ways to take care of ourselves.

Why Is Self Care Important?

Practicing self-care can change your life in a multitude of ways. Caring for yourself is all about taking the time and space you need to better your mental health and life overall.

Living a healthy lifestyle or making sure that you have some time to read a book are both forms of self-care that can make you feel better in your daily life. 

You don’t need to have a whole self-care routine or meditation time set up; you just need to do what makes you feel good. When you feel good, you’re able to walk through life with a better state of mind, more confidence, and more mental availability for your loved ones.

If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of simple self-care ideas you can incorporate into your day-to-day life. Let’s start with the basics:

Take Care of Your Body

Taking care of your body is one of the most important aspects of self-care. How you care for your physical body and mental state can change how you carry yourself through life. When you feel good physically and mentally, life is better.

You can take care of your body by caring for it in the same way you care for your boat. You clean it, fuel it, and have it serviced when in need. 

Fuel your body: Eating healthy can supply your body with vitamins and minerals that it needs to function at its best. Not only does eating well help you thrive physically, but mentally as well.

Get enough rest: If you notice that you’re falling asleep at work or at your kids’ soccer games, then you probably need some extra Zs. Sleeping can help de-funk your brain and repair your bones and muscles.

Do some pampering: It feels incredible to feel good about your physical appearance. Washing your face, taking care of your facial hair, and using some facial creams can brew confidence and pride. Taking the time to invest in a bit of pampering is caring for yourself.

By meeting your body’s physical needs, you’re promoting a state of general well-being. When you eat well, get enough rest, and upkeep your hygiene, you’re practicing self-care in a way that can uplift your mental state and change your attitude towards life.

Dress to Impress… Yourself

One of the best ways to feel good about yourself is by presenting yourself in a way that truly represents you. You don’t have to turn to style gurus or Instagram accounts for men; you just have to look in the mirror and feel proud of your look.

If you’re more of a sweatpants and hoodie kind of guy, then dress in the styles that make you feel comfy. If you like the classic suit and tie look, then wear them as often as you’d like. You don’t have to wait for the “right” occasion to wear what makes you feel best.

If your issue tends to be that you’re not sure what you like to wear, then you can check out some men’s styling blogs or lookbooks. If you like your outfits, but feel like they’re missing that wow factor, then accessories may be the only thing missing from your wardrobe.

Try out different styles and once you’ve found what you’re looking for, walk out the door feeling confident.

Take Time For Yourself

In the same way that socializing with others can be helpful for your mental state, alone time can do the same. Having personal hobbies or partaking in events particular to your interests are fantastic ways to practice self-care.

Taking time to focus on yourself can reduce the stress that society and life put on you. At times when you’re not feeling your best mentally, prioritize feeling your emotions. If you’re feeling down, take a minute to ask yourself why and seek help from loved ones or professionals.

When you think about how you feel, you might discover things about yourself that you hadn’t before. Some things might be missing from your life, or on the flip side, you may realize you haven’t given enough credit to something that’s been helping you feel better.

When you take the time to analyze your feelings, you can remove activities that bring you down and incorporate more of what lifts you up. 

Purge Your Social Media

Social media can enforce societal norms that simply don’t pertain to you or your interests. Take a couple of minutes to reevaluate your social media habits. If you’re following people you don’t necessarily relate to, you may want to consider unfollowing them.

If you surround yourself with images and figures that you don’t aspire to have a lifestyle like, you can easily harm your perspective on how things should be. A muscly bodybuilder isn’t representative of you if you’re a competitive bicyclist. 

Social media is a great way to discover more about yourself and your interests, but it can also be a vehicle for self-sabotage. Make sure that you’re using social media in the right way: to connect with friends and communities that make you feel your best.

Continue To Care For Yourself

Self-care is a long-term practice. Find ways to care for yourself every day, so it’s your lifestyle rather than an occasional thing. Remember that self-care isn’t one size fits all. The essential aspect of self-care is self. 

At Original Grain, we’re a team of nature and watch lovers, and so we channeled our passions into creating a beautiful product that represents us. We’re all individuals and have different wants and needs. 

When you practice self-care, you create more opportunities for yourself that can tremendously change your life and make you feel more fulfilled than ever.