4:16
- wellness
- January 5, 2023
How to do self-care one month at a time
Dr. Jennifer Ashton is the author of the book "The Self-Care Solution."
Video by Will Linendoll, Will Linendoll, Nidhi Singh
4:16
Ashton was so affected by the challenges she undertook herself that she compiled them -- along with her own experience with each challenge and the scientific reasons for the challenges -- in a book, \"The Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter--One Month at a Time.\"
\"The concept is that self-care goes way beyond the spa day, the stay-cation,\" she explained. \"That absolutely can be a part of it but I look at self-care from a medical and social standpoint as things that we can do for ourselves that cost no money, that take only minutes and that really have the potential to have some impact on our health and wellness.\"
\"At this time of the year we see a lot of people try to do massive New Year’s resolutions. This is absolutely the opposite of that,\" Ashton said of the approach laid out in her book.
The small challenges Ashton recommends include everything from drinking more water every day to taking more steps to being more mindful of technology to trying meditation and stretching.
Doing the challenges individually -- i.e. going meatless for one month instead of going meatless and dairy-free and alcohol free at once -- allows you to see how each individual change impacts your your health and how you can make it sustainable if you see a positive difference, according to Ashton.
\"Even in the month where I felt I failed my wellness challenges, I learned something about myself that was really, really important,\" said Ashton. \"I hope this [book] acts like a year-long template for people to turn that lens on themselves, see what they are doing, what they’re not doing, what they can add, what they can modify, what they can subtract, and hopefully keep some of them at the end of the year as wellness self-care habits.\"
Watch the videos below for inspiration from Ashton on setting a new self-care goal each month this year.
Video: What you need to know about dry January
Video: Try this self-care challenge: Push-ups and planks every day for a month
Video: Try this self-care challenge: Meditate every day
Video: Your heart is a muscle and needs exercise
Video: Eating less meat and more plants can be part of your self-care routine
Video: 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, are you drinking enough water?
Video: Step up your self-care by making walking part of your daily routine
Video: The unbelievable benefits of going ‘tech-free’ for 30 minutes a day
Video: You are probably eating (or drinking) way more sugar than you think
Video: Stretching for two minutes a day can make you less stressed
Video: Did you know getting more sleep can help you feel smarter?
Video: More laughter in life might bring you better health overall
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