Self-care is important. Now more than ever. And spoiler alert: Practicing self-care together is even more fun and has many benefits. But let's start at the beginning.
Is self-care selfish?
At Hello Inside, we are the biggest advocates of self-care on all levels: health, fitness, nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, and appearance.
We believe that when you strive to be the best version of yourself, you will not only feel better, but you will also be able to achieve more and be better.
However, many of us still struggle to take some well-deserved time off to care for our mental, physical, and emotional health. This is largely because self-care has become a buzzword in recent years, suggesting that taking care of ourselves is selfish.
But self-care is much more than just "me, me, me." Learning how to prioritize in certain moments is nice, but it doesn't have to be a long and lonely journey.
Relationships influence our health
In fact, relationships are one of the key areas of the six pillars of lifestyle that can directly impact your overall health and indirectly impact your blood sugar levels. Spending quality time with others helps you cope better with stress and feel more energized. This way, you can stabilize your blood sugar levels and create a better life for yourself in the long run.
You can measure the impact of relationships and other habits on your health by monitoring your blood sugar levels with a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device.
In this blog post, we'll take a look at what makes shared self-care more enjoyable and how you can implement it in your own life. But before you trawl through dating apps looking for a match made in heaven, a quick reminder: You don't have to be in a romantic relationship to benefit from practicing self-care with someone.
To be clear, here are six reasons why we're going to help you overcome your social anxiety and text your friends/partner/family right away.
Our 6 best reasons to practice self-care together:
1) Fun
A square, yellow sea sponge once said, "F is for friends who do things..." and let's face it, he was right.
Whether you're trying to learn a new habit or having an honest conversation with your best friend, a few laughs along the way can make even the hardest parts of self-care easier.
Another thing to keep in mind: A deep, belly laugh triggers the release of endorphins, lowers your stress hormones, and increases your overall well-being.
2) Motivation
Getting up an hour earlier in the morning just to do something good for yourself, like meditating or exercising, may sound paradoxical at first. In what world does sacrificing sleep count as self-care?
First and foremost, don't give up sleep for anything or anyone; instead, develop a new pattern. ( Listen to our podcast to learn more about the importance of sleep .)
Second, let's face it: Rearranging your schedule and creating a routine that prioritizes self-care is going to be pretty daunting at first.
But if you do it with someone, you can motivate and encourage each other when things get difficult.
Third, if you can't manage to exercise in the morning, afternoon and evening walks are an option. These may be easier to fit into your and your partner's schedule.
3) Responsibility
With motivation comes accountability. You've planned to go to a yoga class after work, but as evening approaches, all you can think about is going home and watching TV.
While self-care looks different for everyone, intentionally making time for activities that improve your overall health can make a huge difference. If you struggle with sticking to your schedule and give up on any form of active self-care faster than the lights come on, asking a friend or family member to join you may be the solution.
4) Challenge
This might not be for everyone, but if you love competition (in the healthiest way!) and need a little push now and then, then a fun competition might motivate you to stick to your self-care plans.
Open your calendar, set a goal for yourself and your partner, and get started.
5) Better communication
The key to a good relationship is communication. You've probably heard that before.
We know how difficult it can be to find the right words at the right time (or any at all), but expressing how you really feel can change your interpersonal relationships for the better.
Sharing the emotional aspect of self-care allows you to get to know each other on a more vulnerable level. It can help you change patterns and strengthen the way you communicate with each other.
6) Build trust & set boundaries
Whether you decide to go for weekly walks or change your diet, if you include your loved ones in your plans, you should be able to trust them.
By this, we don't just mean the physical trust that a person will show up (=accountability), but also that they can give you emotional space and set healthy boundaries when needed.
Through shared self-care, you can explore the dynamics of your personal spaces and learn to respect one another.
Now that we've established why shared self-care simply makes sense, let's put the theory into practice.
Joint self-care: Ideas for you and your partner
As mentioned, we want you to be able to track the impact of your self-care. Get yourself and your self-care companion a CGM device, try the following tips and tricks, and do something good for your mind and body that's backed by reliable, scientific data:
Challenge each other to eat healthier
Nothing influences your blood sugar levels more than your diet. Create personalized meal plans that fit your lifestyle and keep each other updated by monitoring your blood sugar levels' rises and falls.
It can also be fun to try one of our experiments in the Hello Inside app with your partner or friend. This way, you'll not only learn how your body reacts to food, but you'll also see how each person reacts to different foods.
Train together in the morning or whenever it suits you best
Physical activity helps process the glucose in your blood and supports your insulin metabolism. Create a new habit together, boost your energy for the day, and motivate each other while you work out.
Talk about it
We've already learned that stress can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Try to familiarize yourself with your CGM device and note your readings when you're feeling tense or anxious. Meet with your self-care buddy and discuss it. Ask questions, compare your answers, and be prepared to be surprised.
See if you notice any positive changes in your data.
Learn and appreciate how different your bodies are
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to self-care. While small challenges and competitions can be fun, you should never compare yourself to others. Everyone is different, and what works for you may be completely wrong for someone else. Your Hello Inside app, combined with a CGM, allows you to identify where you and your partner differ and where your responses are more similar.
Spend time with your loved ones, check your blood sugar levels, and discover together how unique you are. Have fun exploring together!
