Self-care is important. Now more than ever. And spoiler alert: Shared self-care 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 try to be the best version of yourself, you not only feel better, but you can perform better and be better.
However, many of us still find it difficult to take some well-deserved time out for our mental, physical and emotional health. This is mainly 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." It's nice to learn how to prioritize in certain moments, but it doesn't have to be a long and lonely road.
Relationships influence our health
In fact, relationships are one of the essential key areas of the six pillars of lifestyle that can directly affect your overall health and indirectly affect your blood sugar levels. When you spend a lot of time with others, you can better handle 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 glucose 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 life. But before you start digging 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 self-care with someone.
With that being said, here are six reasons why we're going to help you overcome your social anxiety and message friend:in/partner:in/family right away.
Our top 6 reasons to practice self-care together:
1) Fun
A square, yellow sea sponge once said, "F is for friends who do what...." and let's face it, he was right.
Whether you're trying to learn a new habit or have an honest conversation with your best friend, a few laughs along the way will make even the hardest parts of self-care easy.
Also, keep in mind that a deep belly laugh triggers the release of endorphins, lowering your stress hormones and increasing your overall sense of well-being.
2) Motivation
Getting up an hour earlier in the morning just to do something good for yourself, like meditate or exercise, sounds paradoxical at first. In what world does sacrificing sleep belong to self-care?
First and foremost, don't give up sleep for anything or anyone, but 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 pretty exhausting at first.
But if you do it with someone, you can motivate and encourage each other when things get tough.
Third, if you can't manage to work out in the morning, afternoon and evening walks are an option. These may be easier to fit into you and your partner's schedule.
3) Responsibility
With motivation comes accountability. You've resolved to go to a yoga class after work, but as soon as evening approaches, all you can think about is going home and watching TV.
Self-care looks different for everyone, but intentionally making time for activities that improve your overall health can make a big difference. If you have trouble 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 may not be for everyone, but if you love competition (in the healthiest way possible!) and need a little incentive every now and then, a fun contest 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 words at all), but expressing what you really feel can change your interpersonal relationships for the better.
When you share the emotional part of self-care with each other, you 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 take 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 mean not only the physical confidence that a person will show up (=accountability), but also that they can give you emotional space and set healthy boundaries when needed.
As you engage in self-care together, you can explore the dynamics of your personal spaces and learn to respect each other.
Now that we've established why shared self-care just makes sense, let's put theory into practice.
Shared self-care: ideas for you and your partner
As mentioned earlier, we want you to track the effects of your self-care. Get yourself and your self-care companion a CGM device, try the following tips & tricks, and do something good for your mind and body based on reliable, scientific data:
Challenge each other to eat healthier
Nothing affects your blood sugar levels like your diet. Create individual meal plans that fit your lifestyle and keep each other on track by monitoring the drops and rises in your blood sugar levels.
It can also be fun to try one of our experiments in the Hello Inside app with your partner or friend. This way, you not only learn how your body reacts to food, but you can also see how individually 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, get your energy up for the day, and motivate each other as you work out.
Talk about it
We have already learned that stress can lead to elevated blood glucose levels. Try to familiarize yourself with your CGM device and take note of your readings when you are tense or anxious. Meet with your self-care buddy and talk about it. Ask questions, compare your answers, and be surprised.
See if you notice any positive changes in your data.
Learn and appreciate how different your bodies are
There is no magic formula for self-care. Although 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 in combination with a CGM allows you to find out where you and your partner are different and in which areas your reactions are more similar.
Spend time with your loved ones, measure your blood sugar levels and find out together how unique you are. Have fun exploring together!
