Selena Gomez’s Hiatus and the Importance of Self-Care: 5 Easy Ways to Take Time for Yourself
By Monica Kim. Photo: Courtesy.
At the tail end of a banner summer, Selena Gomez announced she was taking time off for herself, causing a social media stir. “I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness,” she explained in a statement. Today, it came out that the singer is taking her promise quite seriously—reportedly checking into a Tennessee rehab facility and making mental wellness her top priority. Gomez’s vocal support for self-care marks a poignant shift in dialogue, honing in on the collective need to take time for ourselves—something that should be an utter no-brainer, but is often lost in the work-life whirlwind. Here, two wellness experts reveal five simple ways to bring self-care into your routine and breathe a little easier each day.
Try an Unorthodox Stretch
According to cult fitness instructor and wellness guru Taryn Toomey, softening and rolling your shoulders, followed by heel-tapping, foot-hopping, and head-shaking movements is a quick way to diffuse nervous energy. To decompress, swing your legs against a wall with a pillow under your rear to relax. “After five minutes, shake the legs rapidly for 30 seconds, then fall softly into a fetal position on your side,” she says.
Fermented Foods Work From the Inside
“My favorite tip is to eat two fermented foods each day,” says natural beauty and self-care expert Jessa Blades—sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, yogurt, and so on. “They help build up your gut health, which in turn helps improve your mood, skin, digestion, and immunity.”
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Take Five Minutes to Find Nature
It might sound easier said than done, but five minutes of mindful breathing on a bit of park grass can make a world of difference. “Don’t worry that you don’t have 20 minutes a day to practice meditation,” Blades adds. “Just getting some fresh air, experiencing nature, and breathing are essential for bringing peace of mind.”
Write It All Down
“Take some time to write with an actual pen and paper—just brain dump, no editing,” Toomey says, of the cathartic power of journaling to provide an emotional outlet in times of need. “By doing so, you will feel calmer and more able to stay in the now.”
Why Not Get Herbal?
Though it plays into type, there’s something intrinsically healing about old-fashioned herbs and oils. Blades relies on nettle and lemon balm teas, paired with a calming essential oil in the bath like lavender. “Add a couple drops to a cup of Epsom salts, mix, and then pour into your bath to help calm you,” she says. The restful results speak for themselves.
This story originally appeared on Vogue.
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