How many times a day does one hear someone say “I’m so stressed out”? In today’s world almost everyone with priorities and plans is most likely experiencing feelings of anxiousness or stress.

With these hard to manage emotions, many forget to take time for themselves to solve this emotional burden. Self care is forgotten about.

This is disturbing because with neglecting self care and constantly working, problems in health can start to arise and notice might not be taken. Stress. Anxiety. Maybe just a cluttered mind that makes it hard to get through the day. There’s many more to name, but the most alarming aspect is that 60% of all illnesses and diseases are provoked by stress.

It’s time to start focusing on what’s really important and what will benefit the body in years to come, the importance of well being. Self care is different for everyone. To one person it’s training hard in the weight room, to another it’s taking a hot relaxing bath. There’s no right or wrong. If the body and mind feel good, the right actions are being taken.

But if life is all one big rush, and ten minutes are the most that can be spared each day, consider yoga and meditation. Yoga allows performance and enhancement on the physical spectrum of self care, while the meditative qualities help with managing emotions.

According to the Yoga Journal consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to a significant increase in serotonin levels (the feel good chemical) and a decrease in the levels of cortisol (the chemical that arises with stress).

It is proven that the act of yoga alone encourages self care. With having more respect for the body, bad choices are much less likely to be made because so much time has been dedicated to feel this good.  

If a stable sense of mind isn’t convincing enough, then consider the physical benefits. Yoga builds muscle strength and enhances athletic performance. Get a rocking body and become emotionally well? It’s a win for all.

Yoga will also help with becoming more mindful of the surroundings. It’ll help with focus and experiencing the world directly rather than swimming in memories of the past or plans for the future. Become more aware and awake in class, actually engaged in learning. It makes life an adventure rather than a constant and necessary routine. This is the way it should be.

This small act of self care can completely transform the experience of life. It changes a person’s viewpoint from “I am so stressed out” to “I know I have a lot of work, but it’s okay, because I can accomplish it”.

People must stop worrying about the small temporary things, such as due dates , and start focusing on the big picture. Because due dates will pass and the body will still be left whole, still breathing and alive. But if all time is spent worrying about temporary things, this can become a long term problem that can decrease the quality and enjoyment of life. Is that really worth it?