Do you take care of yourself?

[IHateFlies]

I feel so inadequate after a get together with family over the weekend. Everyone got into a conversation about covid and how things have changed etc and they all spoke about their exercise regimes, diets, skin and hair care and beauty treatments
All I do is a occasional intermittent fasting and walking. I could be healthier and look better if I lost a couple of stone and did some of the things mentioned.
It's brought home to me that I barely spend any time or money taking care of myself and want to change that. Wondering now how unusual I am and what people generally do.

I try and fast intermittently...
I dye my own hair, dermaplan my own face, shave and use Nivea tan and firm on my body. Paint my own nails - always wear nail vanish. The only thing I justify paying for it a haircut that my friend would do for free but I do pay her! I should go to the gym really but time in the problem (i know, i know - make time, get up earlier etc!

The best thing I did for myself was to get a hot yoga membership. The people there are so lovely and teachers are amazing. It’s done my body wonders.

I don’t need more makeup and clothes. I love beautiful clothes, and have started pulling out stuff from 20 years ago eg my Issey Miyake pleated trousers, which look beautiful with lots of things. My plan is to not buy anything this year. Haven’t even bothered checking out the sales.

I drink lots of water, don’t eat junk, walk lots, take myself off to various shows, say no when I can’t be arsed with the stress of people or situations.
I look after my skin but don’t use anything expensive or complicated.

Yes definitely. I want my children to take care of themselves properly so I do too

bed at a reasonable time
daily yoga
healthy / veggie diet
no booze / limited sugar
daily fresh air / weekends walk and cycle
taking time to read / listen to music / watch tennis or footy or whatever it is that feeds your soul

Yes l do, mentally, physically and emotionally, its an everyday part of my life.

Yes I do for 2 reasons:

1. I'm 47 with the menopause looming but still look fairly young so I want to maintain this as long as I can! By eating well and exercising I can see how it improves my appearance. It's pure vanity in that respect.
2. I had cancer 8 years ago and it really, really scared me. It's made me focus on health and trying to do what I can to avoid future health scares.

I do very little. However, I don't care about wrinkles and what I look like to much of a degree. Don't use moisturiser because I feel it on my face all day. Don't get hair cuts, my DH cuts my hair as I don't like people touching me. Don't get massages, pedicures etc for same reason. Dress for comfort so live in leggings and band tshirts.

Overweight but don't manage to stick to diets or exercise regimes for long. Currently awaiting assessment for Autism and ADHD so not sure if that's anything to do with it. Never been interested in beauty related things and would rather shop for electronic gadgets than clothes.

Dont worry lovely. I used to be 3 stone lighter. Rigid skincare regime morning and night. Vitamins, careful diet, measured alcohol intake. I looked and felt much better.
An extreme change in finances and depression set in and its all gone out of the window. Ive started with baby steps, stopped drinking, doing yoga and thai chi on you tube... at the min its once or twice a week but i need to increase. Im walking instead of driving if possible and even if i eat shit im making sure i at least have my 5 a day. That's absolutely all im capable of right now. Pick 1 or 2 things you enjoy and do them often... a nice face oil at night, a walk to a friend's. Something is better than nothing dont worry too much xxx

Oh i agree with the reading/taking time to do something nice for you too. I read my first book for years in April and the distraction was glorious. X

‘Taking care of yourself’ isn’t the same as ‘maintaining a facial and bodily appearance that is conventionally sexually attractive and well-presented’.

I think it falls under the category of 'self love' and I don't think that just means constantly beautifying every inch of yourself, unless of course that's why you want to do, it can also mean taking yourself off on a shopping trip and treating yourself, or going for a long walk somewhere beautiful and peaceful or simply having a quiet afternoon to yourself reading a good book or walking the dog. It's basically taking care of your yourself...any way you choose.

Nope. Never. Never had a facial. Or a. Treatment of any kind. Get hair cut once a year. Rarely buy new clothes.
Dh always tells me to treat myself b7t some reason i feel guilty that i should spend the money on the kids. Even though they want for nothing. It's Ridiculous really. I always say ill make effort on myself never do!

Physically...I do literally nothing. I am so ashamed. I need to as I had a lovely figure and now at 38 I am so unfit and I look it. Covid, being a key worker and a child with SEN have meant I have never got "back on it" but I really really need to.

I do use sunscreen (SPF 50) nearly every day on my face and cleanse once a day. Brush teeth once a day. I'm ashamed to say.

Shave legs once a week.

My hair is in good condition.

Just painted toenails for the first time in a year.

I need to do so so so much more. I'm exhausted, overwhelmed by life, unhappy and struggling x

I do now! I was in hospital for 3 weeks on bed rest before my baby was born and my husband splashed out on loads of really lovely skin care products and spa stuff and it’s a little nightly routine I’ve stuck to. I just spend 15 minutes every night now washing my face and body with a steamed Cloth and using the little creams and oils. It’s made me feel so much more confident in myself.

No. Sadly. Not in a physical sense of helping me looking good. And it's really a case of laziness/unwillingness to accept that my shit diet is in any way to blame for my sluggishness and obesity.

I am good at looking after my MH if that counts. I'm good at spending time on reading/chilling, doing a bit of mindfulness, doing a bit of crafting.

I'm no martyr to the washing up/housework, certainly.

exercise regimes: sporadic at best. Not doing anything at the moment due always either working or looking after my small children

diets: low carb and have lost 6lb. Could be better variety but it works for me and improves my sleep a lot.

skin: cleanse and use The Ordinary stuff most days. Using a gradual tan 3-4 times per week which makes me look less corpse-like

hair care: long overdue for a cut but i do wash, blowdry and straighten three times per week. Doesn't take long thankfully as I have fine but flyaway hair.

Beauty treatments: none currently. My toenails are painted for a change but theyre chipped now.

A healthy diet will make you feel better. Exercise and eating well are good goals.
Taking care of yourself doesn't need to involve slapping chemicals all over yourself. If hair care and skin care don't make you feel happy then it's not really taking care of yourself, is it? It would just be wasting time and money to make others happy.

I am at least 4stone overweight, I don't
mind I have no inclination to diet.
I shower once or twice a day, wash my hair daily.
I have my hair cut 4 weekly, I don't colour my hair anymore, I love my colour, its fully silver , I buy expensive shampoo.
I don't wear make up, I moisturise daily. I have few wrinkles, never spotty.
I shave my legs, and pits, and keep my bush trim.
I buy all my clothes from Next, like what I like and will never ever where a high heel again, not that I did much anyway.
I do my brows, and keep my nails tidy.
I am 56, I am happy with me.

I think I could do more but as the norm I do

Diet - currently calorie counting and trying to eat as 'clean' as possible. I only drink water during the week and try not to have too much alcohol at the weekend unless there is an special event.

Exercise - walk 1 hr per day (2x school run) and 2/3 exercise classes a week.

Beauty Regimes - Nails done twice a month, toes once a month. Hair every 8 weeks. Botox every 4m. I have a very simple and easy skincare routine which is a morning face wash. Evening cleanse, tone & moisturise. I wear an SPF every day. Clean my teeth twice a day but could definitely do some flossing 😬

General Self Care - apart from my exercise classes I have no time for myself (3 kids) and would love to have some more time to support my mental health - a bath with a book, a walk on my own, listen to some music, for for a leisurely run on a Sunday morning. Oh that would be nice !

Reading that back it looks like I have loads of time to myself but the beauty appointments I take my baby along with me so there's no relaxing time to myself. It's in and out as quick as possible

The more you look after yourself the better you feel, so you have the impetus to look after yourself more.

I exercise three to four times a week at 7am so I can’t spend the day finding excuses not to go. I hate exercise, but love how I feel after, it also makes me eat better because I’m not going through that to throw away my efforts by eating rubbish.

I rarely drink and feel much much better for it.

I have a simple, but well researched skin care regimen that includes a facial spf everyday to prevent wrinkles. No physical scrubs through, that’s very bad for your skin, an acid exfoliate is far better.

Im lucky with my hair, it’s thick and bomb proof so don’t need to do much to it, but when necessary I get a very good cut.

I know my colours and only buy good quality clothes in natural fibres when needed rather than lots of cheapo items.

I do it for me.

Wonderful perspective regarding things like reading being part of looking after yourself.
I used to read lots but that seems to be hard to do at the moment. Walking is something that I do to look after myself.
I'm not a complete slob. My diet is a base of healthy food then topped up with a bit too much sugar and my hair and eyebrows are usually sorted. I suppose I need to be fairly presentable for work
I can't even remember the last time I bought any cosmetics or jewellery even. The women I was with all had a bit of nice jewellery on and some make up. One of them had a beautiful bracelet which was gold with green stones in it. It just made me want to make a bit more effort. I used to before dc but haven't done in ages.

Yes I do, it's very important to me.

I exercise 3 times a week (have full time care of a child with additional needs so I can't do more than this)

I have a lovely skincare routine

I do lots of relaxation activities plus yoga.

I don't drink, I eat well. Lots of water.

It's my body I want to treat it well and be healthy for my son.

Yes and no

Exercise - yes. Peloton, cycle 4-6 times a week for 30-90 mins, and stretching, starting to add in strength and core so total about 7hrs a week

Skin, hair, body - yes. Skincare routine twice a day, I choose nice shower products, love makeup and always have painted toenails because it makes me happy!!

Diet - hmm. Could be better! I cook from scratch but don't eat enough fruit or veg. My downside is thinking I will make something and don't, I need to start thinking I won't and get a batch meal out the freezer

Mind - fucked, don't ask (except the exercise keeps me sane)

I'm trying to do more after a MH crisis having worked myself to a standstill and focused on the children to the detriment of me. So most of these are fairly recent:
Mainly eat healthily and cook from scratch. Intermittent fasting. No alcohol.
Exercise is really good for my MH so I lift weights and walk. Pilates is more sporadic but I try.
Try to find time to read, generally before bed. Try to follow good sleep hygiene.
I live near the sea and try to go for a coastal walk at least twice a week.
I couldn't give a monkeys how I look other than my weight. I am at home a lot (WFH) so am generally in lounge wear. If I go out, i change from joggers into jeans and from slippers to trainers. Shower every day. Wash hair once a week and dry naturally. Cut about once a year. Don't shave in the winter. Shave lower leg and pits in summer.
Skin routine is spf face cream. Never wear makeup.

I don't do much more than you do OP, apart from a weekly face-pack and exfoliating. I use a Waterpik to floss every day. I make sure my hair is styled and visit the hairdresser every six weeks. That is about my lot. I should lose some weight but my diet is reasonably healthy. I need to exercise but hate it.