Self-Care: Superficial, or Survival Strategy?

Many of us have grown up with a lot of catch phrases, such as “grab yourself by the bootstraps,” “grin and bear it” and “hustle and grind culture.” Now, I’m not knocking the need to have some grit when it comes to getting through life. There is absolutely something to be said for a persistence in understanding the reality of a situation in order to navigate through it.

However, there is a distinct difference between experiencing pain and discomfort then allowing that to devolve into suffering and shutdown. Most of us tend to procrastinate things that we feel are indulgent, such as self care. We think, “I just don’t have time for that” and we forge ahead full steam, until that full steam turns into flat stop. 

In the North Dakota region in particular, we boast industries that are as hard-working as they come. Our agriculture, energy, transport and tourism industries move at a heavy pace, and with all of that comes long and odd hours, lack of sleep and a number of aches and pains.

Time becomes the commodity that dwindles for us, and instead of viewing self-care as necessity, we begin to view it as a luxury. What we don’t realize is that our health IS our wealth. The more we can integrate regular self-care habits into our routine, the more ability we will have to mitigate stress and enjoy a fuller, richer life, even with more limited time.

How do we even begin to approach building in self-care as necessity? For one, thing (and yes, I am biased) regular massage is a great contributor to managing stress. Not only will it promote more restful sleep, decrease pain and tension, but massage has also been proven in a number of studies to reduce anxiety and depression. Massage can easily be integrated into your routine, can fit into your budget and be tailored to fit your goals of the week, whether it’s to recover from a hard workout, sleep better or feel more rested and rejuvenated. 

Skeptical about how a simple massage can contribute to self-care? Book a 60 minute session and see how massage can make a difference to you. Be sure to tell your provider what you’re struggling with, whether it’s lack of sleep, sore muscles or chronic pain, and they can find a session goal customized just for you.

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Massage & the Power of Touch