Self

Why We Need To Start Treating Our Bodies Better

Photo: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock
woman smiling

By Natalie Trznadel

Taking care of our faces has become a major trend these days.

Everyone obsesses over giving it enough nutrients, moisturizing it, letting it breathe, and applying less makeup. It’s an obvious choice since we all want to look presentable, and everyone focuses on our face straightaway.

RELATED: 3 Steps To Achieving Whole Body Wellness And Healthy Living

However, by spending all this time and effort on our faces, we forget about another major thing that needs our attention: bodies.

After all, our bodies carry us through life. We rely on them to accomplish every daily task, and we need our bodies to function optimally.

People neglect their bodies for a variety of reasons.

Some superficially think that since they’re fully clothed, nobody will ever notice. Others simply lack time or energy to properly care for themselves.

Nevertheless, our bodies require undivided attention.

Most of us tend to ignore physical signs and symptoms from our body, be it stress-related or a serious medical condition. We tell ourselves it’s nothing and will go away soon.

Belittling bodily sensations is never a smart option, though.

RELATED: Your Body Tells You The Truth — How To Listen And Heal

Instead of doing everything at once, we need to start relaxing and caring for our bodies more.

Taking time out is not laziness. Everyone needs a moment to themselves daily. These moments ensure health, happiness, and mental stability.

It’s so easy to get lost in our lives and only focus on certain beauty standards. However, we need to remember that beauty comes from the inside.

Simply relaxing while taking a nice bath with scented oils or salts is a major improvement. Try thinking of self-care as taking the time to thank your body for all it does for you.

After all, you would never accomplish all the things you do if your body didn’t allow you.

Treating your body as you do your face is an incredibly vital part of self-care. We all need to remember to give our bodies attention immediately every single time we’re not feeling well. If you had bad acne, you’d see a dermatologist.

So, why wouldn’t you do the same for your body?

RELATED: 3 Ways To Respect Your Body When 'Body Positivity' Feels Impossible

So, take care of your body. Drink plenty of water. Eat fruit and vegetables. Take vitamins. Meditate. Find a great scrub and moisturizer. Treat yourself with body masks. Take deep breaths. Think happy thoughts.

Find what works for you, and add it to your daily routine. You don’t need to splurge on expensive treatments or formulas.

Just remember: find ways to treat your body with the respect it deserves. It does so much for you without you even realizing it.

So, let your body feel some love and appreciation for all that effort.

Your body will thank you for your kindness, and you will see the benefits!

RELATED: 16 Ways To Feel Confident About Your Body (Even When You Kind Of Don't)

Natalie Trznadel is a photographer, traveler, and writer and editor for Unwritten. Her work has appeared on Thought Catalog, Unwritten, and YourTango, focusing on lifestyle and relationship topics.

This article was originally published at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the author.