The Players’ Lounge Guide to Self-Care for the Modern Man

Let’s talk self-care. It’s not just for the ladies in your life, and it’s not just lighting some candles and getting in the tub for a relaxing soak. Many feel that the wellness industry is gendered – catering to women only – but we’re here to put an end to that myth.

As barbers, we definitely feel we are part of the wellness industry. After all, a haircut and beard tidy is just as much an act as self-care as getting an Indian Head Massage. One may seem more routine as the other, but in reality all self-care really is, is taking the time to do something for yourself.

In fact, there are probably many activities that you already engage in that you could class as self-care. Think of it as a fancy term for protecting your wellbeing and happiness. Take a moment to reflect on things you do that feed you with joy. Going to the gym, listening to music, reading, activity holidays, watching episodes of your favourite boxset over and over. The activities that put you at ease, or bring you some happiness in times of stress are acts of self-care.

Acknowledging this is a great step in the direction of making self-care a part of your everyday routine.

We live in such a fast-paced, social media fuelled world now that it’s so important to step back and take a break from it all. Even if only for five minutes of your day. Self-care can play a massive role in keeping burnout at bay – something we’ve all felt at one time or another.

So how can you ensure you’re taking care of yourself?

Firstly, we think it’s important to note that everyone is different and something that works for one person may not work for another. But that’s okay! Self-care is all about you, and what makes you feel good.

The first proper step for self-care is to make time for it, and in turn you are taking time for yourself. Falling victim to believing that you don’t need to reserve any special time to yourself when there are other more important things to do is all too common. The best part is that you don’t need to devote a huge amount of time to it, and that self-care can be practiced virtually anywhere. There are many small steps you can take – like switching your phone onto do not disturb once you’ve left the office making it easier to switch off and ignore any out of hours work emails, or even using an app to meditate for 10 minutes. That way you can do it whenever and wherever you feel like it – and no one will even notice!

Another great step is to engage with others. Some may think this sounds counter-intuitive, isn’t self-care about switching off and taking time for yourself? Yes, but maintaining meaningful relationships has been shown to positively influence mental health. Alone time is great, loneliness isn’t.

Embrace your health. From making sure you’re eating your fruit and veg, drinking enough water every day to hitting the gym, it’s so important to take care of your physical self as well as your mental health. In fact, in most cases physical health and mental health are directly related. It’s also important to take the time to check in with yourself, take stock of how you’re feeling and why – this will help you make plans to remedy any issues you may be having. Feeling stressed? Try fit in some exercise to your day – even if only 10 minutes of it. Feeling happy? Fantastic! Take a moment to get to the core of why and how you can maintain that feeling.

One step that many feel is harder said than done is to identify and engage with things that interest or spark passion in your life. This doesn’t need to be difficult however, and it doesn’t need to be a grand hobby like sky diving. It’s just about acknowledging what brings you joy and then fitting it into your schedule. Is there a particular magazine or blog you enjoy reading? Do you enjoy watching football at the pub with the guys? Or is getting out into nature more your thing? Making the time to engage in these activities – even in small increments can work wonders in increasing your feelings of wellbeing.

We’d be silly not to mention booking an appointment at your favourite barbers while talking about self-care. While looking and feeling good on the inside is a huge part of self-care and self-love, it also helps when you look and feel good on the outside. Whether it’s a monthly trim to keep your hair looking its best or going all out with a hot shave and massage – we’re here to tailor your experience to you and your self-care needs. The Players’ Lounge is somewhere all are welcome and made to feel comfortable, and we pride ourselves on offering a range of different relaxing services. You don’t need to head to the spa to get yourself a good pampering!

From facials to manicures, to beard trims and grooming packages – there is something for everyone – whether you have a whole day to yourself, or half an hour on your lunch break. Be sure to check out our services and get yourself booked in!

Repeat after me: taking time for yourself is not selfish.