August 4, 2011 is National Pampering Day - an entire 24 hours devoted to embracing and celebrating the most important person in the world - YOU! While the other 364 days of the year are spent working, running errands and caring for loved ones, National Pampering Day allows a mental timeout for some long-awaited emotional self-care. Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, and author of The Water Secret: The Cellular Breakthrough to Look and Feel 10 Years Younger(Wiley, September 2010), believes that Emotional Self-Care is key to mental and physical well-being. Because stress damages your health at the cellular level, Dr. Murad has determined through clinical research that managing stress is a critical part of an Inclusive approach to optimizing health as it promotes and protects cellular integrity. And what better way to reduce stress than through some personal pampering? Think of Facials as a Necessity, Not a Luxury Make your skin and your mind say “ahhhhhh” with a great energizing facial. Revitalizing skin, relaxing the mind, and improving your skin’s appearance are all benefits of a good facial. Facials feed the skin with alpha-hydroxy acids, antioxidants and peptides, all of which provide a much needed boost to the complexion. Take Time to Quiet the Mind Car horns, loud commercials, the buzz of the cell phone- all of these things congest the mind and interrupt thoughts. Quieting the mind will help the body recharge for upcoming busy days ahead. Remember to turn off the TV one hour prior to sleeping and refrain from stressful activities and conversations two hours prior to retiring to the bedroom. Meditate to clear the mind, center the body and decompress from the hectic pace of everyday life. It’s important to maintain a healthy connection to yourself and to tune out negativity. Begin an Exercise Routine While some people don’t equate exercise with pampering, activities such as yoga and hiking are a great way to connect oneself with your inner voice and nature to calm the mind and body. Exercising regularly nourishes the skin with oxygen while sweating flushes out toxins. Exercise will also improve digestion and increase one’s metabolism and endocrine function so that the entire body is functioning at an optimal level. Do Something You Love Numerous studies have defined happiness as the pursuit of engaging in meaningful activities. Participating in something you’re passionate about reduces stress, promotes positive self reflection and connects people based on similar interests. Engaging in these activities each day will help fight the feelings of isolation that are growing more prevalent in today’s fast-paced society. Enjoying the simple pleasures of life is equally as helpful in promoting overall mental and physical health. Remember- We Are What We Eat Maintaining a balanced, healthy diet can do wonders for a person’s overall appearance and feelings of well-being. Food fuels your body and mind and when eating poor foods, it appears on your skin. Try new recipes and enjoy tempting the senses with aromas and tastes of new ingredients. Make it a family activity to give yourself a time-out while cooking and relish in the family bonding time.Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.