The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

Sexual health can be a crucial aspect of overall well-being. It can contribute to our quality of life, relationship satisfaction, mental health, and personal fulfillment. However, despite its importance, discussions surrounding sexual wellness often remain taboo. 

In this article, we’re clearing the shroud of mystery and sharing 10 practical ways to nurture and improve your sexual health and wellness. 

No. 1

The Role of Sexual Wellness in Overall Health

Sexual wellness encompasses everything from avoiding and treating STIs to boosting intimacy and libido. Ultimately, sexual wellness is about having safe and pleasurable sexual experiences and how you achieve that. 

Sexual wellness can be crucial to an individual’s health and well-being. In fact, research shows that sexual wellness is associated with higher levels of happiness. However, it’s worth noting that sexual interest varies from person to person. Some people identify as asexual, and sexual activities aren’t important or necessary for them.  

According to the World Health Organization, sexual well-being depends on several factors, including: 

• Access to information about sexuality and sex 

• Knowledge about the risks of sex 

• Access to sexual health care 

• Being in an environment that promotes and affirms sexual health 

Most experts agree that sexual wellness also depends on things like sexual satisfaction, intimacy levels, self-esteem, and more. 

No. 2

10 Ways to Improve Your Sexual Health 

Sexual health and wellness is a broad area that covers a lot of ground, and each individual must determine what sexual wellness means to them. However, there are some common ways experts suggest achieving positive sexual health. Here are 10 of them: 

1. Communicate Openly – Open communication is the key to a healthy sexual relationship. It involves discussing your desires, boundaries, and concerns with your partner. Effective communication can enhance intimacy, reduce anxiety, and improve sexual satisfaction. 

2. Prioritize Self-Care – Self-care practices can have a profound impact on sexual health. For example, regular physical activity, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and stress management can all boost libido, improve sexual function, increase self-esteem, and enhance overall well-being. 

3. Educate Yourself – Knowledge is power when it comes to sexual wellness. Educating yourself about sexual autonomy, sexual rights, safe sex practices, and the spectrum of sexual orientations and identities can empower you to make informed decisions about your sexual health. 

4. Manage Stress – Chronic stress can negatively affect many aspects of your life, including sexual desire and performance. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga are some avenues to consider for managing stress levels. 

5. Explore Desires – Understanding and exploring your sexual desires and fantasies can improve your sexual wellness. It’s essential to approach this exploration with an open mind. 

6. Practice Safe Sex – Practicing safe sex by utilizing condoms can be critical for preventing STIs and unplanned pregnancies – especially if you aren’t in a committed, monogamous relationship. It’s also important to get regular STI screenings to ensure you aren’t unknowingly living with or spreading STIs to your sexual partners. 

7. Use Lubrication – Lubricants can enhance sexual pleasure, reduce discomfort during intercourse, and reduce the risk of condoms breaking. Choosing the right type of lubricant and incorporating hormone-balancing supplements for you and your partner can significantly improve your sexual experience. 

8. Maintain Physical Health – Physical health can directly impact you and your partner’s sexual function. For example, conditions like low estrogen, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can affect your sexual health. Regular check-ups and managing health conditions are essential for maintaining sexual wellness. 

9. Consider Sex Therapy – Whether you’re an individual or a couple, getting insight from a professional about how to improve your sexual well-being can be a game-changer. There are several types of sex therapy out there, including sensate focus therapy, which aims to help you pay attention to sensory perception and sensuality. For more information on the benefits of sensate therapy and sex therapy in general, check out this resource from BetterHelp.

10. Consult a Healthcare Provider – If you have lasting symptoms and concerns about your sexual health, including low sex drive, pain during sexual activities, erectile dysfunction, or sexual anxiety, consider visiting your healthcare provider. There could be underlying issues at play that need to be addressed. 

Takeaways

Improving sexual health is a multifaceted endeavor encompassing open communication, self-care, education, and sometimes professional assistance. By adopting these practices, you can make strides to improve your overall sexual wellness and, ultimately, your health as a whole. 

The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

In a world where conformity often seems like the norm, embracing your true self can be challenging. However, accepting your authentic self can be critical for your overall mental and emotional well-being. It can also be a liberating experience. 

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of being authentic and honoring your true self and provide practical tips for embracing who you are.  

No. 1

The Importance of Authenticity 

Authenticity is about living in alignment with your values, beliefs, and inner truths. It’s about accepting who you are and presenting that to the world. While it may sound easy, being authentic can often be scary, particularly when dealing with issues around sexual, gender, or cultural identity. 

While it may feel good to fit in, when we suppress or deny parts of ourselves to fit societal expectations or gain approval from others, we usually end up hurting ourselves in the process. It can be painful to ignore or mask parts of who we are for the sake of others. 

Additionally, research shows that being authentic has an array of benefits.

Research shows that being yourself: 

• Reduces stress

• Lowers anxiety

• Creates better relationships

• Boosts self-esteem

• Enhances communication

• Encourages innovation and creative thinking

• And more 

As a result, the consequence of denying who you are can be truly detrimental to your overall well-being. 

No. 2

How to Honor Your Authentic Self 

While it may not be easy to be 100% yourself all the time, here are some ways to get more comfortable being who you are. 

1. Practice Self-Reflection – Take time to explore your values, passions, and desires. Knowing how you feel about things can make it easier to know yourself. Journaling, meditation, and quiet contemplation can all help you connect with your feelings and thoughts. 

2. Embrace Your Identities – Celebrate all aspects of your identity, including your sexual orientation, gender identity, cultural background, and personal interests. Recognize that diversity is a strength and that each facet of your identity contributes to your uniqueness. 

3. Set Boundaries – Honor your needs and boundaries by setting limits on what you’re willing to accept in your relationships and interactions. Communicate assertively and respectfully when your boundaries are crossed, and prioritize self-care to maintain your emotional well-being. 

4. Express Yourself Creatively – Try to find outlets for creative self-expression. Some examples include art, writing, music, or other creative pursuits. Getting creative can make it easier to express how you feel without having to use your words. It can also lead to discovering parts of yourself that you may not have known were there. 

5. Seek Supportive and Affirmative Care – Consider seeking therapists and health professionals who understand and respect your identities and experiences. Affirmative care can provide a safe and validating space to explore and honor your authenticity. For more information on affirmative care and finding an LGBTQIA+ therapist, see https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/how-to-find-an-lgbt-therapist-near-you/.  

6. Cultivate Authentic Relationships – Surround yourself with people who appreciate and support you for who you are. Foster connections based on mutual respect, understanding, and trust. Additionally, try to get rid of relationships that undermine your authenticity or make you feel like you can’t be yourself. 

7. Practice Self-Compassion – Be gentle and compassionate with yourself as you navigate the ups and downs of life. Treat yourself with the same understanding and kindness you would give to a loved one, and try to embrace all the quirks that make you who you are. 

8. Live Your Values – Align your actions with your core values and beliefs. Make decisions that are true to who you are and reflect what matters most to you, even if they diverge from societal expectations or norms. 

Takeaways

Honoring your true self is a lifelong journey that requires courage, self-awareness, and self-compassion. By embracing authenticity and living in alignment with your values and beliefs, you can cultivate a deeper sense of fulfillment, connection, and resilience in all areas of your life. 

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is commonplace to put our needs and desires on the back burner. Eventually, we realize that we must return the focus back to ourselves instead of keeping our heads afloat only for others.

No matter how busy life gets and how mounting the pressure and stress of work are, there is more to life than just going through the motions. Finding balance becomes essential. To stop existing and truly live life, the most important priority for anyone should be to take care of themselves.

In an era with so many distractions taking us away from ourselves, we have forgotten that we are part of a larger consciousness that keeps us all connected. Each one of us is important to the grand picture and plays a significant role in the collective experience, and by neglecting our needs, we fail to recognize our value and reach our purpose for the greater good.

From an early age, we are taught to hustle, be it academically, professionally, or on a personal front. In this process and over time, we have unlearned what it truly means to live and to live life to the fullest since we are too busy fulfilling external demands.

In our academic and professional lives, we utilize our capabilities to the optimum level because they provide us with immediate and tangible results. Meanwhile, everything else about our identity is diminished, and we are left feeling more and more distant from who we really are. This leaves us feeling empty and with little fulfillment to show for all the decades of hard work.

To bring about a positive shift, we must realize the importance of our individual personal development and self-care journeys. To assure ourselves we are also fulfilling our innate needs and desires, we must avoid constantly being at the will of everyone else at the expense of our very own well-being. We can not keep diminishing our value and not expect to break down at some point.

To avoid that, you must focus on cultivating a feeling of love and appreciation by none other than yourself. A very powerful and empowering way to make yourself feel loved and cared for—that will make you feel happy on the inside—is to treat yourself with experiences that will allow you to flourish and get to know yourself from a deeper level of understanding.

Remember the ways in which your loved ones made you smile as a child. One of the most loving gestures that we received as children was gifts. It could have been anything, from a tiny chocolate to a new pencil case—gifts meant so much to us and showed us how loved and important we are.

To make yourself feel loved, treat yourself with gifts that will help you connect with your higher self. Why wait for anyone else to give you gifts when you can do that yourself? When you treat yourself to something, especially something that suits your greatest needs, brings you happiness, and comfort, and makes you feel elated, it is all worthwhile.

Treating yourself to gifts not only makes you feel more empowered, confident, and alive, but it also enhances your attention to practices of self-care and self-love. At last, it is time to give yourself some TLC (Tender Loving Care).

Now, how do you choose a gift for yourself that will take care of your needs all at once? We have prepared a guide that can help you in your pursuit of finding the perfect gift for yourself.

Before finding the ideal gift, reflect on your needs and desires and what brings you closer to your inner self. By identifying these things, you can narrow down a few options that are best suited for you.

No. 1

Gifts for self-development

Self-care and self-development go hand-in-hand. Working on improving yourself is an intentional way to show yourself self-love and self-care. Choosing to learn, grow, and become a better version of yourself is the best gift you can give yourself.

To push yourself beyond your comfort zone demands courage, strength, and mental stamina. Self-help books, educational courses, and retreats are a step in the right direction.

No. 2

Gifts that nurture your soul

To nurture your soul, find activities that help you cultivate inner joy and peace. This could be anything that fires your passion and piques your interest—giving you a sense of purpose and happiness.

If art is therapeutic for you, try adult coloring books with intricate designs and motifs to help calm your mind and provide instant relaxation. There are so many possibilities to explore, and by rekindling your love for activities you enjoy, you will return to a place of stillness and peace that was always there.

No. 3

Gifts that nourish your mind and body

Keeping your body healthy and giving it the care it requires and deserves is an essential part of maintaining overall health and well-being. If relaxation is what you are aiming for, treat yourself to something that soothes your mind and body simultaneously.

Treating yourself to a visit to the spa or a detox retreat, giving yourself a few meditation sessions, or going to the gym daily are all nurturing experiences that will leave you feeling more connected to yourself—releasing any trapped emotions that once held you back.

Here are some amazing options to consider: https://restanddigest.com.au/collections/curated-self-care-gifts/

No. 4

Mindful gifts

Keeping your mind engaged and stimulated is a great way to pave your growth and expand the horizons of your mind. Stagnation is the enemy of self-love and self-growth. This could mean renewing your old hobbies or finding new ones to accelerate the feel-good hormones in your brain.

Enrolling in a workshop you have always wanted to attend or traveling to a new place you have always wanted to go to can be a good option to consider in showing yourself some love. By immersing yourself in new experiences, you have the opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone, developing a deeper sense of self, and finding greater meaning in the world around you.

No. 5

Gifts of luxury

If luxury is what you have always wanted to experience and always thought was outside of your reach, now is the time to give yourself the very best in life—be it those pairs of stilettos, something as small as lipstick from a high-end luxury brand that you have been eyeing, or that niche perfume that you have smelled and loved—you deserve to experience all of life’s luxuries. Giving yourself a treat of luxury can give you a sense of accomplishment, especially when you have associated it with a goal.

Takeaways

When choosing a gift for yourself that nurtures your body, mind, and soul, it is important to know what makes you feel truly happy, what ignites your soul, and what makes you feel alive—lighting the innermost fibers of your being. Learn to celebrate not just your achievements, but also the immediate progress you make every step of the way. You deserve to reward yourself for that since life is too short to only be measured in achievements.