“Self-care” – In this day and age, you’ve likely heard this buzzword. It’s more than just a buzz word, though. Self-care is a revolutionary & encompassing practice that empowers us to take control of our lives, be more present, and enjoy more optimal living.
Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve, protect, or improve your health, well-being, and happiness. It’s preventative, and it’s rehabilitative. Simply put, self-care is whatever’s going to support your health and prevent longer-term exhaustion & burnout. If “prevention is better than redemption,” self-care is worth prioritizing! It doesn’t have to be either time-consuming or expensive. Some of the best self-care is free! Self-care is also not a “one size fits all” practice. Take time to figure out what works for you.
A reminder of self-love and importance: taking care of yourself is essential, not optional.
A well-balanced self-care routine addresses each realm of human functioning: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social. Let’s look at some ideas in each area:
1. Mental – This kind of self-care involves creating a healthy mindset through such practices as mindfulness, journaling, meditation, developing our curiosity, practicing gratitude, thinking outside of the box, creating a brain dump list at the start of each day, reading a book, learning a new skill, and taking an intentional break from screen time.
2. Emotional – To practice emotional self-care, adopt healthy coping strategies for any stresses that might occur in your daily life. Some examples: watch your favorite movie. Listen to music. Reject negative self-talk. Create positive affirmations for yourself, and then use them multiple times a day. Ask others for help when you need it. Set and enforce boundaries.
3. Physical – While each of us have bodies as unique as out DNA sequence, some physical self-care tips would benefit every human. Some of these tips include taking care of your body by prioritizing sleep, being more intentional about nutrition, and drinking plenty of water each day. Forgo or limit substances. Take a daily multivitamin. Try a new fitness class. Wear blue light glasses if your life demands a lot of screen time. Stretch.
4. Environmental – Prioritize taking care of the places around you and the places you love! Some ideas for environmental self-care could include rearranging your workspace into a more a peaceful set-up. Explore new places. Light a candle. Use lamplight instead of harsh overhead light. Paint a room. Buy a plant. Declutter your living space. Incorporate elements into your spaces that appeal to your five senses.
5. Spiritual – Activities or practice that give you a sense of meaning provide you with spiritual self-care. Some of these activities or practices could be spending time in nature, finding a community, praying, identifying the values that are most important to you, practicing forgiveness, meditation, reading a sacred text, and volunteering.
6. Recreational – It’s important to make time for hobbies and activities that interest you! There’s some truth to the old phrase, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Some recreational self-care activities could include making time for hobbies, taking a picnic, listening to music, relaxing & doing nothing, playing board or video games, dancing, or listening to a podcast.
7. Social – Building relationships and making healthy connections are some of the best ways to practice social self-care. Consider connecting with an old friend, calling your relatives, participating in a support group, creating boundaries in a difficult relationship, joining a book club, or writing or emailing a thank-you letter to someone who has touched your life.
When you’re feeling down or stressed, listen to your body and the type of self-care it needs. Caring for ourselves is, as Steven R. Covey teaches, “sharpening the saw” of life. Self-care of not self-ish! Your self-care benefits the important people in your life, and enables you to show up and step up as your best self.
(Reference: “The 7 Pillars of Self-Care (And How To Use Them)“ by The Blissful Mind)