Good self care has never been more important. With life’s stressors at an all-time high, a healthy self-care routine will help you keep your sanity.
Self-care practices are any activities that support your mental, physical or emotional health. They can be as simple as getting enough sleep or as luxurious as a spa treatment.
Take Care of Your Physical Needs
Physical self care includes activities that improve your diet, exercise and sleep. It also means seeing a doctor when you are sick and taking time off from work if needed.
Nutrition is a big part of physical self-care, so it’s important to eat a healthy diet every day. This could include eating more vegetables and fruits, avoiding junk food, and drinking plenty of water. Exercise can also be great for your body, so try to get a little bit of physical activity every day, such as walking or stretching.
Setting boundaries is also a good way to practice physical self-care. This can help you avoid putting yourself at risk in the pandemic by protecting your safety and privacy, as well as limiting how much alcohol you drink. It can also mean saying no to people who ask too much of you or push your limits. This can be hard, but it’s essential for your mental health.
Take Care of Your Emotional Needs
Taking care of your emotional needs is a vital part of self-care. Your emotions play an important role in your ability to work productively, cope with stress, and realize your full potential.
One of the best ways to take care of your emotional health is to focus on positive self-talk. “Talking positively to yourself is a powerful, compassionate way to show yourself the love you deserve,” says Jen Sincero, life coach and author of You Are a Badass.
It’s also helpful to practice mindfulness and learn to recognize your emotions. She recommends journaling or using mood-tracking apps, like Happify, eMoods, or Moodtrack Social Diary.
For an emotional self-care routine to be effective, it should leave you feeling rejuvenated or charged, says Kissen. This may mean trying out a new hobby or finding something that calms your mind, such as meditation or yoga. It may even be as simple as taking a walk in nature or playing your favorite song.
Take Care of Your Social Needs
Cultivating social wellness is a long-term process that requires energy, time and care, much like gardening. It is important to plant the right plot, fertilize with the best nutrients, protect against weather and weed out negativity on a regular basis.
Good self-care can look different for everyone. It may involve getting a consistent sleep routine, eating well, taking time to exercise or even finding activities that stimulate the mind and imagination. It could also be addressing financial concerns, such as reducing debt or budgeting, or it may include rekindling old friendships.
Having healthy relationships, such as supportive family and friends, can help reduce stress and increase the ability to manage life’s challenges. In contrast, loneliness and isolation can have serious health consequences. People with strong support systems have been shown to sleep better, have a greater capacity to cope with stress and have a lower risk of mental illness. These are often referred to as social determinants of health.
Take Care of Your Spiritual Needs
Good self care involves promoting wellness in all areas of your life, including financial, social and spiritual. Ideally, you should do something to promote your well-being in all of these areas every day.
This can take many forms, from ensuring you get enough sleep to going for a walk outside to visit with friends. It can also include practicing gratitude and taking time to connect to a higher power.
Practicing spiritual self-care can include activities like prayer, meditation, yoga or connecting with other people in a religious community. It can also involve volunteering, such as by making meals for a homeless shelter or helping out at your local senior center.
If you are struggling to take care of yourself or feel like you aren’t doing enough, it is important to remember that you can always reach out for help. A trained mental health professional can provide support and guidance to help you overcome challenges and build resilience to those stressors you can’t eliminate.