You may have heard of the saying, "Self-care", but what exactly does it mean and how can we practice it in our daily lives?
Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health. It involves identifying what your own needs are and taking steps to satisfy those needs. Those needs encompass your physical, mental, and emotional health. We often hear that we need to spend time for ourselves, but in this busy era, it's all too easy to be caught up by our fast-paced schedule and lose ourselves completely. Practicing self-care does not encourage one to become more selfish or self-centered, but rather to be balanced and know what you need to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.
When we take time for self-care, it can significantly help improve various areas of our life:
Pick a few self-care tips you'd like to do and stick to it. Write in a journal to keep track of how you're doing. You can try self-care goals with a friend or set an alarm to remind you to stay on task and not slack off. Make sure to practice self-care activities that you enjoy. If you find yourself dreading something or it makes you feel worse, than scratch it off the list and move onto something else. You should come out of self-care feeling better and refreshed.
Self-care practice involves our physical, mental, and emotional areas of our wellbeing. The following is a suggested list of self-care practices you can choose from. Start with a few and keep track of your progress. Swap out any that does not make you feel good about yourself. Here goes:
- Walk around the block
- Hike
- Declutter your room/house
- Workout
- Take a nap
- Dance
- Take a hot bath
- Put on fresh, comfy clothes
- Play favorite song on repeat
- Avoid triggers
- Light a candle
- Find your quiet spot to meditate
- Watch your favorite show/movie
- Eat well
- Read a book
- Learn to draw something new
- Try a new DIY Activity
- Turn off your smartphone
- Ask for help when necessary
- Write down your thoughts and feelings
