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The practice of “self-care” is often mentioned as a way to cope with the stresses of day-to-day life, but few people mention what self-care looks like and how it works. Learning how to practice self-care and how to make it a healthy part of your day-to-day life is essential for success. Here, we’ll explore some common self-care strategies and how they can improve your physical and mental well-being.
Understanding the Concept of Self-Care
Self-care is the idea of looking after your own physical and mental well-being. In a time when people are expected to work long hours and have demands put upon them from all sides, such as taking care of older relatives, raising children and maintaining other relationships, many fail to take time for themselves. Self-care involves recognizing when you’re tired and stressed and taking the time to bring balance back to your life.
What Self-Care Looks Like: A Personalized Approach
What are some examples of self-care? Contrary to popular belief, self-care means more than just taking a night to soak in a bubble bath and eating ice cream after a breakup — although those can be a valid self-care strategy sometimes. Real self-care involves having an awareness of your well-being and doing whatever it takes to care for yourself.
For some people, self-care means finding the time to go to the gym a couple of times per week to exercise. For others, it’s disconnecting from social media or learning to say no to extra hours at work. Self-care means different things to different people, but the overarching idea is that you’re prioritizing activities or actions that promote well-being.
Physical Self-Care Practices
Self-care can include taking care of both your physical health and your mental health. Some physical examples of self-care include:
- Drinking more water
- Going to the gym regularly
- Cutting down on alcohol
- Getting enough sleep
- Practicing good sleep hygiene
- Making time to go outside or go for a walk
- Making a point of eating more fruits or vegetables
Those things could all be considered a basic part of a healthy lifestyle, but they’re also important for self-care and can count as self-care practices because they’re small acts that can make a big difference in how you feel.
Emotional and Mental Self-Care Strategies
Your mental well-being can be improved through self-care strategies too. Some things you can practice as a form of self-care include:
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Gratitude journaling
- Reading a book
- Taking time to indulge in your hobbies
- Doing something relaxing such as taking a bubble bath
- Taking a break from social media
- Distancing yourself from negative influences in your life
Anything that’s relaxing and that helps you recharge from stressful situations could be considered self-care as long as it’s a healthy coping mechanism. These practices can improve your mental health, and there are some physiological benefits too. For example, practicing mindfulness can decrease the presence of inflammation. Elevated inflammation levels can be a risk factor for a variety of diseases, so lowering inflammation could have long-term benefits.
Social and Interpersonal Self-Care Techniques
Interpersonal relationships can be hugely beneficial to people’s well-being if they’re healthy ones. Unhealthy relationships can be a source of stress. Learning how to find a good work-life balance, nurture positive relationships and set boundaries or limit contact with people who are a negative influence can greatly improve your quality of life.
Not everyone is religious, but for those who are, spirituality can be a major part of their daily lives. Even individuals who don’t subscribe to a specific organized religion may still find comfort in quiet contemplation, meditative practices or their own form of spiritual practice. For some, the social bonds of attending church services offer a valuable support network. For others, religion is a thing that’s kept private but is no less important.
If you’re feeling tired, stressed or unfulfilled, spend a few moments taking an inventory of your interpersonal relationships and social support network. Are your relationships mutually beneficial? Do you feel they’re lacking in some way or there’s something you could do to form stronger bonds with people?
Integrating Self-Care Into Daily Life
All too often, people say they know the benefits of self-care but simply don’t have the time to practice it. They get up early to go to work, find themselves grabbing a snack for lunch at their desks, work late and then rush home with no time for hobbies or the gym. Their weekends are spent on life admin, and they don’t have the time to foster valuable relationships with friends and loved ones.
If that sounds all too familiar to you, consider this: A few minutes a day now to take care of your physical and mental well-being could save you a lot of time and stress in the future. It’s better to protect your health while you have it than to have to recover from chronic stress or the impact of years of an unhealthy lifestyle.
There’s an old saying: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” If you can’t spend an hour in the gym, at least try to fit in a short bodyweight workout. If you can’t shop for fresh produce, buy frozen vegetables instead. If your only option for socializing is a trip to a bar, drink a low-alcohol beverage or volunteer to be the designated driver.
Make small changes and try to stick with them. Over time, those changes will add up, and you’ll find yourself feeling a little happier and healthier. A better diet, more sleep and healthier relationships will give you more energy to tackle other challenges as they come along.
Reach Out for Help
If you’re struggling to cope with stress, anxiety or depression in your day-to-day life and making positive changes seems like an impossible task, know that help is available. Our compassionate counselors are here to provide confidential, judgment-free support. Contact the counselors at FHE Health to book a consultation and take the first steps towards a better life.
