You can't give to others what you don't have yourself. While some may misconstrue self-care as selfish, it's far from that. With the amount of stigma surrounding it, self-care is greatly misunderstood. When you pay attention to your well-being, you're not considering your needs alone. You're bettering yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself for the people around you. Everyone around you also benefits from the renewed energy and joy you exhibit. Simple things like your mood impact the conversations and relationships you have with others. People oftentimes neglect themselves and fill their schedules with caring for others or doing endless tasks. Tasks that usually consistently never include self-care. Paying attention to yourself and your needs can change your life.
In everyday society, openly saying you care about self-care or engaging in it brings a mixed response. There are some who believe that it's fantastic to focus on yourself, especially if you're someone who has or had fragile mental health. Others, however, believe that self-care is only for people with unstable mental health. In society, an "unstable mental health" is somewhat viewed as a personal weakness when it shouldn't. But because of this, people believe that self-care is only for people who face mental difficulties. There's also self-stigma, where people believe that they are undeserving of self-care and shouldn't burden others. These are the many causes why people don't seek self-care or even see it as an option. Ignorance, or denial for some, is also a barrier to understanding conceptually what self-care is along with the necessary application it could have on someone's well-being. Furthermore, there are stereotypical ideas of what self-care looks like that limit the appeal and versatility of the concept when in reality there are a lot.
So what self-care can you practice, and which is for you? Well, there are six types of self-care. Emotional, Practical, Physical, Mental, Social, and Spiritual Self-Care. All of them are ways you can use to better yourself.
Emotional Self-care involves any "actions we take to connect with our emotions and process them in a healthy way" (Health Coach Institute).
Examples include:
Journaling
Talking to a Health Coach, Life Coach, therapist, spiritual mentor, or other counselors
Practicing gratitude
Meditation
Utilizing affirmations or mantras
Practical Self-care involves any "actions you take to fulfill your core needs and reduce stress can be cataloged as practical self-care" (Health Coach Institute).
Examples Include:
Organizing your email inbox
Tidying your living space
Meal prepping
Setting out your clothes for the week in advance
Meeting with a financial advisor
Physical Self-care involves any "activities you deliberately engage in to enhance your physical well-being" (Health Coach Institute).
Examples include:
Being active (going for a walk, a bike ride, taking a fitness class, etc.)
Taking a relaxing bubble bath
Practicing skin-care
Getting a massage
Taking a nap
Mental Self-care involves "anything you do specifically to stimulate your mind and cultivate a healthy psyche" (Health Coach Institute).
Examples include:
Listening to a podcast
Trying a new hobby
Going to a museum
Reading a book
Writing a poem
Social Self-care involves any "activities that nurture our relationships with others" (Health Coach Institute). This one particularly is important because we're all humans who require a regular connection with others to thrive.
Examples include:
Scheduling a regular phone touch-base with your mom
Hosting a game night with your friends
Going on a date with your significant other
Cuddling with a furry friend
Writing a card and mailing it to a loved one
Lastly, Spiritual Self-care involves any "activities you engage in to connect with and nurture your soul" (Health Coach Institute).
Examples include:
Spending time in nature
Engaging in prayer or attending a worship service
Doing yoga
Volunteering for a cause you care about
Creating a vision board or doing something else that lights you up and inspires you
Deciding which is the most "useful" is a grueling task. For some, trial and error is simply an unrealistic method to go about finding which type of self-care is the most effective. I suggest finding which type you need the most and then picking which task is the most realistic with the time you have. Neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, stress, and a decline in overall well-being. The best you can do is pay attention to your needs and preferences. It's also an ongoing practice, and finding a balance that suits your life is key to maintaining that habit. In conclusion, Self-care is vital to your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. A simple 15 minutes can uplift you, empower you, and make you a better you.
Citation:
“7 Types of Self-Care & Why You Need Them.” Holistic Health and Wellness Training | Health Coach Institute, 16 Dec. 2019, www.healthcoachinstitute.com/motivational/7-types-of-self-care/.
Other Articles Used As Inspiration:
Minaa B., LMSW. “3 Ways to Reflect on Stigma and Self-Care.” Greatist, Greatist, 18 Feb. 2021, greatist.com/grow/self-care-stigma-reflection.
“The Self-Help Stigma.” Utne.com, content.utne.com/mind-and-body/the-self-help-stigma-popular-psychology/.
Monique Tello, MD. “Self-Care: 4 Ways to Nourish Body and Soul.” Harvard Health, 16 Nov. 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/self-care-4-ways-nourish-body-soul-2017111612736.
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