What is self-care? Self-care at the simplest level is making sure that we are doing the things that we need to do in order to stay healthy physically and mentally. Caring for ourselves is an active choice that we need to make every day that prioritizes our own health and happiness.
That sounds simple, but most people struggle to incorporate self-care into their daily routines because they think it seems selfish. Self-care isn’t selfish, but it can feel that way when we’re used to putting everyone else first. When we first start taking care of ourselves some of our friends and family members might resent that we no longer put them first. That’s okay. Keep practicing self-care.
When my daughters were younger, I did not always take care of myself. I felt that their needs were more important than mine and my focus was on them instead of myself. But it’s okay to focus on ourselves. In fact, it’s the only way that we’re going to have the energy and strength to look after other people. Bettering ourselves through self-care will make us healthier and happier. I have a very supportive husband and he often encourages me to take breaks. Without those breaks, my stress level gets too high.
Here are some self-care tips to improve your well-being
Pay attention to your physical health
Physical self-care is something that a lot of people struggle with because there never seems to be enough of time or energy to do the things that we know we should do. Things like exercise or healthy eating tend to suffer. Many people have great intentions to get up early and workout or make a healthy dinner. Unfortunately, it is easier to sleep in or hit the drive-thru for dinner because they are overwhelmed, stressed out, and exhausted from their day filled with handing problems and catering to everyone else.
Physical health is a core part of self-care. The body and the mind have a unique connection, and it's difficult to be in high spirits when we are not feeling good about our bodies. Regular exercise increases the level of serotonin in our body significantly improving mood and energy. When exercising for self-care, choose an activity that you enjoy. It could be a regular run, brisk walking, swimming, or just about any other thing that makes you feel alive. We derive extra fulfillment from doing what we enjoy, and it is that enjoyment that encourages persistence even when it seems we do not have time for it. Four or five times a week, I get up at 5:30 and take a walk with my husband and our two dogs. There are many mornings when I’d rather stay in bed, but the moment I wake up and get outside in the cool morning air, my mind is alert and I’m more prepared to face the day. I actually feel good about myself in knowing that I’m taking care of my body.
There are many significant health benefits that come from making physical self-care a priority. Regular exercise will help keep our muscles strong. It also helps reduce stress. It can help with weight management and according to medical studies, taking the time for regular exercise can have any or all of these effects of your physical health: better sleep, lower risk of heart attack, lower stress levels, stronger bones, better cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol, reduced risk of some kinds of cancer, lower risk of diabetes and insulin resistance, better circulation, and better mood.
Get enough sleep
Too many people are sleep deprived, and it takes a toll on our physical and mental health. We seem to have taken the maxim ‘hard work pays' too seriously. We now spend so much time working and less than enough time sleeping. Sleep scientists recommend that adults get 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Our bodies need time to rest and renew. Daytime naps are also excellent for refreshing our bodies and improving concentration levels. I like to take a 30-minute nap a few times a week and I never feel guilty when I do.
Be a healthy eater
Our diet is a major part of self-care, and it's an area that we should closely watch. When you ask people about foods that make them feel good, you might get answers like a juicy steak, mounds of lasagna, or extremely delicious cupcakes. However, consistently indulging in these delicacies is NOT self-care. Healthy, nutritious foods are one of nature's best gifts to us. Make a habit out of consuming good foods that build your body. It’s okay to indulge in a dessert once in a while but having it every day is not good self-care.
Identify the things that matter to you
This may seem easy, but it can be challenging to practice. We need to ask ourselves the tough questions to identify the things that matter to us the most. How do we want to make a difference in the world? Our answers to that question should determine our approach to living. We need to spend more time with those we love to be with and deliberately live our lives the way we want to be remembered. Keeping an eye on our priorities will help us make decisions about how we spend our time.
Change your mindset / increase gratitude
Too often, we focus on the negatives while showing little appreciation for the beauty that's all around us. It's what happens after a bad breakup, and all we can remember is how badly the other person hurt us. We tend to forget all the amazing things that the relationship brought us. Cherish the good memories and hold them dearly, even if the unpleasant ones attempt to consume you. Show gratitude and appreciation for the little gifts in life. Take some time to be still and meditate more. If we can adopt a regular attitude of gratitude, we are on our way to achieving the highest level of self-care.
Learn to say no
I will admit that this is hard for me to do but I’ve learned that saying no is okay. Never feel guilty when saying no. Too many times, we say yes in order to avoid hurting the feelings of another party. When we do this at the expense of our own peace or health, we are going against the principles of self-care. It's good to realize we're only human and we can't possibly make everyone happy. Saying yes to everything predisposes us to burnouts, and it's bad for our physical and emotional health.
Make time for self-care
People say lack of time is the biggest reason self-care is neglected. But how many hours have we spent on social media today? How many minutes have we spent mindlessly scrolling through the news? There is enough time in the day to make time for self-care if we are aware of our time and choose how we spend it. We need to make an active choice to make self-care a priority instead of other things like spending time on social media. Most smartphones have the ability to track how much time is spent on various apps throughout the day. Check those stats every day for a week. You may be shocked to see how many hours each day are spent on social media. Swap 30 minutes of exercise and 30 minutes of art for just one hour spent on social media and you’ll be shocked at how much that will change your physical and mental health.
Self-Care Ideas
Self-care tips are usually not that easy to apply to real life. It’s all well and good for celebrities or gurus to talk about meditating for hours when they don’t have a job, kids, and other obligations. Here are some easy to follow self-care ideas that anyone can do to start a regular self-care routine no matter how busy they are:
Set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier than usual. When you get up reach for a notebook and pen instead of your cell phone and write about whatever comes into your mind. This will help you get rid of worries and stress and focus on the day ahead.
Make breakfast the night before. If your mornings are very hectic start preparing a healthy breakfast the night before so that you can still eat a healthy meal in the morning. You can put prepared oats and fruit in a paper cup and put it in the fridge so you can grab it on the way out. Or mix up a smoothie quickly in the morning. But make time for a healthy breakfast.
Spend one evening each week on a hobby. You can join a class or just spend an hour in the tub reading a book. Whatever kind of hobby appeals to you is fine. But spend at least one hour once a week doing something just for the fun of it.
Live your best life
Self-Care is personal, and no general principle will always work. What motivates you and inspires you is different than the person next door. Look for the things that make you feel alive. Make dates with yourself and when you commit to working out or doing something for yourself, keep the commitment you make to yourself. We don't back out on our friends, don't back out on yourself. By being healthy about self-care, you will feel be better equipped to help others. Go live your best life!
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