I’m starting here, because understanding and practising self care was key at the start of my journey to wisdom and wellness, and continues to be hugely important for me. Although I’ve made a lot of progress, I’m still learning how to incorporate this consistently into each day. Recognising and breaking old thought and behaviour patterns is hard - it takes time, repetition and perseverance.
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The positives of practising self care are everywhere - a simple Google search will give you lists of all the different ways self care enhances your life. Here are a few benefits:
Mental wellness
Improved physical health
Lower stress
Greater resilience
More energy
Boosted mood
Better self awareness
So… what is self care? This may be obvious to you, and if so, I am envious! But, if, like me, you weren’t taught how to practise self care growing up, and you didn’t have it modelled by anyone, you may find it difficult to understand the concept at first. Initially, I thought it just meant eating healthily and trying not to get too stressed(!), but I’m coming to understand that it involves taking care of yourself in all aspects - physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
Once you have got past the first step of fully understanding what 'self care’ means, you then need to work out what it means for you. Everyone is different - what may be enjoyable and relaxing to one person might be stressful and unpleasant for someone else. In order to take care of yourself effectively, you need to be pretty self aware, with a good grasp on the following:
What it feels like to be well physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually
What it feels like to not be well physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and/or spiritually
What triggers you to feel stressed or off-balance
What you need to feel well in each aspect
You also need to value yourself to prioritise self care, dedicating adequate time and effort to self care activities. And, as well as that, you need to have the confidence to establish and enforce boundaries with other people to ensure your needs are met.
This may sound simple, but it can be complicated for many people (including me). Until recently, I didn’t know what it felt like to feel physically and emotionally safe, secure and relaxed. Growing up, I was taught that what I thought I felt or thought was not actually what I was feeling or thinking, which led to me, as an adult, constantly questioning myself and never being sure of what is going on for me. It’s taken over two years of psychotherapy to get me to the point of developing enough self awareness to start practising effective self care, and I’ve still got far to go.
If you are in a similar position here and are feeling overwhelmed by it all, I totally empathise with you. But, know that it is possible to make a change for yourself. You can forge your own path on your journey. It may be a challenge, but I promise it’s worth it. Let’s do this together.
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My aim is to go into a lot more depth on different ways to practise self care in the coming months, but, for now, I’ve collated a summary of ideas, activities and resources which may help you begin to build your self care plan.
Taking care of your physical needs:
Move your body (whatever form of exercise works for you)
Get good sleep and get enough sleep
Stay hydrated
Eat varied and healthy foods
Relax your body
Taking care of your emotional needs:
Journal or keep a mood diary
Talk about your thoughts and feelings with others
Practise mindfulness
Schedule time to unwind and relax
Taking care of your spiritual needs:
Meditate
Connect with nature
Journal
Practise gratitude
Follow religious customs and attend religious services (if this applies to you)
Taking care of your mental needs:
Engage in activities to keep your mind sharp eg puzzles
Learn a new skill eg language
Do something creative eg sketching, baking, knitting
Read books and watch movies that make you think
Taking care of your social needs:
Prioritise time with family/friends
Spend quality time with your partner
Connect with others online
Connect with the community eg volunteering, joining a book club
If you’ve got this far, thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you’d like to share your self care routine - I’d be really interested
References
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/wheelchair-users-fitness-advice/
https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/five-ways-to-wellbeing/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
https://mhanational.org/taking-good-care-yourself
https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/03/how-and-why-to-practice-self-care/