When we think of Self care we should think about what it means to be healthy, we typically think of physical health, exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, and avoiding things we know are harmful for our bodies. Learning about what we may not know is harmful to our bodies. However, we don't know what we don't know, we often overlook self-care which is the foundation of mental health, our mouth health our spiritual health our financial health, and we need to consider if we are consistent with what we practice in our lives. If your physical body is in excellent condition and you’re eating a healthy balanced diet but your mind is in continual chaos or overwhelm and you live in a state of stress and anxiety, this can be detrimental to your overall health. I know first hand about this. Self-care is an activity we choose to deliberately engage in for our emotional, physical, Mental, spiritual, financial and professional well-being. The benefits of self-care include: Greater self-awareness and self-compassion Emotional Self-Care Greater patience Reduced stress and anxiety Increased energy and immunity Enhanced productivity Greater resilience Improved physical health Improved emotional well-being Better ability to care for ourselves and be present for others Our ability to connect, reflect and process our emotions and cope with difficult feelings and situations develop is important to our overall mental health. Physical Self-Care Physical self-care is what many of us typically believe when we hear the words self-care. This type of self-care refers to any physical activities you deliberately perform in to enhance your physical body. A few examples include: Being active (going for a walk, a bike ride, taking a fitness class, yoga, etc.) Drinking plenty of water and having a healthy diet Getting good 7-8 hours of sleep a night and taking a nap when needed Receiving a massage regularly Taking a relaxing bubble bath Dancing to your favorite song or taking a dance class Thus give some thought to what types of physical activities make you feel calm, balanced and content, and schedule regular time on your calendar to do them. Mental Self-Care Mental self-care encompasses anything you do specifically to stimulate your mind, intellect and that cultivates a healthy mind. Some activities that fit under the intellectual self-care category include: Listening to an interesting podcast Trying a new hobby like learning chess Going to a museum to see an exciting exhibit Solving a challenging puzzle Reading an intriguing book Creating art, performing music, writing a poem Spiritual self-care applies to all whether or not you are religious, spiritual, atheist, agnostic, or otherwise. Spiritual self-care encompasses activities you engage in to connect with and nurture your inner spirit, or heart which for some may include activities that honor a belief in a higher power, God, the universe or whatever you call a greater spiritual presence which is different for different people. Some examples of spiritual self-care include: Spending time in nature Praying Practicing yoga or meditation Volunteering for a cause you care deeply about Examples of self-care activities to address your emotional needs include: Journaling your feelings Talking to a friend, partner, coach, therapist, or spiritual mentor Listening or playing music Working in your garden Using affirmations If you struggle with controlling your emotions, are easily triggered emotionally, are affected by others negative moods, you may find this self-care area important to practice consistently. The best way to tend to your emotional self-care needs is to pay attention to your internal self-dialogue. Being aware if you’re engaging in negative self-talk is an important an unhealthy habit. The second step is to replace that negative self-talk with words that are loving and kind. Learn to give yourself grace, you can develop a healthy coping process that can improve your contentment with yourself. You need to love you first and formost.
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