As the New Year approaches, many people are reflecting on their health and life. One of the most prominent goals for this new year is self-care. To practice self-care, we need to know what it is and how to do it because the word “self-care” can mean different things to different people. For some, self-care means going home from work and taking a deep breath in your living room before you continue with anything else that day; for others, it means taking a hot bath after a long day of work as opposed to going out with friends.
“Self-care” is a phrase that encompasses more of a lifestyle than a to-do list of things people do for their health. Some may think that self-care is solely about health (resting, eating well, exercising). Self-care also includes physical and emotional wellness needs such as stress management, sleep, and your social life. Self-care encompasses mental wellness too—e.g., getting that long-awaited all important promotion at work or struggling with being in debt—whatever the circumstances may be, self-care is strongly linked to the ability to cope with life’s challenges.
What is self-care?
Self-care is, in essence, being healthy and taking good care of yourself. The term “health” encompasses more than just being physically fit, so self-care includes the mental and emotional wellness aspects of health as well. It’s a lifestyle that includes eating well, exercising, relaxing, and socializing—not just sleeping, resting, and going to the doctor. Self-care also encompasses managing your finances (or not).
How should I achieve self-care?
First and foremost, you have to be aware of what quality of life means for you—don’t feel that a particular lifestyle is the only way to achieve self-care. Remember, a healthy lifestyle is about taking on certain responsibilities as well. To help you decide what that means for you, ask yourself questions such as: “How do I want to live my life?” “How can I spend my time in the best way possible?” and “What are my values and ethics if I am not taking care of myself?” (see Resources section). Look at the context surrounding your health to see if there are more important matters that need your attention.
What can I do to achieve self-care?
Keep a journal for one week. List the things you do that are associated with self-care and how you feel after doing them. This will help keep you aware of how you spend your time and if self-care is on the back burner or not. Make a plan to address issues you have written in your journal. Seek out professional help as needed.
What is the difference between self-care and taking care of your health?
Self-care encompasses a lifestyle in addition to being healthy. The idea of self-care is that it’s about taking control of your own life, which involves having control over decisions and time management. Taking care of your health means bringing yourself into good physical condition so that you can have a healthy lifestyle (be well nourished and have the proper fuel available, be physically fit). In other words, you are not responsible for taking care of yourself if you are unhealthy (i.e., dead), even though self-care can help with this process.
How does self-care affect my physical, mental, and emotional wellness?
Self-care is important because it helps to keep you balanced and sane. It’s important to be aware of what type of lifestyle will fulfill your needs for a satisfying life, which often involves being physically fit but also having a fulfilling job, being in good financial health, getting enough sleep, and many other factors. Without self-care (i.e., doing the things that you need or want to do), you may not be able to function or live a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
The concept of self-care seems simple enough, but it’s quite difficult to put into practice. The thing that can help is writing down goals and keeping a journal so that you can log your efforts and successes along the way. You can also look at your daily habits to see if there are any areas that need improvement. Lastly, don’t be afraid to seek out professional help.
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