On The Importance Of Self Care
In the month of November, many of us find ourselves being busier than ever with schoolwork, extracurriculars, or general social events, all the while it is becoming darker and colder outside. With this combination of events, it is very easy to become overworked and to start losing enjoyment or motivation in the things we do and the way we generally approach our everyday.
For this reason, we are today discussing the important topic of self-care and not being ashamed to take time for yourself when you need it. We will be looking into what self-care is and what are some activities that can be considered as such, as well as briefly explaining the different types of self-care that you can gift yourself this November. Then we will discuss why nurturing your self-care can be so beneficial for your overall well-being and finish off with some practical tips on how to enhance, define, and establish your own self-care rituals.
If that sounds interesting, then please read on.
WHAT ACTUALLY IS SELF CARE?
Self-care is considered to be any activity or set of activities that relate to staying physically and mentally healthy as an individual. It represents all the steps or ways an individual can express genuine health and respect for themselves in whatever way that is most meaningful and beneficial to them in the moment, in order to promote their own health and well-being.
The World Health Organization went as far as to define self-care as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.”
In this way, prioritizing self-care activities may initially seem like quite a selfish act, but in reality, it isn't because selfishness is associated with a desire to take away from others usually or their own detriment. However, self-care is not like that and is instead a philosophy grounded in replenishing your own sources and needs without depleting those of others. By listening and acting in accordance with your own needs, you can then respond to the needs of the world and other people much better as well.
WHAT COUNTS AS SELF CARE?
The beauty of self-care is that it can take many different forms for different people. For example, someone's definition of self-care may involve meeting up with their friends every week and prioritizing the need for socializing and relaxing in this way. For another person, self-care may simply be taking a day off and just reading a book or even getting in extra sleep by going to bed earlier.
Self-care is not just limited to your typical “face mask and chill” definition but can be any activity that promotes genuine relaxation for you and boosts your overall well-being. This is why self-care is grounded primarily in listening to and recognizing your own needs and then acting upon them.
Another misconception is that self-care has to be expensive or very time-consuming, which certainly can be the case with some activities. However, it by far does not have to follow that definition. It is often the simpler acts of kindness or small expressions of gifts and love that make us most fulfilled in the end. As always, remember that no amount of dissatisfaction can be replaced by materialistic goods and purchases alone, whereas taking part in social activities can be so important for your overall well-being.
TYPES OF SELF CARE
When discussing self-care, there are a couple of categories under which it can be divided:
Emotional self-care: This type of self-care has everything to do with enhancing your emotional and mental well-being. Examples of this can be simply learning to say “no” to more responsibilities or events, giving yourself permission to pause and take a break, or going for a weekly coffee with a friend.
Physical self-care: This self-care prioritizes your body's physical health and can take the form of prioritizing better quality of sleep, choosing to eat more nutritious foods, or learning to move your body in ways that feel good to you.
Spiritual self-care: Spiritual self-care is about enhancing your spiritual well-being and health, which can be done by spending time in nature each day or week, adopting reflection practices such as talking to someone about any worries or writing down thoughts in your journal, or even attending group-based activities that give you a sense of belonging.
SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Now that we have a clear understanding of what self-care entails and the various practices that fall under its umbrella, let's explore the compelling reasons for prioritizing self-care:
Enhance overall well-being and life span: Engaging in self-care allows you to optimize all aspects of your health, directly contributing to heightened levels of happiness, general life satisfaction, and even an extended life span.
Reducing stress and anxiety: By prioritizing your own needs and well-being, you equip yourself with the tools to effectively manage and reduce stress levels. Elevated stress, if sustained, can lead to negative effects such as depression, insomnia, and excessive weight gain.
Elevating your mood: Self-care practices are designed to uplift your mood, reducing the likelihood of developing mood-related disorders like depression. This proactive approach fosters emotional well-being.
Responding better to setbacks: Prioritizing self-care enhances your ability to reflect on challenges and setbacks, strengthening your mindset. This resilience empowers you to rise above adversity and respond more effectively to setbacks.
Benefits your relationships: Taking care of both your physical and mental health replenishes your body's vitality, promoting a positive mood. This, in turn, enhances the quality of your social interactions, making them more enjoyable and fruitful, as positive energy can be contagious :)
Based on different studies, here are five self-care-related activities which have been found to be linked with a longer life span:
Engaging in regular exercise every day (even just 20-30 minutes)
Establishing a consistent and restful sleep routine
Regularly spending time outdoors or in nature
Finding purpose in your life
Adopting a predominantly whole foods diet that is low in ultra-processed ingredients
BUILDING YOUR OWN SELF CARE ROUTINE
How to Build a Routine that Works for You:
Identify activities that bring you joy, recharge your energy, and help restore your equilibrium.
Start with a modest step, choosing one behavior you want to integrate into your daily routine for the upcoming week.
Progress by engaging in that behavior each day for a week.
Take a moment to reflect on your emotions and thoughts.
Introduce additional practices when you feel prepared.
Seek support by sharing your practices with loved ones, a coach, a licensed professional (such as a therapist or dietitian), or through resources provided by your healthcare plan, community, or workplace.
Here are some ideas for additional self-care activities that you can try:
Emotional/Mental health related:
Connecting with a friend through a call or meeting up with them
Journaling about your feelings or recent experiences
Temporarily muting your phone's notifications for a day or taking a break from social media for a day or week
Cleaning or organizing your space
Adopting a mediation practice to give you more piece of mind
Unwinding and de-stressing with a relaxing bath or reading a book
Learning new things which excite you and you find interesting
Becoming better at prioritizing your energy and saying “no” to responsibilities and demands of others
Physical health related:
Prioritizing early bedtime or allowing yourself to sleep in when needed
Maintaining a balanced, minimally processed diet with recognizable foods
Discovering an enjoyable form of exercise and incorporating it regularly into your lifestyle, not out of obligation but as a choice to nurture your body.
Prioritizing good personal hygiene
Spiritual health related:
Participating in service-oriented acts or joining groups that provide a sense of belonging and purpose in life
Exploring new courses or acquiring new skills through group-based workshops or events
Spending time in nature
Find ways to express gratitude every day (Even for the smallest more negligible things)
🧠 KEY IDEAS
In todays blog post we have discussed the timeless topic of why establishing a regular self care routine can be one of the best things that you can do for all aspects of your health and well being.
✏️ REFERENCES
World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, June 30). Self-care interventions for health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/self-care-health-interventions
Lawler, M. (2023, March 17). What Is Self-Care, and Why Is It So Important for Your Health? EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/self-care/
O’Callaghan, O. (2020, January 8). Why is Self-Care Important? Thrive from Laya Healthcare. https://www.layahealthcare.ie/thrive/lifestyle/whyisself-careimportant/
Cassata, C. (2019, September 3). Why you don’t need a lot of time or money to make Self-Care a priority. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/self-care-is-not-just-treating-yourself
