Feeling your best is the greatest gift you can give to others because you have the energy to share your gifts and talents! Applying self-care practices may look different for everyone, but it is the conscious act of inviting quality time for yourself that matters. We are all worthy of taking care of ourselves in a healthy manner, which will reflect and impact our loved ones as well as our work productivity. This is why I recommend these five self-care practices for every area of your life, because everyone will win.
1. Physical Self-Care
The mind and body connection is a real phenomenon. When you are caring for your body, you’ll think and feel better too. Physical self-care includes how you're fueling your body, how much sleep you're getting, how much physical activity you are doing, and how well you're caring for your physical needs. Attending appointments, taking medication as prescribed, and managing your health are all part of good physical self-care. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to assess your physical health:
Am I getting adequate sleep?
Is my diet fueling my body well?
Am I taking charge of my health?
Am I getting enough exercise?
2. Social Self-Care
We are not meant to live in total isolation - we all need social connectivity to thrive in life. Although it can be hard to make time for family and friends with our busy schedules, close connections are important for our well-being. Here are some fun ideas to try. If these activities below don’t resonate with you, try something that would.
Watch a fun movie with friends
Call a parent
Have dinner with your special someone
Family game night
Volunteer for a cause that is important to you
3. Mental Self-Care
Did you know that humans have about 6200 thoughts in a single day? Don’t you think our self-talk will affect how we think and feel about ourselves? It’s also important to stimulate your mind with mental activities. Here are some mental activities to try:
Practice self-compassion and acceptance
Choose positive thoughts more often
Choose kindness
Do a puzzle
Learn something new
4. Spiritual Self-Care
Nurturing your spirit doesn’t have to involve religion, though for some it does. It can involve anything that helps you develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding or connection with the universe. Here are a few examples.
Meditation
Yoga
Going to a place of worship
Being in nature
Self-reflection
5. Emotional Self-Care
It is important to have healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions like anger, anxiety, and sadness. Emotional self-care is a process in which we bring our awareness to our emotions and take the steps necessary in order to honor and care for these emotions. Here are some activities that can be helpful for emotional self-care.
Talk to a friend you can trust
Journal your feelings
Feel your feelings without judgement
Meditation
Gratitude
Set boundaries
Take a break
Far too often, we don’t want to slow down because there is so much to do. Ironically, by taking time for ourselves, we gain the strength and positive energy to drive forward in high gear. Sometimes, taking a step back is all we need to feel inner balance, happiness, and peace of mind. You deserve to feel good and you are worthy of quality time for yourself and with others.
Learn more about healthy lifestyle practices and other wellness programs offered by Wellness Workdays.
Written by: Ruby Khatchaturian, Wellness Workdays Dietetic Intern
Sources:
1. Greatist
2. News18