"I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” – Audre Lorde
I’m sure you’ve heard all the chatter about self-care. It's a pretty hot topic right now and has been for a while. All the buzz is for good reason because self-care is important to engage in every day for positive health and well-being. Don’t get alarmed – self-care doesn’t have to mean a day at the spa, a week long all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean, or a weekend away at the cottage. Self-care can be found in the little moments and can be something as simple as a 5-minute morning meditation, writing down three things that you’re grateful for at day’s end, reading a few pages of a book you’re interested in every day, getting proper sleep, going for a walk outside, eating right for proper nutrition… you get the idea. I hope you’re realizing that maybe you do already engage in some form of self-care every day – now you just need to be mindful of it to fully reap the benefits!
For those of you not up to speed, this article will tell you what self-care is, why we need to practice self-care, some examples of self-care to get you started, and some recommended reads and apps to help you engage in self-care.
So…What is Self-Care?
The World Health Organization defines self-care as ‘what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), nutrition (type and quality of food eaten), lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure, etc.), environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.), socio-economic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.), and self-medication.’
In simpler terms, self-care is caring for yourself (mind, body, and spirit) by engaging in activities that bring you joy and contribute to your overall health and well-being.
Why Do We Need to Practice Self-Care?
Self-care is essential for positive and holistic health and well-being. Self-care has been proven to reduce stress levels, improve clarity and creativity, help you re-focus, boost levels of productivity, improve mental health, and avoid burnout.
I want to share a quote that speaks to the importance of self-care and self-love:
“Of all the people you will know in a lifetime, You are the only one you will never leave or lose. To the question of your life, You are the only answer. To the problems of your life, You are the only solution.” - Jo Coudert
Take some time to truly reflect on what that quote means to you and then think about how self-care connects to this idea.
Examples of Self-Care
Below are some examples of self-care if you need some ideas to get started. It is truly imperative that your self-care activities are reflective of you – what you enjoy doing, what will make you feel good, what keeps you grounded, and what allows you to strengthen your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Take some time to figure out what self-care activities you would enjoy engaging in and start doing one today!
· Listening to your favourite music
· Doing arts and crafts
· Taking a fun class
· Drinking herbal tea
· Adult colouring books
· Journalling
· Going to a concert or theatre
· Dancing
· Reading
· Meditation
· Yoga
· Playing a sport
· Cooking or baking
· Taking a warm bath
· Spending time alone without technology
· Calling a friend
· Going for a walk
· Watching a movie
· Taking a nap
Recommended Reads
Below are some self-improvement books that I recommend:
· The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
· The Little Book of Stress Relief by David Posen
· Craft A Life You Love by Amy Tangerine
· The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
· Mindful Meditation for Busy Lives by Chris Berlow
· The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha
· Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
· Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky
· The Stress-Proof Brain by Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D.
· Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
Recommended Apps
Check out these apps to help you engage in self-care and stay on track with making the habit stick!
· Calm
· Headspace
· Bliss
· My Fitness Pal
· Sanity & Self
· MindShift
· Sleep Cycle
· Lumosity
· Think Full
· Charity Miles
If you want to learn more about self-care and create a customized self-care plan with support from an empathic Coach (me!), feel free to reach out today and let’s talk about how I can help you on your journey.
Talk soon! Sabrina
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