Self-Care 101

Self-care is so important and yet so often overlooked. 

Self-care: it's something that people are talking about a lot more these days. Let's take a look at what self-care actually is, why it's so important and ways that we can practice it. 

What is self-care and why is it important?

There are many definitions of self-care floating around online, but, simply put, self-care is the practice of caring for oneself and one's needs. A holistic approach to self-care aims to care for all of an individual's needs, ranging from physical needs like eating and bathing to emotional needs like expressing our feelings and connecting with others and everything in between. Self-care is not selfish or synonymous with self-indulgence. Self-care is necessary for all individuals. Many of us may neglect self-care for various reasons, like mental health struggles or work or school interference. Parents and caregivers may also be especially prone to putting their own needs on the backburner. This is a problem since we can take the best care of others when our own needs have been met first. An overworked, overwhelmed parent, employee, or student whose needs are not being met will likely not do their best work, and any overwhelmed person not taking care of their own needs will not be able to show up as their best self for the various aspects of life.

Ways to practice self-care 

There are many different ways we can practice self-care. Here are a few of my favourites to give you some ideas.

• Keep a personal journal. Keeping a personal journal is a great way to sort through your thoughts and feelings. Check out my post, Journaling For Beginners, for some ideas. I also keep a self-care journal, in which I keep inspirational quotes, self-care tips, ideas for things I can do to lift my spirits, and the like. 
• Take a detox bath. Taking a bath is a popular form of self-care. I like to crank it up a notch sometimes by taking a detox bath. To do so, add about 2 cups of Epsom salt and 2 cups of baking soda to warm bath water and stir to help dissolve. The sulphates in Epsom salt are known to draw toxins and heavy metals out of the body, and baking soda can draw toxins and impurities out of the skin.  
• Go for a walk. Walking boasts a lot of benefits, from boosting immune function to reducing the risk of certain cancers to helping with weight-loss and improving heart health, among others things. Getting out of the house, getting moving and getting some fresh air (and hopefully some sunlight) always helps me to feel better. 
• Connect with nature. Spending time in nature is one of my favourite forms of self-care. Connecting with nature can generate feelings of calm, peace, tranquility, joy, happiness and creativity, as well as help with concentration. Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. My favourite nature activities include nature walks, hiking, camping, geocaching and nature photography.
• Get creative. Making art and being creative are great ways to practice self-care. It's a way to express our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and is known to help with processing trauma as well as reducing anxiety, depression and stress. My favourite ways to get creative include writing, creative journaling, penpaling, drawing and painting. 
• Eat a yummy healthy snack. Fueling our bodies is so important. There are lots of yummy snack options that are healthy; my favourites include fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, yogurt and homemade sorbet, to name a few.
• Listen to music. Incorporating music into our routines and everyday lives has many benefits, from reducing stress to improving mood and helping us to regulate our emotions and feel more balanced. I've noticed a significant improvement in my mood since I started listening to upbeat music almost all day, every day. 
• Connect with others. Connecting with others and social connectedness is an important part of self-care (called social self-care) that is often overlooked, perhaps since it involves others and doesn't often immediately come to mind as a form of self-care. But our connections with others are an important part of our lives, and maintaining healthy, positive connections can greatly benefit our mental health. You can practice social self-care by hanging out with friends, chatting on the phone with loved ones and checking in on those you care about.
• Practice positive self-talk. Practicing kindness and compassion toward oneself is a part of self-love and self-care; positive self-talk is a big part of this. It can reduce stress, improve self-esteem and improve overall well-being. I practice speaking kindly to myself the way I would speak to anyone else I love. A little patience, understanding and kindness can go a long way.

My self-care journal.

Wrapping things up...

The above list includes just a small selection of my own personal favourite self-care activities. There are many other ways to practice self-care, and I'd love to hear your ideas and your favourites! 

In short: self-care is important and not selfish. This post barely scratches the surface, since there is so much information out there regarding self-care, so many kinds of self-care and so many different ways to practice self-care - but I hope it gave you some insight and ideas! 

As always, thank you so much for reading! And feedback is always welcome! 

Hugs, 

Marady

Previous post: 

• Journaling For Beginners

Other posts that touch on self-care:

• Simple Things That Have Positively Affected My Mental Health
• Surviving the Winter Blues