What is Self-Care?
Self-Care is…
…activities and regular practices that we purposely do in order to reduce stress and enhance our mental health and well-being.
Self-care does not mean selfishness. We can take care of ourself while still caring about others around us. We have needs and wants, just like everyone else. It is okay to be nice to our minds and bodies; in fact, we need to recharge just like a phone in order to function properly.
The 6 areas of self-care are: physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, personal, and professional.
Self-Care is important because…
Have you heard of the saying, “you cannot pour from an empty cup”? That cup is our mind and body. If we give, give, give and constantly take care of others without filling up our energy tank, we can quickly become drained. This is known as compassion fatigue. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we cannot help or care for others. Just like if you don’t water a plant, it cannot grow and thrive. Be nice to yourself so you can thrive.
Ways that I can self-care include…
Self-care looks different for everyone. It can be something as simple as buying yourself a treat, spending some time with a close friend, or doing something to distract yourself from your negative home situation like going to a movie, or reading a book. As long as you are doing something nice for yourself that does not add extra stress, you are self-caring! Below is a checklist that can help you create a self-care routine:
Identify current coping strategies (what do you currently do if you’re stressed or depleted?)
Complete a self-care assessment tool (See “Self-care Assessment Tool” link below) to help decide what you would like to add to your routine
Make a plan
Identify barriers or things that would keep you from practicing self-care
Make a commitment to yourself
Follow through!