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What Is Self-Care and Why Is It So Important for Your Health?
Let’s clear up one common misconception from the get-go: Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence or being selfish. Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, you can be well, you can do your job, you can help and care for others, and you can do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day.
“Self-care does not have to cost anything — it’s just doing things you enjoy. And a lot of the things we enjoy or feel fulfilled from cost nothing. Stepping outside and taking a deep breath, for example, might be the greatest act of self-care.”
According to recent google searches for “self-care” has more than doubled since 2015.
Psychologists, counselors and educational consultants all say the need for self-care is obvious but is not often acted on.
“We have an epidemic of anxiety, stress and depression, Everybody feels it.” Self-care is part of the answer to how we can all better cope with daily stressors. It’s often work stress, family stress, relationship stress, financial stress, parenting stress etc... And people are feeling lonelier and less able to unwind and slow down, which makes them feel more anxious and overwhelmed by even the simplest tasks.
Self-care includes everything related to staying physically and mentally healthy — including hygiene, nutrition, and seeking medical care when needed.
It’s all the steps an individual can take to manage stressors in his or her life and take care of his or her own health and well-being.
There are a few different categories of self-care:
- Emotional self-care, such as self-talk, weekly bubble baths, saying “no” to things that cause unnecessary stress, giving yourself permission to take a pause, or setting up a weekly coffee date with a friend.
- Physical self-care, such as prioritizing sleep, adopting an exercise routine you can stick with, choosing healthy and nourishing foods over highly processed ones.
- Spiritual self-care, such as attending a religious service, spending time in nature, meditating, incorporating regular acts of kindness into your day, or keeping a gratitude journal