Self-care is often neglected in our everyday lives. We tend to put others’ needs first. But in the long run, this can drain our energy and increase our stress. True self-care is not self-centered or selfish. It’s about paying attention to how we feel in each moment, communicating clearly, and prioritizing our wellness without guilt.
The 7 Pillars of Self-Care
The seven pillars of self-care work together to bring a sense of wholeness and balance to Our life. They include:
- Mental: Mental self-care is about cultivating a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity.
- Emotional: Emotional self-care involves taking care of our emotions with healthy coping strategies.
- Physical: Physical self-care involves taking care of our body with exercise, nutrition, and sleep.
- Environmental: Environmental self-care involves taking care of the spaces and places in which we live, work, relax, and recreate.
- Spiritual: Spiritual self-care involves activities or practices that bring and sustain a sense of meaning and purpose in our life — whether they include a religious component or not.
- Recreational: Recreational self-care involves making time for hobbies, fun activities, and new experiences.
- Social: Social self-care involves building relationships through regular, meaningful human connections and healthy boundaries.
Practicing self-care
It’s a good time to be aware of and grow in self-care and personal wellness. Here are some tips for self-care, which might seem obvious but will truly make a difference if we think about where each one might fit in our life:
- Awareness: The first step toward looking after our needs is to know what they are. Our basic needs for food, shelter, and safety are first, of course. Beyond those, how are we feeling? What is our energy level? Are we able to manage our day-to-day responsibilities with a sense of effectiveness and peace? Are we connected to people who love us? Are we generally hopeful about our future? Do we have the support we need to manage the stress that is part of our life?
- Sleep: The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends that we get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is important for our physical and mental well-being. It can improve our health, mood, and immune function.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can help improve our mood and help us cope with stress. We can start with gentle exercises like walking or yoga.
- Staying Hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day can help us in many ways, including maintaining body temperature, helping maintain a healthy weight, improving exercise performance, and more.
- Nutrition: Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a good choice. We should think about our health and wellness regarding food. Consulting a dietitian or nutritionist would be a good idea.
- Massage: A massage is not essential, but it can help reduce stress, soothe sore muscles, and improve relaxation and mental health.
- Practicing Kindness: Small acts of kindness for others can boost our endorphins, hormones that increase a sense of wellness.
- Practicing Gratitude: We should not hesitate to thank someone who has helped us or tell them we appreciate what they did for us, no matter how big or small. Keeping a gratitude journal can help improve our mental health and outlook by focusing on the helpful aspects.
- Having Fun: Make time for the things we like to do (such as reading, watching movies, cooking, listening to our favorite music, going for a walk, playing games, and so on).
- Saying No: It is okay to kindly decline invitations and requests for help, particularly if we are stressed, busy, tired, or just do not want to accommodate the request.
If we need assistance for our mental and emotional well-being or just need someone to talk to, counselors are available to help us improve our ability to make healthy decisions, provide an objective viewpoint for whatever we’re experiencing, and offer coping tools.
