Self-Care Ideas
Most are familiar with (i.e. have heard of) the term self-care however, many are unsure of what it actually means and how to effectively engage in self-care. Additionally, many believe self-care is only needed when you’re battling a tough time. Whether or not you’re facing a mental health battle (such as anxiety or depression) or major life transition (such as postpartum or divorce), it’s pivotal for everyone to engage in regular self-care. In order to effectively engage in self-care, it’s important to know the different areas of self-care and the execution of attending to those areas. In this blog, I will highlight the different areas of self-care, as well as share self-care ideas to begin integrating today.
Self-Care Areas
What comes to mind when you think of self-care? What does self-care mean to you? If you don’t have answers to these or aren’t sure how to answer these questions, that is okay and, in fact, is very common. To help better your understanding of self-care, I wanted to quickly go over the 6 different areas of self-care. For a clear definition, as well as benefits and challenges, of self-care, read my previous blog What Is Self-Care?
When attending to self-care, it’s encouraged to attend to the following areas:
Physical self-care
Spiritual self-care
Social self-care
Mental/emotional self-care
Lifestyle self-care
Professional self-care
The self-care assessment is a great tool to help you determine how you’re doing in these 6 different areas. If you’d like to work through the self-care assessment together and gain further guidance around what may be inhibiting you from effective self-care, click below to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation.
Self-Care Ideas
Now that you’re aware of the areas of self-care and where you specifically want/need to improve, it’s important to discuss self-care ideas for effective execution. I’ll provide self-care ideas for each area of self-care however, stay mindful of what does and does not resonate with you.
Physical self-care ideas - engage in an enjoyable exercise (dancing, walking, weight lifting, HIIT, etc.), cook a healthy meal that you’re craving, etc.
Spiritual self-care ideas - engage in religion (attend mass, pray, etc.), meditate in a safe calming space, get out in and connect with nature, etc.
Social self-care ideas - plan a gathering at your house with either family or friends or plan a 1:1 with your closest friend
Mental/Emotional self-care ideas - partaking in regular therapy, living in alignment with your values, assessing (and improving if needed) your self-talk, etc.
Lifestyle self-care ideas - establishing and implementing structure or routine within your days, intentionally scheduling relaxation and vacation(s), etc.
Professional self-care ideas - reviewing your professional goals and making adjustments as needed to reflect your goals, working in alignment with your work ethic, etc.
Remember, these are just examples; there are many ways one can engage in and achieve self-care in all 6 areas. An important piece to self-care is finding and engaging in self-care ideas that are beneficial to YOU. For guidance on how to best determine what self-care looks like for you, watch “What Is Self-Care?”. If you’d like guidance in developing and implementing a self-care plan, or want to explore root causes preventing effective self-care, click below to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation.
