Self care is one of those nebulous terms that can be hard to pin down with a definition because it is so broad. Essentially, self care is the act of taking care of your own health and wellbeing and it covers a wide range of activities and practices that contribute to increased levels of happiness and life satisfaction in general.
One of the most important things to learn as someone new to self care practices is that it is all about listening to your body and mind and doing the things that will bring you the most peace, happiness and satisfaction, and act as a stress reliever. This can take some getting used to, but once you are able to recognise your needs you will be able to manage your stress better, live a healthier life, and be more resilient to the ups and downs that life throws our way.
With today’s hectic and unrelenting lifestyles, it seems that we are always on the go and are just about managing a delicate balancing act between fulfilling our commitments and staving off total burnout. Making time for self care can be tricky, but the best thing about it is that you can find moments for self care no matter how packed your schedule is. Whether you can dedicate five minutes, a few hours, a day, or even a whole week to your self care needs, you will be able to make it work for you and there are different types of self care you can engage in.
Social self care
With so little time for recreation it can be easy to allow yourself to be too caught up with work and other responsibilities to the detriment of your social life. It is important to look after your social needs as an aspect of your self care because we humans are social creatures and we thrive on positive social contact.
If it has been a while since you have done anything socially you may be missing out on the mental health benefits of spending time with friends and family. This may be the perfect time to call or text that friend you haven’t spoken to for a while, or to get in touch with a parent or sibling to see how they are doing.
In-person meet-ups are even better if you have the time, so invite a friend to share a bottle of Malbec over dinner, gather a group of your nearest and dearest to go for a walk, or plan a trip to the beach. Whatever you want to get up to, taking a little time to reconnect with close friends and family can be highly restorative and strengthen your relationships.
Physical self care
When you think of physical self care you may instantly think of exercise. A good exercise routine can certainly be considered to be a fantastic form of self care but it is far from the only way you can look after yourself physically. For example, one way that you can practise physical self care is by spending some time preparing a healthy meal that you love from scratch, at your own pace.
Good food nourishes our bodies but it also fulfils an emotional need and can be a great comfort. Just think of your childhood favourite meals, perhaps prepared for you by a parent or grandparent, and the feelings of comfort and nostalgia it brings you. If you have the time, have a go at recreating this dish for yourself, and have some fun at the same time.
Good hygiene can go a long way to making us feel taken care of and promotes feelings of wellbeing. Unfortunately, when we are super busy it can be hard to find time to do our full skincare routine, and we may even end up skipping a shower or two to save time. Instead of leaving your personal hygiene to become a chore, turn it into a ritual of wellbeing and relaxation.
Run yourself a hot bath, treat yourself to your favourite bath oils, epsom salts, or a fun bath bomb and plan to have a nice long soak. Set aside time to do a face mask or deep condition your hair, and make sure you moisturise after your bath!