Self-care Tips
Mental Health Matters Blog by Katherine Skillestad Winans, Ph.D.
Self-care is a hot topic, and everyone has an opinion! Lately, I have heard of being criticized for engaging in self-care and people feeling guilty when expressing a desire to dedicate time to their self-care. However, taking care of your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs is not a luxury but a necessity. Not attending to self-care can result in illness, burnout, increased stress, irritability, fatigue, exhaustion, strained relationships, concentration problems, and other difficulties. At the core of self-care is a belief that you know yourself better than anyone else, and you should deeply care for your needs. Self-care is about nurturing your body and soul in small and big ways. Katie Reed eloquently stated, “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”
Self-care is not a single task; once you do it, you have checked the box, and it is done. Conversely, engaging in self-care is an ongoing commitment. There might be times when you spend more time practicing self-care and times when you may not have the capacity to engage fully. I like to think of self-care in terms of things I want to work on and be mindful of practicing each day if possible. Every person’s self-care plan and journey are unique and reflect your individuality.
Here are some helpful self-care tips. The list is not exhaustive, nor could it ever be! I hope these ideas inspire you to care for your needs and provide comfort, respite, peace, and joy!
Physical: Take time to get the sleep and rest you need. Exercise and movement help you stay resilient and flexible. In addition, eating healthy and drinking enough water can make a real difference in how you feel daily.
Emotional: Allowing yourself to experience all feelings and reminding yourself that emotions are not good or bad. Feelings help us understand ourselves and our environment. Make conscious decisions to work in areas of your life where you experienced emotional pain. Seek professional support when you need help with mental health concerns. Allow yourself time and grace to grieve the wounds and losses in your life. Extend compassion and forgiveness to yourself.
Social: Spend time with the people you enjoy and support your values. Develop emotional connections with others. Set boundaries with others regarding your time. All work and no play is a habit you want to monitor.
Spiritual: Turn off the noise and distractions of modern life and spend time alone in quiet ways-practice mindfulness exercises. Spend time in nature. Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Dedicate time for prayer and meditation. Take time to read and reflect on writings that feed your soul. Live a life based on choice and meaning.
Caring for yourself is not only a gift to you but a gift to others. Mental health matters to you and me!
April 11, 2021
