Self-care has become a more common term in recent years and can mean something different depending on who you ask. In general, practicing good self-care means taking the necessary steps on a daily basis to promote one’s own strong mental, physical, and emotional health. This can help you to better deal with stressful situations and keep a level head when facing obstacles in daily life. Proper self-care can even help alleviate the symptoms of or prevent mental health problems like anxiety and depression. If self-care is a relatively new concept to you, you may consider learning more about its benefits and the different ways you can implement it into your life. It’s important to remember that self-care is about what is effective for you, and what may benefit others may not benefit you. It is all a matter of finding practices that are the best fit for you.
Practicing Self Care in Regards to Mental Health
Do you regularly feel stressed or have a hard time coping with personal or professional challenges? Perhaps your stress is beginning to affect your ability to fall asleep at night, or it is leading to mental health problems like anxiety and depression. If your mental health is affecting your ability to function on a daily basis, the most important self-care decision you can make for yourself is to speak with your primary care physician. They can help provide a diagnosis if you are, in fact struggling with a mental health disorder. They can also prescribe medication if they deem it to be necessary, as well as connect with a therapist you can speak with. Many people view attending therapy on a regular basis as a form of self-care because it can help them work through their different emotions and learn how to better deal with stress. Some additional ways to practice self-care in regards to mental health include:
- Practicing yoga or some other form of meditation
- Working through your emotions through journaling
- Taking a break from social media or other forms of technology
- Listening to positive, uplifting podcasts or reading uplifting books
- Spending time around supportive people and putting distance between yourself and those who jeopardize your mental health
- Saying “no” when you’re asked to take on more responsibilities than you’re comfortable with
- Saying “no” to social situations when you feel like you need time to rest and be alone
- Asking for help when you need it
- Listening to calming music
- Spending time with a calming animal
- Getting out into nature where there are fewer distractions
Practicing Self Care in Regards to Physical Health
Many people don’t realize the strong connection that exists between mental and physical health. If you’re not taking care of your physical health, your mental health will quickly begin to suffer as well. Here are some examples of how to practice self-care when it comes to physical health:
- Make sure that you’re getting good quality sleep on a regular basis
- Getting your body moving daily, whether it be through working out a the gym, taking a walk, hiking, dancing, playing a sport, or simply stretching.
- Eating well-balanced meals that are rich in nutrients
- Avoiding foods that are heavily processed or full of sugar
- Visiting a doctor at least once a year and getting bloodwork done to ensure your body is functioning normally
- Avoid tobacco products
- Make sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water
- Limit your caffeine intake
Practicing Self Care in Regards to Emotional Health
Emotional health is often one of the aspects of overall health that we neglect the most. We may be so busy keeping up with the responsibilities of day-to-day life that we don’t really take the time to take into account how we’re feeling or what sort of mood we’re in. A big aspect of self-care in regards to emotional health is making the time to do things that make us happy. Some additional examples include:
- Setting healthy boundaries with others.
- Learning how to be self-forgiving
- Allowing yourself to let go of things that no longer serve you
- Give yourself a break when you need it.
- Make time each day to do something you enjoy, even if it’s something simple like reading a chapter of a book or watching an episode of your favorite show.
- Keeping a mood journal so you can track how your emotions fluctuate over time
- Writing down three things you’re grateful for each day
- Learning how to focus on the positives in life
- Learning how to treat yourself after a hard day or an exceptional accomplishment
- Learning effective coping skills
Self-care is a broad term and can mean something different from person to person. In general, this concept refers to taking the necessary steps to protect and improve your overall mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. There are numerous benefits to this practice, and it can even help reduce stress and prevent mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Some ways to practice mental health self-care include journaling, therapy, and practicing meditation. Additionally, some ways to practice physical self-care include eating nutritious meals and exercising frequently. Finally, some ways to practice emotional self-care include taking the time to do activities you love, letting go of things that no longer serve you, and practicing gratitude daily. At Achieve Concierge, we want to help you reach your best possible mental health, and we want to start today. Call (619) 393-5871 today to learn more.