The Importance of self-care

Self-care is taking care of oneself. It is the practice of consciously doing things that improve one’s health. We deliberately do any activity to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. It is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety and keeps a good relationship with oneself and others.

But Self-care isn’t a selfish act. It is not only about considering our needs; it is about knowing what we need to do to take care of ourselves. 

Some of the act of self-care are:

• Say no to something you don’t want to do
• Make something healthy yet delicious for dinner
• Get enough sleep. 
• Exercise. 
•  Practice meditation.
• Take a relaxing bath
• Do pleasurable activities every day
• Look for opportunities to laugh
• Listen to your favourite music
• Watch your favourite film
• Make a list of things you like about yourself.
• Spend time with loved ones.

In general, Self-care involves:

• Making healthy lifestyle choices – being physically active and eating healthily
• Avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits – avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Self-monitoring – checking for signs of deterioration or improvement

Self-management – managing disease symptoms, either alone, in collaboration with healthcare professionals, or alongside other people with the same health condition.

Dimensions of self-care.

Self-care goes beyond health. There are more other factors that affect self-care. When these dimensions are managed to balance, then one can achieve higher levels of wellness. Self-care is a broad concept that also encompasses hygiene (general and personal); nutrition (type and quality of food eaten); lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure, etc.); environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.); socioeconomic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.); and self-medication.

Core principles: Fundamental principles for self-care include aspects of the individual (e.g. self-reliance, empowerment, autonomy, personal responsibility, self-efficacy) as well as the community (e.g. community participation, community involvement, community empowerment).

• Physical
• Spiritual
• Emotional
• Environmental Factors
• Social
• Financial
• Occupational
• Intellectual

• Physical – Work out daily, take a walk, eat healthy, get your annual checkup, see the dentist, take medications as prescribed, avoid drugs and alcohol, see the physician when you do not feel well.
• Emotional – Talk to someone, reflect, journal, read, do something artistic, listen to music, work out, take a walk, watch something that suits the mood (or does the opposite and changes it), cry it out, hug someone, cuddle, laugh, take a nap.
• Spiritual – Meditate, pray, reflect, engage in yoga, visit a meaningful site, do right by others, consider your higher purpose and meaning, look to your higher power for support, love one another, help those in need.
• Environmental – Take a walk somewhere nice, breathe in fresh air, enjoy the sun, enjoy the night sky, avoid littering, pick up litter, reduce waste, use reusable products, recycle, clean your house, redesign a room.
• Financial – Develop a practical financial plan, open a savings account, start saving , try saving even more if you are already saving, invest, cut back on unnecessary purchases, consider where you can cut corners, avoid credit cards, ask for a raise.
• Occupational – Learn a trade, get your degree, train for a promotion, accept the promotion, put together your resume, polish your resume, apply for your dream job, take on a task you enjoy, open your own business.
• Social – Meet up with friends and family, keep in contact with old friends, volunteer, go out, have fun, engage in healthy social media use, utilize technology when distance is a factor, have a big laugh.
• Intellectual – Read, listen to audiobooks, watch documentaries, complete puzzles, be mindful of the world around you, become curious, try something new, tap into your creative/artistic side, take a class, complete a program, graduate.
  
  
  
• What are the benefits of self-care?
• Self-care can improve your physical health
• Self-care can reduce stress and anxiety
• Self-care can boost your self-esteem
• Self-care protects your mental health
• Self-care can lead to better relationships.
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  Conclusion:
• self-care is a Lifestyle to put yourself in First Place. self-care is the key to living a balanced life. Self-care requires checking in with yourself and asking yourself how you’re doing and what your body’s asking for. When self-care is regularly practiced, the benefits are broad and have even been linked to positive health outcomes such as reduced stress, improved immune system, increased productivity, and higher self-esteem.Intellectual – Read, listen to audiobooks, watch documentaries, complete puzzles, be mindful of the world around you, become curious, try something new, tap into your creative/artistic side, take a class, complete a program, graduate.