Just recently, someone asked me what my definition for Self-care was and just as I was about to answer, I had to pause and think about it for a minute because I’m aware that the term “self-care” seems to get thrown around easily these days. For me, self-care is simply; caring for ourselves, ya’ll. It’s really that simple.
Self-care is anything that we deliberately do (or refrain from doing) with the aim of achieving a better well-being for our body, mind and spirit. Putting it differently, it could also be described as giving ourselves the same grace, compassion, and care we would normally give to other people that we care deeply about.
Life can be very stressful sometimes and even exhausting. We don’t have anyone to help us with our chores, we have to work 50 hours a week, we still have to take care of other personal and family obligations and cap it all up, we’re still all by ourselves to deal with our unhealthy habits; there’s no one looking over our shoulders to tell us that we do NOT need that last row of chocolate (even though we may have already eaten the rest of the block).
The adult self-care checklist definitely looks a little different as we have evolved. Our self-care mindset may have taken the form of our individual visions for ourselves; how we individually think we deserve to be treated in order to feel better about ourselves.
While we can agree that it is imperative to practice “self-care” for our personal growth and development. Self-care includes all the things you do to take care of your well-being in four key dimensions – your emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual health
What is self care and why is it important?
Self-care simply means that you’re being mindful of your own needs, so that you’re better able to support the people you love and care about. When you take care of yourself and you’re not under a lot of stress, you’ll be better able to meet the needs of people around you that you care about.
Self-care comes in a variety of forms.
EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE CHECKLIST
- Do something that makes you happy.
- Practice breathing techniques.
- Share only positive things on your social media.
- Forgive yourself for the little mistakes that you make.
- Ask someone you admire to be your personal mentor.
- Leave 15 minutes in your day everyday as “white space”.
- Listen to at least three songs you love each day.
- When you feel your self-esteem start to slip, write a love letter to yourself.
- Develop friendships that are supportive.
PHYSICAL SELF-CARE CHECKLIST
- Develop a healthy sleep routine.
- Eat healthy.
- Take lunch breaks.
- Go for short walks at lunchtime.
- Take your dog for a long walk after work.
- Use your sick leave to get some quality rest.
- Exercise regularly, before and after work.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF-CARE CHECKLIST
Self-care is not a one-time thing, It’s something you should do regularly as often as possible. Engaging in healthy leisure activities regularly to keep your body functioning at optimal level.
- Try New Activities
- Read a book
- Connect with yourself through reflection
- Adopt healthy hobbies
SPIRITUAL SELF-CARE CHECKLIST
Spiritual self-care activities are those activities we engage in to find and nurture a sense of connection to a Higher Power and give deeper meaning to our lives. Some of us may find that one particular spiritual path feels right and helps us find meaning and understanding for our lives.
Spiritual self-care techniques include
- Meditation
- Being present in Nature
- Dedicating quality time for self-reflection
- Lying down and just Resting
- Being still and Listening
One of my favorite self-care activities is EXERCISE. Remember to always find time to move your body in ways that you enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like a chore. That way, you’re more likely to perform the exercise routines more often since it’s something that you enjoy doing.
Exercising for 30 minutes everyday will just help tie up all of your self-care activities into one tiny cute looking bow. You will sleep better for it, choose to eat healthier and ultimately radiate some kind of joy and energy that will be irresistible.
And just like we always harp on about, choosing to eat a healthy balanced diet and choosing foods that nourish your body is an absolute necessity if you want to look and feel your best.
#Glenny’s Nuggets
- Life has taught me not to rush things that need time to grow.
- Taking care of myself doesn’t necessarily mean “me first” it just means “me too”
- Exercise is a celebration of what your body can do, not a punishment for what you ate.
- Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes including you.
How are you slowing down lately? You can let me know by dropping your suggestions in the comments section below.
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