What is self-care?
Put simply, self-care is how we look after ourselves, and like most things, it isn’t something which exists in isolation. Our mind and body are our greatest assets, so looking after them helps us function at our best.
Life is busy, with many pressures and demands to juggle. Learning, observing and engaging in self-care is a key life skill which helps us stay focused, feel happier and often lends itself to a better work-life balance.
Self-care can help you be the best version of yourself by looking after your body and mind. Making good self-care choices can help you move towards a desired outcome or support you to make positive changes in your life. Self-care can also increase our resilience (our ability to cope with challenges or bounce back) as well as enhance our overall health and wellbeing.
How to practice good self-care
1. Give time to yourself and others
Giving time and energy to others is a good way to look after your wellbeing – it’s often referred to as Altruism. Those who give to others are said to rate themselves as happier and more fulfilled.
2. Be kind to yourself
A bit of kindness can go a long way, yet often it’s associated with being kind to others. We’re all guilty of being too hard on ourselves sometimes so being kinder can have a big effect on our quality of life. So don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake or you don’t always manage to complete the ‘to do’ list!
3. Prioritise rest and sleep
Sleep is king! We all need sleep, there’s no doubt about it. When we don’t get enough sleep, it can affect our mood, memory and our judgement. When we talk about getting enough sleep, it’s related to the quality of our sleep too…
4. Switch off…
We live in a world where it’s hard to detach ourselves from our devices. We’re constantly bombarded by emails, messages and notifications. An ‘always on’ culture makes it very hard to switch off…
5. Let time flow by
Have you ever been so absorbed in an activity that the time has passed by without you even noticing? Positive psychology refers to this as ‘flow’. Experiencing flow is said to enhance your wellbeing because your mind is preoccupied with something you’re enjoying, with no real distractions.
6. Make good choices
We can’t be good all the time, but our lifestyle and lifestyle choices are important. Unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity and drinking alcohol excessively are examples of not taking care of our physical health.
7. Work your core
Improving our core stability, range of movement and muscle strength is a great way to support self-care. A strong body helps us maintain good posture, which plays a significant role in managing musculoskeletal health and wellbeing.
8. It’s okay to say no
Clearly, there are some things we can’t say no to but sometimes we do have a choice, yet saying no isn’t always easy. The reality is that saying no can support our self-care and can also be liberating. It can feel uncomfortable to say no, usually because we want to be helpful and we don’t want to let anyone down.
9. Prioritise energisers in your life
Have you ever been in a room where the people you’re with provide inspiration and view life as an opportunity? These people make you feel positive, they are warm, welcoming and you feel energised after spending time with them.
10. Know yourself and be the change
Get to know yourself, your limitations and thresholds. Think about your values, beliefs and what drives and motivates you. While it’s important to acknowledge the areas you would like to change, reflect and embrace your personal strengths.