As a self-care coach I often get asked, if this has something to do with coping with mental health issues, and I'd say, let me put it this way, its just like you taking care of your physical fitness regardless of any physical issues. Self-care is more about prevention and developing healthier lifestyle choices than just the cure.
Let's look at what it actually means and what are its different forms.
What is Self-care?
"Activities and practices we engage in on a regular basis to reduce stress and enhance our well-being." ~Anonymous
It is precisely taking care of ourselves as we would do for our loved ones. And below are some various forms of self-care one could practise.
8 Parts of Self-care
1. Physical
This could involve movement of the body such as performing physical exercises, yoga, marshal arts, etc. And also taking care of physical health and fitness by way of nutrition, sleep, rest, meeting all sensory & sexual needs.
2. Psychological
This could involve more brain exercises, learning new things, applying logical/ analytical/ lateral/ consequential thinking, engaging intrinsic motivation, practising mindfulness and creativity.
3. Emotional
This may involve enhancing emotional literacy, navigating emotions, setting up healthy boundaries, increasing empathy, managing stress efficiently and effectively, developing kindness and compassion for self and for others.
4. Social
This has more to do with helpful people around you, like having a supportive group or network of relationships whom you trust and turn to when required. As this type of self-care is purely received from external factors (outside your control), it becomes tricky at times to entirely depend on such care. But by saying that, it is also fairly important because it helps building sense of belonging and authentic connections.
5. Financial
This involves being on top of your finances, developing financial literacy, managing cash flow (like for example, living expenses, income streams, insurances, savings, etc.) as well as developing healthy relationship with money. May be because I'm an Empath, I like to look at money as energy; something that can neither be destroyed nor be created but can be transformed from one form to another. This also means that it constantly needs to keep flowing and you can't receive it if you aren't offering and vice versa.
6. Spiritual
Just like my above example regarding money, this type of self-care is about generating beliefs and developing values that are important to you and guide your life, finding your purpose and meaningfulness, identifying your strengths and weaknesses and setting noble goals. In it's essence, it is more about setting up simple practices that develops spiritual awareness and interconnectedness - how you are part of the whole and the whole is part of you (attuned with the true meaning of "Namaste").
7. Environmental
This involves having and maintaining a well organised, clutter-free work, business and home environment, keeping cleanliness around and developing sustainable and responsible ways to create, manage and dispose off things including food, clothes, housing, living, etc.
8. Professional
This is about sharing your skills and gifts for the betterment of all, being useful to others with intention to serve, by setting up clear professional boundaries whilst living your purpose.
These are just to name a few important types of self-care one should look at when establishing some simple regular practices to better manage well-being.
If you would like to share ideas or your personal self-care practices, I would love to hear from you.
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