What Is Self-Care And Why Is It Important?

Self-care can be defined by its name, taking care of yourself. Self-care includes anything that you do that helps you stay healthy physically, mentally etc. Although prioritizing self-care may seem like common sense, especially when you take longevity into account, it is the first thing we abandon when we find ourselves in a challenging situation.

 whether because you have health problems, are going through a financial crisis, have lost your job, you are getting divorced or, in our current situation, you are going through the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why it is so important to prioritize your self-care and not leave it aside, especially when you find yourself in challenging situations.

Why Is Personal Care Important?

In our society, where people are expected to work long hours and postpone vacations, there is a belief that we should always be productive, which can take away all opportunities to take care of yourself.

However, taking a little time to engage in your own care can help you relieve the pressures of everyday life, allowing you to renew yourself back to a healthy place where you can maximize your productivity. Living working without taking breaks from time to time causes severe consequences, which can include exhaustion, depression, anxiety, resentment and many other negative repercussions.

Self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression. Other hand reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and many other positive effects. From a physical health perspective, self-care has been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and cancer. Spiritually, it is possible that self-care allows us to stay in sync with our higher strength and, in turn, find our purpose in life.

Considering The Obstacles

Perhaps one of the most common excuses that people give for not getting involved in their personal care is lack of time. While many of us lead busy lives, it is necessary that we take a moment each day for ourselves, even if this time is short. Another great thing about self-care is that it doesn't have to cost you a cent. You can even achieve it in the comfort of your home. These perks are especially beneficial right now, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing restrictions.

You should keep in mind that self-care is about yourself. What works for some people may not work for others, but that's the beauty of the self-care routine. Maybe many suggestions you have been given in the past have not worked, but don't be discouraged. You should be encouraged to continue your search until you find the routine that best suits you. You must do it consciously and regularly for it to have the greatest impact. Even if you only spend 5 minutes of the day, it is undoubtedly better than nothing. Over time you will notice a significant improvement in your overall health and well-being. Even if you're just starting out, you'll be able to see some results almost immediately.

How To Take Care Of Yourself? Build A Personal Care Plan Tailored To You

When focusing on building a self-care plan, it may be helpful to consider the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's (SAMHSA) 8 dimensions of well-being. Although developed by substance abuse professionals, these dimensions conceptualize domains of well-being that complete us all. Among these dimensions we can mention:

1. Emotional
2. Environmental
3. Financial
4. Intellectual
5. Occupational
6. Physical
7. Social
8. Spiritual

These dimensions, if maintained in a healthy balance, generally predict very high levels of well-being.

Still, we still have a lot of work to do. Life is dynamic and so are our dimensions of well-being. In challenging times, we can trust and lean on our strengths to keep moving forward. When we implement few dimensions, we may find it difficult to do things that, in the past, we did easily.

Each of our plans will be different, but below you can see some suggestions to take into account in each of the dimensions. You are free to modify, replace or think of your own routines as you progress. Remember this is about yourself.

• Emotional – Talk to someone, reflect, read, journal, do something artistic, exercise, listen to music, go for a walk, watch a show or movie that reflects your mood (or does the opposite and helps you calm down). change it), cry to vent, hug someone, laugh, take a nap.

• Environmental - Go for a walk in a pleasant place, breathe fresh air, enjoy the sun, enjoy the sky at night, collect trash, reduce your waste, use reusable products, recycle, clean your house, design an environment in your house.

• Financial - Develop a practical financing plan, open a savings account, start saving (even if it's just $1 a day), try to save even more if you're already saving, invest, reduce unnecessary purchases, think about how You can be more efficient, avoid credit cards, ask for a raise.

• Intellectual - Read, listen to audiobooks, watch documentaries, do crossword puzzles, be aware of the world around you, be curious, try something new, discover your artistic or creative side, start taking a class, finish a study program, graduate.

• Occupational - Learn a trade, get your degree, train for a promotion, accept the promotion, prepare your resume, apply for your dream job, start doing something you enjoy, open your own business.

• Physical - Train daily, go for a walk, eat healthy, have your annual health check-up, visit the dentist, take your medications correctly, avoid drugs and alcohol, sleep 7 to 9 hours, go to the doctor when you don't feel good.

• Social - Get together with friends and family, connect with old friends, volunteer, go out, have fun, engage in healthy use of social media, exude positivity, use technology when distance is an impediment, laugh a lot.

• Spiritual - Meditate, pray, reflect, do yoga, visit a spiritual place, do good things for others, be mindful, think about the purpose and meaning of your life, think about your higher strength, love each other, help those who need it.

Self-care is an activity you should do every day. In this way, you will be able to achieve a better balance between your dimensions of well-being and improve your health and well-being in general. Life is beautiful and you should enjoy it.

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