We’ve all heard the term “self-care,” and most of us agree that it’s a good idea for us to practice it. The bigger problem is actually making the time to do it.
But what exactly is self-care? And why’s it so important to practice it? Most importantly, what benefits does it have to our mental health? Let’s take a closer look.
Self-care is the practice of taking steps to look after yourself, and its benefits should be immediately obvious. It’s all about keeping yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy, and if you feel good, your brain will be good to you in return.
Self-care can be particularly important for people who suffer from depression and/or anxiety. If you suffer from health anxiety, for example, then taking care of your health will ensure that there’s less for you to worry about.
There are 5 key dimensions of self-care:
Intellectual: Intellectual fulfillment comes when we learn new things or carry out creative activities which push us towards intellectual growth and achievement.
Emotional: Emotional self-care is all about listening to your heart. Spend time with the people you love and do things that make you feel good, such as giving time to a charity or helping a friend to move house.
Environmental: The environment that we spend our time in can have a huge impact on our mental health. You might not be able to move to a mansion, but you can take some time to tidy up and do the housework.
Physical: Taking care of your physical well-being means eating healthily, exercising, and making sure you’re taking care of your hygiene. Healthy body, healthy mind.
Social: Human beings are inherently social, so we need to make sure that we’re getting out of the house and spending time with people. If we can’t do that due to the pandemic, we should schedule Zooms and phone calls instead.
Remember that while it’s easy to know that self-care makes sense, it’s often the first thing that we forget about when times get tough or we’re super busy at work. Whatever happens, we need to make sure we make time in our busy schedules to practice self-care so that it doesn’t get forgotten or become an afterthought.
By taking care of ourselves in the present, we ensure that we’re in the best possible shape for the future. So if you haven’t already, it’s time for you to start taking better care of yourself!
