What does the word self-care mean to you? Is it something that is absolutely necessary for your life? Or perhaps you think of it as an indulgence?
Self-care is important. It is a basic way in which we show ourselves that our own needs matter. We matter. Self-care isn’t selfish. Rather, it is a savior. After all, we all know that we cannot pour from an empty cup!
So, in today’s blog post, let’s talk about the various areas of our lives where we should practice self-care holistically. These are tips that can be applied even by the busiest of individuals. And no, I am not talking about long baths or retail therapy. While those things are good for us, they do not have a long-lasting impact on our humdrum lives.
“Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity.”
Katrina Mayer
What Exactly is Self-care?
Simply put, self-care is the act of taking care of oneself holistically. This includes the various aspects of one’s being- from the very obvious physical well-being to the more obscure spiritual one.
Self-care is choosing to prioritize oneself over and over again until it becomes a habit. In reality, this requires immense discipline and commitment. And yes, it does sound a bit boring. Especially when it means that you have to make a choice between another late-night binge-watch of Bridgerton or getting some sleep (hint: sleep is usually the right choice).
Various Facets of Self-Care
As mentioned before, self-care must be holistic. This includes the following 5 aspects. While some activities target a specific kind, others can be for more than one of these types. For example, an early morning hike with your best friend means taking care of both your physical and social well-being.
- Physical
- Mental
- Emotional
- Spiritual
- Social
6 Practical Self-Care Tips
Learning to Say No
One of the primary ways to ensure physical, mental, and emotional well-being is to learn to say no. You do not have to agree to go to every social occasion thrown your way. Nor do you have to do anything just because someone is asking you to.
Saying no definitely seems a scary prospect at first. But as with most other things, this also gets easier with time. However, you have to remember to be firm yet polite when setting your boundaries.
Beginning to Delegate
Let’s just accept this. You cannot do everything by yourself, however efficient you might be. Moreover, time is a limited commodity in our lives. Hence, it is paramount that you begin to delegate your tasks wherever appropriate.
Delegation in terms of self-care can take on many forms. Here are a few examples-
- Let your toddler pick up after herself once she is done playing with her toys.
- Hire professional help with household work if and when feasible.
- at your workplace, delegate tasks to your team members whenever possible. This way you get to focus on other problems and your team members garner valuable experiences.
Prioritizing Yourself
Another important way to ensure your holistic well-being is to know when to choose yourself. Contrary to the usual belief, prioritizing yourself is not selfish. It is rather an ultimate act of self-love. Remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup.
As a new mother, I found this extremely difficult. I was constantly catering to the needs of this tiny human being. Meanwhile, I was putting my needs on the backburner. Eventually, this resulted in extreme burnout, and later, resentment. I learned the hard way that in order to be of any use to my little one, I had to take a step back and prioritize myself first.
And so, knowing when to put yourself first makes a world of difference when it comes to self-care.
Choosing Happiness
Is happiness truly a matter of choice?
I believe so. It is definitely not an easy choice to make. But in most circumstances, we can choose to put our faces towards the sun and find the light.
Happiness does not mean a giddy feeling in this context. It rather refers to a sense of calm in the face of adversities. Knowing that bad times tide over eventually. And overall, there will be situations that will be beyond our control. What we can truly control in that case is our response.
Related Read: 10 Happiness Habits For the Daily Life
Addressing Your Emotions
We often fail to cope correctly with unpleasant emotions like anxiety, anger, jealousy, or sadness. Instead of facing these less than pleasant feelings, we try to ignore or hide them. This can result in a range of issues- from emotional outbursts to unexplained panic attacks.
Hence, it is imperative to consciously engage in activities that help deal with uncomfortable emotions. This can mean having a heart-to-heart chat with a dependable person. Or sitting with your emotions to know where they stem from.
Related Read: 5 Mindfulness Practices That Helped Reduce My Anxiety
Engaging Your Spiritual Side
Spirituality helps us gain a deeper insight and clarity into our lives. It often gives an ulterior meaning to the work that we do and the choices we make. Spirituality doesn’t involve religion. However, these two aspects often go hand in hand. But that does not mean that you cannot practice spirituality as an atheist. You most definitely can and in fact, you should.
Spiritual self-care is the ultimate act of loving yourself. Nurturing your spirit helps you to find meaning and purpose in your life. And that eventually gives you the reason to keep going forward on your chosen path in life.
Take a Moment
In the busyness and humdrum of our lives, it is always worth taking a moment.
Take a moment to pause. Breathe. Look around.
The hustle will always be ever-present. But to continue onwards with the march, we must also learn to recoup. Self-care is all about taking a moment to pause and rest. So that we can come back stronger and more in the present.
Peace.
Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
