By: Amelia Elkins, LCSW, CAS
Self-care is more than just a buzz word or a bubble bath. Self-care is finding tailored tools to feel grounded, relaxed, and present in your everyday life. Using self-care strategies regularly is essential to maintain a healthy baseline mood and level of functioning. Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start, so keep on reading for some helpful tips!
7 Different Self-care Categories to Look at Today
Here are some categories to consider when creating your own plan:
- Emotional: Boundaries, boundaries, and more boundaries. Boundaries may be simply explained by either saying “yes” or saying “no”. Saying yes means allowing others into your life to help, support, or be of guidance. Saying no means not giving into things which aren’t serving you. This may result in saying no to certain plans or turning down a new role at work because it will impact your quality of life.
- Physical: The benefits of exercise for mental health are insurmountable. Movement is a great way to release tension, regulate your body, and maintain energy levels. Think about what types of movement you enjoy; don’t force yourself to engage in exercise that don’t match to you and your lifestyle, because the positive activity will not be sustained in the long-term. For some people, sweating it out at the gym is what works for them, for others it’s nice walks around the neighborhood.
- Nature: Connecting with nature is crucial for mental health. From a day hike to a ten-minute break barefoot in the park, taking space to ground your body outside has numerous benefits.
- Connection: How does connection feel best for you? Calling a friend on your commute home, setting up time to talk with a relative in person, or facetiming to watch a show together are just some examples of ways to reduce loneliness. If you’re struggling with your support system, volunteering is another great way to get out and meet new faces while giving back.
- Nutrition: You are what you eat! Listening to your body and recognizing which foods help you feel energized, calm, and fueled vs. lethargic or unmotivated can vastly impact your mood.
- Mindfulness: Taking time out of each day to simply breathe and be present is associated with lower stress levels and higher self-awareness.
- Purpose: Lastly, taking a look at your value system and comparing this to your life. Are you engaging in projects which fill your soul? If not, this could be a missing piece to feeling content. More on value exploration here: (https://soulsalt.com/list-of-values-and-beliefs/)