What Self Care do you need to stay healthy

Self Care is all encompassing, taking care of yourself in all aspects; physically, emotionally, and mentally.  It is taking time to rejuvenate, be inspired, rest, feel good, self-reflect, connect and give yourself what you need for your mind, body and soul/spirit.  Being in tune with yourself and treating yourself well through not only your actions but also with your thoughts towards yourself.

There are many ways people can engage in self-care.  There is no one size fits all or even a time limit.  One may need to take time alone to self-reflect, whereas in another moment or for another person, they may need to reach out and connect with other people.  Self-care may come in the form of taking a moment to breath and be mindful or it may be in the form of being creative, doing activities, or yes, even taking a vacation.

Physical: On the macro level, focusing on proper and balanced nutrition, exercise, good sleep hygiene, and taking care of your medical issues are all areas that promote good self-care.   Exercise like yoga, Pilates, and tai chi are great ways to connect with your body and your breathing.  One sleep expert advises that doing 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week will greatly improve your sleep in about 3 weeks’ time.  Knowing how sugars, caffeine’s and nutritional deficiencies impact you, can be very impactful on your physical well-being and is another way of practicing self-care. Massages and baths are self-care cliches, and happen to be my two favorite ways of self-care on the macro level. 

Emotional: Being social and fostering relationships can be another form of self-care.  Healthy relationships and connections with people with healthy boundaries can have a very positive impact on your emotional well-being.  Equally important is how you talk to yourself and provide self-affirmation. Self-care can also include taking time to journal and self-reflect, process your feelings, set goals, and explore your hopes and dreams.  They say laughter is the best medicine and taking time to laugh is a great way to relax, relieve stress and take care of yourself.  Increasing the ability to connect, positive self-talk, and handle emotions productively are all important ways to practice good self-care.

Spiritual/mental:  Creativity, meditation, mindfulness, organization, goals, outdoors.  Where are areas you can find peace of mind by either feeling a sense of accomplishment and/or finding clarity?   Some people find a sense of peace in a church or temple, others may find it with outdoors activities, while others through meditation.  Where can you connect with yourself on the highest level of peacefulness? Regardless of where you find a sense of peace or clarity, it’s a vitally important part of good self-care.

I believe in balance and that everything is interconnected.  Whether it is in moments, hours, days or ultimately a lifetime, may you find your balance and your peace.  Jim Rohn (a past motivational speaker has a great quote that I will end with:  

“Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and the body work together. Your body needs to be a good support system for the mind and the spirit. If you take good care of it, your body can take you wherever you want to go, with the power and the strength and energy and vitality you will need to get there.”  ~ Jim Rohn