The 7 Main Areas of Self-Care
Self-care is the practice of consciously doing things that enhance and improve your life. Self-care happens on many levels. Most of us think of personal hygiene practices as the main area to focus self-care on. While personal hygiene is included in self-care, it is only one small aspect of it. The Seven main areas of Self-care include: the physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and practical and professional levels. There are endless ways to nurture and care for yourself. Here are some examples of ways that you can incorporate more positive self-care into your life.
- Physical self-care involves any activity that enhances your physical wellbeing. Some positive examples of physical self-care include: · exercising & moving your body, stretching & yoga, grooming, rest & sleep, eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, being mindful of the body and it’s needs, being kind, loving & appreciative towards your body, getting a massage or having a spa day, attending doctor appointments and checkups.
- Mental self-care involves tending to your mind, and your brain. Some positive activities for mental self-care include: · practicing mindfulness, exercising your mind with puzzles and games, learning new skills, taking classes about subjects that interest you, and reading books or watching intellectually stimulating movies.
- Emotional, self-care involves learning to honor, process and allow our feelings in a healthy & productive manor. Activities that nurture our emotional self-care include: · journaling your feelings and emotions, nurturing your passions and interests, releasing self-criticism and judgment, practicing positive self-talk and affirmations, focusing on what makes you happy and brings you joy, relaxation techniques and coping skills, setting & honoring personal boundaries, mindfulness and meditation, giving and receiving love and kindness, and being open to seek help with a therapist, counselor or even a spiritual advisor when needed.
- Social self-care involves tending to the interpersonal relationships in our lives. It is important to review your relationships to identify people you wish to spend more time with and others that may no longer serve you. Our relationships should be uplifting, fulfilling, and add value to our lives. Some activities that nurture our social self-care include: · scheduling time to meet with friends face to face, minimizing distractions by disconnecting when spending time with loved ones, being aware of the needs of your friends and family and reaching out (via phone call, email or letter), maintaining relationships that uplift and fulfill you, scheduling date nights with your significant other, taking time to spend with your pets
- Spiritual self-care involves any activity that you engage in to connect with and nurture your soul. Spiritual self-care is for everyone and does not necessarily mean practicing a religion or honoring a higher power (it can include those aspects though). It is about connecting with your inner spirit. Some examples of spiritual self-care include: · Mediation, prayer, incorporating a spiritual practice into your daily routine, designating a sacred area for yourself in your home, spending time in nature, doing yoga, practicing mantras, engaging in different energy healing techniques, creating a vision board or doing something that inspires you, practicing mindfulness, spend time identifying what brings meaning to your life and your work, journaling
- Practical self-care involves any actions that you take to fulfill your core needs and reduce/prevent future stressful situations. This area of self-care can help you to be more organized and eliminate some of the excess stress in your life while creating sustainable, healthy habits. This can include many of the mundane activities of daily life that you may not enjoy as much but can help to give you a greater sense of control and calmness. Such activities may include: · Cleaning your physical environment, organizing a cleaning schedule, meal prepping, organizing your email inbox, picking out your clothes for the week, meeting a financial advisor, budgeting and saving money, taking a professional development class, organizing your closet, decluttering, and getting preventative maintenance services on your car.
- Professional self-care involves any actions that promote a healthy, balanced, work life. Practicing self-care at work can lead to a happier, more productive work life where you feel supported and fulfilled. Some examples of professional self-care include: · Setting boundaries at work, taking mental health days when needed, separating work and home life, taking your lunch break for personal time, taking courses or working with a mentor to develop your skills, implementing strategies to reduce stress while at work, meditation and mindfulness, using a calendar to keep track of important dates, reviewing your level of contentment with your current work situation, taking steps to move into a new career path that best fits your needs and desires.