What is self-care?
Self-care is the practice of taking care of ourselves so that we can stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well.
While we all have different ways of practising self-care, the ultimate goal is to make sure we spend time doing things that:
- Make us feel happy and healthy
- Lower our risk of disease and illness
- Help us manage stress or cope during challenging times
- Allow us to feel physically and psychologically safe
- Promote strong social connections.
Sometimes, self-care activities don’t require much thought – like brushing our teeth or having a coffee with a friend.
But other self-activities are more deliberate – like taking time away from technology, journaling our thoughts and feelings, or booking an appointment with a therapist.
Ultimately, a self-care activity is something that fills our ‘wellbeing cup’ instead of emptying it.
Why is self-care important?
An easy way to understand the importance of self-care is to think of yourself as a laptop computer. It doesn’t matter if you spend the entire day using it to study for exams, play a game, or host a video conference for work, at some point, you’re going to have to recharge the battery.
But of course, we can’t just plug ourselves into a power point …
Instead, we recharge by:
- Sleeping enough
- Eating well
- Moving our bodies
- Connecting with people
- Doing activities we enjoy
These five areas, sleep, nutrition, movement, connection, and fun – are proven to have huge impacts on our mental health and wellbeing, which is why being proactive about your self-care can be so beneficial.
Making time for self-care can be difficult, especially when you’re working full-time, studying, or raising a family (or doing all those things at once!).
It can also be difficult to make self-care a priority if you don’t feel like you deserve it or it won’t make a difference. Feeling unworthy, undeserving, or hopeless can sometimes be signs of low self-esteem. If this sounds like you, please know that everyone deserves time and space to practise self-care.
Remember: Self-care isn’t selfish!
Finding the right self-care for you
Even though a self-care activity like cuddling puppies might be something a lot of people would enjoy, it’s likely that what fills your cup won’t fill someone else’s.
And contrary to what someone on social media might tell you, self-care doesn’t have to involve expensive moisturiser, a remedial massage, or an expensive gym membership. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost a thing.
Here are some examples of self-care choices you can make that are free:
- Saying no to a late night out
- Taking time to cook a nice meal
- Going for a walk before work
- Calling a friend for a chat
- Playing board games
It’s important to point out that when we’re really struggling, sometimes the only self-care we can practise is literally just making it out of the house to get some sunshine, and that’s okay.
Even the smallest amount of self-care can be beneficial.
Scroll down to learn more self-care ideas that might work for you.
We know that if a loved one was feeling overwhelmed, we would encourage them to reach out for support. However, we tend to be harder on ourselves when considering asking for help.
Self-care means caring for yourself exactly like you would a loved one.
If you’d like to find ways to connect with people who can help, you can:
- Learn how and why to talk to someone you trust
- Read our tips for finding the right therapist for you
- Consider getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan
For more on Self-care, including ideas and strategies, visit Lifeline.org.au
If you need support, contact:
- Lifeline – 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue – 1300 22 46 36
- Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
- Mindspot – 1800 61 44 34
- Carers Australia – 02 6122 9900
- 13YARN – 13 92 76
- Headspace.org.au
For more assistance with Mental Health, head to our Mental Health Support section.
Article Source: Lifeline.org.au