Self-care is for everyone, it is more than what you think!

Selfcare is the act of taking care of yourself. We often think of selfcare as a day at the spa, looking after your skin, or sipping a cup of tea in a quiet corner. These are all definitely part of caring for yourself and makes you feel better. But I think self-care is more than that; deeper than that. Self-care includes not only looking after your physical health but also your mental, emotional and spiritual health.

P/PC balance in Self-care

We juggle multiple roles in life, a mother, daughter, sister, wife, teacher, therapist the list goes on. We are always trying to do the best in these roles. But if you are not so well yourself, you can’t do any of these roles well. Okay, you already knew that, hold that thought for a moment.

I would like to introduce the concept of P/PC balance. P stand for production, and PC is production capability. Stephen Covey talks about this in his book 7 habits of Highly effective people, which you can apply to a number of things such as productivity, efficiency, time management etc. Remember the Aesop story of the goose that lays golden egg? The golden eggs are products (P) and the ability to produce the eggs or the goose is PC.

Now, the multiple roles that you are juggling and the services you are providing, goals you are achieving all that is P and yourself and your ability to do these things are PC. We need a balance between P and PC or you kill the goose! you look after your production capability(PC) through self-care. Let us look at how not to Kill the goose.

Mental and Emotional Self-care

You need to care for your own mental and emotional wellbeing first. if you are not in a good space both mentally and emotionally you won’t be able to regulate your emotions and mood around people that you love. This includes, giving yourself permission to do things that enjoy and taking yourself away from people and activities that you don’t enjoy. Remember if the goose is killed, There are no golden eggs Here are some suggestions

1. Connect with yourself through mindfulness: Mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and other relaxation techniques can help reduce stress and anxiety and connect with yourself. Know your needs and cater for them, know what motivates you, what hold you back. Be comfortable in your own company for at least 30 minutes everyday.
2. Engage in regular physical activity: Exercise can help improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
3. Prioritize self-care activities: Make time for activities that bring you joy, whether that’s reading a book, taking a bath, or spending time with friends.
4. Identify and stay away from Vampires . Click here to read more about this.
5. Practice gratitude: Focusing on the good things in your life can help you maintain a positive outlook and reduce stress.
6. Seek support: Whether it’s talking to a friend, family member, or mental health professional, seeking support when you need it can help you maintain good mental health.

Remember that mental self-care is a process, and it’s important to be kind and patient with yourself as you work to develop a self-care routine that works for you.

Physical Selfcare

Physical self-care refers to activities and practices that promote physical health and wellbeing. This is often most discussed aspect of self-care, and you already know all this. However, since we are talking about self I can’t skip this. So here are some recommendations for physical self-care:

1. Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to help your body and mind rest and recharge.
2. Eat a healthy, balanced diet: Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods can help you maintain your physical health and energy levels.
3. Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity that you enjoy, such as jogging, swimming, or dancing, for at least 30 minutes per day.
4. Practice good hygiene: Regularly showering or bathing, brushing your teeth, and washing your hands can help prevent illness and promote overall physical health.
5. Take breaks and stretch: If you work at a desk or spend a lot of time sitting, taking regular breaks to stretch and move your body can help prevent muscle tension and promote overall physical wellbeing.

Physical self-care is an essential aspect of overall health and wellbeing. By taking care of your body, you can help prevent illness, reduce stress, and feel better overall. It’s important to make physical self-care a priority and to be consistent with your self-care practices.

Spiritual Self-care

Let me start with saying spirituality is not connected to any religion. you can be an atheist and still be spiritual. When you talk about Selfcare, you need to talk about all aspect of self and I believe it is made up of Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components. There is also the social aspect, however if you really focus on self you need to care for these three . Below are some actionable steps for spiritual self care ;

1. Engage in spiritual practices: Participate in activities that are meaningful to you and align with your values, such as prayer, meditation, or attending religious services.
2. Spend time in nature: Spend time in nature, whether that’s going for a walk in the park or hiking in the mountains. This can help you feel more connected to the world around you and promote a sense of peace and calm.
3. Connect with others: Spend time with people who share your values and beliefs, and engage in conversations that uplift and inspire you.
4. Cultivate gratitude: Focus on what you have to be thankful for, and take time to appreciate the blessings in your life.
5. Practice forgiveness: Let go of grudges and resentments, and practice forgiveness towards yourself and others.
6. Engage in creative activities: Participate in creative activities that inspire you, such as writing, painting, or playing music.
7. Practice self-reflection: Take time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and consider how they align with your values and beliefs.

Spiritual self care looks different for each one of us. We need to find what works for us.

Journaling and Self-care

Journaling can be a powerful tool for self-care, since it helps you explore thoughts and feeling. I like getting up early in the day and writing in a journal. Write everything that comes to your mind. you will find your mind feels unclogged and then you can focus on what you need to. Here are some tips from me;

1. Write freely, whatever comes to mind, don’t worry about spelling grammar, don’t disturb the flow. you will be surprised how much you can write.
2. Once you unclog your mind set some goals what do you want to achieve today in bullet points or highlight them. (there is more about goal setting, but we can go in to that later, this is just about today.) You will find you are more focused, you have set the goals for the day and you work towards ticking them off. You feel more productive at the end of the day.
3. Grab a cup of coffee and sit down to write. This could be either early in the morning or late in the day once kids are in bed for those who are young mums. You will start looking forward to this time.

Let me know which one of these activities you already do and which one you are looking forward to starting. Do you find any of these self-care activities particularly helpful or not. Use the comment section below to chat.

if you would like to read more about stress management click here