Self-care is a strength-based, holistic approach that builds on our specific strengths and assets (e.g., our personality, goals, values, life experiences, and culture). If we are to live without feeling constant stress and thrive in life, we should make self-care (i.e., personal care or self-aid) our top priority.
Self-Care vs Selfishness
While selfishness may be the first thing you think of when considering self-care, self-care doesn't equate to being selfish, it is actually the opposite. When we take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to support our loved ones, as well as our community.
Recognizing and Exploring the Aspects of Self-Care
Although meeting our own needs is easy, many of us are just on autopilot, moving forward from one day to the next.
When we are on an autopilot that doesn’t include a self-care plan, we give very little thought to caring for ourselves. However, as time passes, disregarding our own needs can result in an overall sense of frustration and disappointment, which frequently leads to us feeling discouraged and chronically stressed.
Nonetheless, we can counteract these negative aspects of life by cultivating self-love. We can accomplish this through the practice of reducing self-criticism and implementing a personal care routine.
The 7 Aspects of Self-Care:
1. Physical - Recognize the importance of proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and physical activity.
2. Spiritual - Expand our thoughts on the purpose and the meaning of life.
3. Emotional - Effectively cope with life issues that arise and create fulfilling relationships.
4. Intellectual - Expand our knowledge and skill set, and recognize our creative abilities.
5. Social - Build positive social connections and develop a dependable support system.
6. Mental - Mental self-care involves challenging fears, feelings of inadequacy, and negative self-talk.
7. Occupational - Ideally, your occupation should provide you with personal fulfillment and growth.
Create a Daily Self-Care Routine
Incorporating self-care practices into your daily life may be easier than you think. In fact, you may already be performing some personal-care activities, you just didn’t know it. Nonetheless, consider improving your daily self-care routine with the recommendations below.
Exercise To Help Release Tension
Tension can develop due to physical factors as well as mental and emotional stressors. All exercises, including stretching, can boost the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that stabilizes our mood and increases our feelings of well-being and happiness. It also affects our sleep cycles and digestive system.
Start a Journal
Journaling can help us clear our minds and become more self-aware. Whether you write a journal by hand or on your computer, this task promotes healthier relationships and assists us with becoming more resilient. Furthermore, journaling can decrease feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression.
As you journal, be sure you use comforting and supportive self-talk because this is the key to breaking free from self-judgment. It also reduces anxiety and cultivates self-compassion.
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Make Getting a Good Night’s Sleep a Priority
Skimping on sleep increases the likelihood of developing a health condition or disorder and of contracting a disease.
Getting an adequate amount of sleep can help prevent these issues by providing our body systems the time they need to detox and repair. Furthermore, inadequate sleep negatively affects our mood, as well as our mental function and well-being.
Eat Healthier
A healthy diet involves more than just the types of food you consume, your preparation choice also matters. For example, your healthier diet should include baking or roasting instead of frying.
How Stress Can Affect Us Biologically
The connection between the gut and the brain has a significant physiological effect on our mood, stress response, and behavior. Exposure to any form of stress can alter the quantity and quality of the calories we consume. These stress-induced changes can interact with our emotional state.
Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome
Studies indicate that consuming foods high in trans fats can lead to the development of depressive-like behaviors. Furthermore, a diet that includes items such as processed foods, added sugars, refined oils, alcohol, and carbonated beverages can promote leaky gut syndrome.
Leaky gut syndrome causes holes in the gut lining, allowing bacteria, undigested food particles, and toxins to enter the bloodstream. Once in our bloodstream, they can negatively affect our nervous, immune, hormonal, reproductive, and respiratory systems.
Nurture Self-Compassion and Acceptance
We are typically our own worst critics. Therefore, once we decide to implement self-care, we should also nurture self-compassion and acceptance.
Embrace Self-Compassion
In order to be self-compassionate, we need to treat ourselves the same way we would treat someone else who is dealing with difficulties or some form of failure. We should also exercise compassion if we recognize something we don’t necessarily like about ourselves.
Practice Self-Acceptance
Making changes to live a healthier and happier life is commendable. However, you should choose to make these changes for yourself, disregarding any notion that you're unacceptable as you are.
Learn To Accept and Honor Our Humanness
We can accomplish this by acknowledging that mistakes will be made, our limitations will be pushed, losses will occur, frustrations will be encountered, and there are times when we will fall short of our principles. These are factors of the human condition, a reality we all share. By opening our hearts to this reality, we can embrace self-compassion.
If you are interested in learning how you can reduce your stress level, schedule a free information call today. The Mindblowing Coach, Andrew O’Brien, MBA, NBC-HWC, BCC, SHRM-SCP, can provide you with the support you need to create an effective self-care plan. Coach O’Brien’s overall goal is to help you live by your true North Star.