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We hear about self-care so much these days, it is hard to even pinpoint why we love using this term so much. I love self-care, and t is not about reading a good book and enjoying a spa day. There is so much more to it. So what is it exactly, and why is it so important? Let’s talk about the six types of self-care, and how you can incorporate them into your life starting today.
The Six Types Of Self- Care And How To Focus On Them
1. Emotional Self-Care
These are the activities that help you connect, process, and reflect on your emotions. How you deal with your feelings says a lot about how much you love yourself. Emotional self-care is about reacting to your emotions in a healthy way.
Do you have healthy ways to process your emotions? Are the activities you incorporate into your life helping you feel better?
Seeing a therapist, journal writing, music, dance, and painting are all great types of emotional self-care.
2. Practical Self-Care
This type of self-care relates to all areas of your life. Tasks you complete that fulfil various aspects of your life. It involves getting active, eating well and taking care of your physical health. It also covers taking care of your home, enrolling in a course to advance in your field, or financial self-care by budgeting and saving money when you can.
3. Physical Self-Care
Of all the types of self-care, this one is the one most talked about. Physical self-care means doing things to improve the well-being of your physical health. Getting enough water, food, and sleep.
It means taking a break when you need it and maintaining a healthy diet.
Great ways of practising physical self-care are getting a massage, pedicure, and a hair cut.
Wear clothes that make you feel good about yourself and about your body.
4. Psychological or Mental Self-Care
This one is by far my favourite. These are types of self-care activities that help you to keep a clear head.
Attitude is a small thing that makes a big difference right? Activities in this group help you work towards self-improvement and personal growth. The things you fill your mind with greatly influence your psychological well-being.
That’s why positive self-talk is so important.
Practice psychological self-care by journaling, reading a self-help book, getting creative, reading a book, solving a puzzle, aromatherapy, and focusing on the things you are grateful for.
5. Social Self-Care
It is so important to nurture relationships with the people you choose to have in your life.
Who you surround yourself with has a huge impact on how you feel about yourself. Remove anyone in your life that is toxic and only brings you problems.
Whether you are an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, it doesn’t matter. Only you know what your boundaries are, and should set them.
Good ways to practice social self-care is by having dinner with friends, going out on a date, making time for your family, and learning to say no.
6. Spiritual Self Care
Taking care of your mind and body is great, but what about your soul? How are you connected with your true authentic self?
Spiritual self-care and nurturing your spirit, doesn’t have to involve religion. It’s about doing things that feed your soul.
Activities that nurtures your spirit. The most talked-about and practised are meditation, yoga, and going to a place of worship. I have been meditating with Insight Timer for the past year and it has done me a lot of good.
Develop Your Self-Care Plan
Self-care isn’t the same for everyone. Your self-care plan will need to be customized to your individual needs.
A self-care plan for a busy working mom will be different than the plan of a student headed off to college.
It is important, to begin with, self-reflection and identifying your personal self-care needs.
The areas in your life that are currently being neglected is the best place to start.
Always make self-care a priority.
Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing posts on how to practice self-care in each of these areas.
Ten Simple Self-Care Practices for a Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul
Here are ten simple self-care practices you can start with.
- Create a purposeful habit. Choose something you would like to do daily and be intentional about it.
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Be selfish. Do one thing every day just because it makes you happy.
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Declutter. Get rid of things that no longer serve you.
Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s old ideas, toxic relationships and bad habits. Clutter is anything that does not support your better self.Click To Tweet
- Make sure you are your best friend. Look in the mirror and say kind words to your best friend.
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Spoil yourself. Splurge a little and show yourself that you are valued by gifting something to yourself.
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Go on a date. Not with someone else but alone. Go to the movies, visit an exhibition. Do something alone for an hour.
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Ask for help. Reach out to someone to help you when you need it.
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Be intentional. It is important to be intentional about the things you usually do on autopilot. Put thought into how and why you do things.
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Unplug. Free yourself from constant email notifications and social media for at least an hour a day.
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Choose a weekly motto. Live by it.
How Do You Practice The Above Types Of Self-Care?
Do you practice all or some? What have you found to be essential for you?
Share them with me in the comments section below.
16 comments
Unplugging is what makes me feel better. Too much stress comes from always having something to do (which you do if you are online).
I always tell people self care is deeper than a face mask and a bubble bath to yourself. I love the break down of all of these self care I am definitely doing more on the spiritual side!
It’s such a motivational post. I have never thought about self care in this detail. Self care is not just physical care; it includes all 6 types.
Self-care is so important for your overall health. I will definitely focus on my physical self-care to help me relax and relieve my stress.
These are all spot on! Taking care of yourself is such a necessity. I think having a peaceful mind and a healthy body is a good indication.
I never thought of self care as being divided in to different categories, but I really like the idea. It can help make sure you are taking care of yourself in multiple ways.
Amazing! I never realised that self-care had so many dimensions. I certainly look after a number of the dimensions already so I only have a bit of catching up to do.
I had no idea that you can categorise self care in so many ways. When I think of self care I usually think of the physical one only.
I’ve been neglecting my physical and mental health lately. I need to get more sleep, drink more water, and choose better friends for better health I beleive. Thanks for the motivation.
I like the tip here that we do one thing every day just because it makes us happy. This I believe isnt selfishness but more on nurturing self.
I really need to work on my own self care more. Especially emotional self care!
All of these are equally important and I do most. However, as someone that works from home, I have to push myself to be social.
I would have never thought of social self care. Self care is important to me.
These are great tips… I wish more people understood the importance of mental heath care. It doesn’t matter if you have a healthy brain or a sick brain, everyone needs to practice self care and work on their mental health care. I was recently diagnosed with several chronic mental illnesses, and its a journey.
I am REALLY struggling with some things right now and I guess I need to deal with my self-care better. Thank you for this.
Self care is so important! I always make sure to read daily–I love to do it, so I make sure I have time.