What is Self-Care?
Self-care is simply about looking after yourself, encompassing actions that promote your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. While prioritizing self-care seems like a basic concept, it tends to be neglected during tough times such as poor health, financial struggles, job loss, break-ups, or other major life changes. It's crucial to prioritize self-care and not treat it as an afterthought, especially during challenging periods.
Participating in a self-care regimen has been scientifically proven to decrease or eliminate anxiety and depression, lower stress levels, enhance focus, decrease irritability and anger, boost happiness, increase vitality, and more. On a spiritual level, it can assist in staying connected with our higher power and discovering our purpose in life. Some other benefits of self care include: better sleep, increased happiness, reduced risk of burnout, improved immune response, and happier relationships.
The 8 Pillars:
Physical Self Care: Physical self-care parallels personal hygiene, encompassing activities that promote bodily well-being, like bathing or dental care. Any practices that contribute to one's physical health fall under the umbrella of physical self-care, serving as an initial stride towards comprehensive self-care.
Examples: Go to the gym, Do yoga, Go for a walk, Take a long bath, Catch up on sleep, Try stretching
Spiritual Self Care: Nurturing the sacred flame within is the essence of spiritual self-care. It entails fortifying the bond with your divine essence or spiritual guide, in accordance with your beliefs. Engaging in dialogue with your higher power or exploring diverse paths of communion nourishes the spirit within, fostering holistic well-being.
Examples: Meditate, Sit outside in nature, Read your religious material, Write a journal entry, Create a vision board, Give to something you believe in
Emotional Self Care: Emotional self-care intertwines the tending, understanding, and restoration of our innermost sentiments. It weaves delicate threads that sway the tapestry of our spirits and, in essence, shape our existence. To truly embrace emotional self-care, one must attune to the melodies of their own nature amidst life's ever-shifting landscapes.
Examples: Play an instrument, Draw something, Recite affirmations, Do an act of kindness, Listen to your favorite music, Dance
Mental Self Care: The art of self-care for the mind entails tending to one's emotional and psychological harmony through diverse rituals and techniques. It encompasses fostering mental well-being, navigating stress, and fostering inner strength in the tapestry of existence.
Examples: Have a spa day, Have a phone free day, Get creative, Relax, Revisit/rework your goals, Organize a room/space
Environmental Self Care: The essence of environmental self-care dwells within one's soul, shaping beliefs and actions towards environmental causes like embracing organic sustenance. Engaging in acts of environmental self-care involves purifying abodes, arranging sacred spaces, and crafting harmonious routines for engaging with technology.
Examples: Light a candle, Play soft music, Clean up a room, Change your sheets, Turn down the lights, Use sunlight for the day
Social Self Care: Social self-care intertwines with the tapestry of our interpersonal bonds. Amidst the bustling cadence of work and family life, the symphony of our daily obligations can eclipse the nurturing of friendships, casting shadows upon these essential threads of connection.
Examples: Meet someone new, Hangout with a friend, Ask for help, Look at positive social media accounts, Go to dinner with someone, Spend time with your family
Financial Self Care: Financial self-care, a wondrous concept weaving mindfulness into the tapestry of wealth stewardship. It guides one to tend to the garden of prosperity, fostering a harmonious bond with coin and currency. This sacred practice illuminates the path towards aligning your fiscal compass, crafting judicious choices in reverence to your monetary aspirations and necessities.
Examples: Avoid impulsive spending, Plan a budget, Create an emergency fund, Track spending habits, Automate payments, Set financial goals
Recreational Self Care: Engaging in recreational self-care invites you to embrace your inner sense of playfulness. Participate in leisurely activities that bring joy without mental strain, savoring moments that evoke pure delight. This allows you to make time for hobbies and activies you are interested in.
Examples: Play a sport, Ride a bike, Go for a run, Do a puzzle, Read a book, Take a class
