Balancing our busy lives can be quite a challenge. We want to do everything, and due to that we sometimes forget ourselves. And that while it’s so important to make time for ourselves. It should therefore come as no surprise that self-care is becoming increasingly popular.
When you think of self-care, you probably think of soaking yourself in a hot bath or a facial. However, self-care is much more than that, and unfortunately there are also many misconceptions about it.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you will be convinced to make time for your self-care from now on.
The importance of self-care
In our fast-paced and demanding lives, the importance of self-care cannot be overemphasized. It is not a luxury, but a necessity!
It’s the basis for our overall well-being and allows us to cope better with stress. This helps us to prevent burnout and maintain a good work-life balance.
By doing self-care activities we can recharge our energy. This enables us to get the best out of ourselves and life. Both professionally, and certainly also in our personal lives.
Most common misconceptions
When we think of self-care, we often envision a relaxing vacation, going to the spa, or a day on the couch binge-watching your favorite series. But it’s important to know that self-care is much more than that.
Many misconceptions cause us to misunderstand self-care, and you may be missing out on the benefits. Let’s debunk some of the most common misconceptions:
- Self-care is selfish: while many people think self-care is selfish, it’s just the opposite. It’s about taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally so you can fulfill your responsibilities, and better show up and care for others.
- Self-care is all about pampering: activities like taking a bath or treating yourself to something nice can certainly be part of self-care, but it’s definitely not limited to this. It is all about a holistic approach to well-being, including physical, emotional, and mental aspects. This can be exercising, journaling, walking in nature, or connecting with loved ones.
- Self-care is expensive: as mentioned earlier, self-care is often associated with vacations or luxury spas. And yes, for some people this can be part of their self-care, but it certainly doesn’t have to. Self-care can be simple and there are plenty of free self-care activities to choose from. Think about sleeping 7-9 hours, taking enough steps in a day, or mindfulness.
- Self-care is a one-time fix: I wish this was true. But unfortunately… It’s not a quick fix. Self-care requires consistency and commitment, and is an ongoing process.
- Self-care requires a lot of time: although you have to practice self-care regularly, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Of course, you can invest a lot of time in it, that’s up to you. But for all the busy bees out there, it’s good to know that this isn’t a requirement. Self-care can be found in the little things.
- Self-care is easy: ideally, that would of course be the case, but self-care doesn’t always come naturally or easily. It requires effort, discipline, and getting out of your comfort zone. And sometimes you have to make difficult choices; where will you and will you not spend your time on. This can be choices where you have to choose between what you like to do and what is best for you. In the end, it’s all about prioritizing your overall health.
So, actually, this is self-care
Now we know what self-care doesn’t include, we of course want to know what it is. Dictionaries describe it all slightly different. But this description from the Oxford Reference sums it up pretty well in my opinion.
the practice of activities that are necessary to sustain life and health, normally initiated and carried out by the individual for him- or herself.
(self-kair)
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The 7 types of self-care
The description of self-care is still quite broad if you ask me, and there are multiple ways to practice self-care. That’s why we can divide it into seven different types.
- Physical self-care
- Emotional self-care
- Mental self-care
- Social self-care
- Spiritual self-care
- Professional self-care
- Financial self-care
1. Physical self-care
Everything you do to improve your physical well-being is called physical self-care.
This involves feeling physically strong and healthy, but also eating nutritious food to provide your body with the right nutrients and vitamins and drinking enough water.
Examples of activities
- Take a walk – ideally in nature
- Follow a yoga or fitness class
- Sleep 7-9 hours
- Take stretch breaks if you sit for a long time
- Get a massage
2. Emotional self-care
With emotional self-care, you focus on nurturing your emotional well-being and thereby managing your feelings. Both the positive and the negative ones.
It’s about feeling and processing your emotions in a healthy way, so you learn to accept these feelings.
Practicing self-compassion and self-acceptance can play an important role in this. It will ultimately help you to be less critical of yourself and to control your emotions.
Examples of activities
- Journaling or writing
- Creative expression such as painting or playing an instrument
- Mindfulness or meditation
- Spend time with loved ones
- Go to therapy or coaching for help with managing emotions
3. Mental self-care
Mental self-care is about creating and maintaining a healthy mindset. This by doing activities that challenge your brain and intelligence, and learning to manage your stress levels.
While stimulating the brain, it’s also about calming your mind through mindfulness and breathwork and learning new skills.
Examples of activities
- Read about topics that interest you
- Solve puzzles or do brain training exercises
- Learn a new language or musical instrument
- Engage in creative activities: writing or painting
- Practice meditation or deep breathing exercises
4. Social self-care
Building and nurturing social relationships is what we call social self-care. These are activities aimed at our relationships with others. This can be with family, but also other loved ones, or meeting new people.
It’s also about setting boundaries on what social activities you do and don’t do, so you maintain your emotional well-being. Ask yourself; what gives you the most energy and is an addition to your life?
Examples of activities
- Meet a friend for a coffee or lunch date
- Join a group fitness class or sports activity
- Volunteer for a cause you are passionate about
- Hold regular family gatherings or game nights
- Join a book club or hobby group
5. Spiritual self-care
While spiritual self-care sounds like it’s only for spiritual or religious people, that’s definitely not the case.
Spiritual self-care is for everyone. It’s about nourishing and connecting with your soul. Plus, it helps you feel more grounded in your busy day-to-day life.
Examples of activities
- Mindfulness or meditation
- Attend religious or spiritual gatherings
- Spend time in nature
- Engaging in acts of kindness and compassion towards others
- Writing in a gratitude journal
6. Professional self-care
With good professional self-care, you maintain a healthy work-life balance. This is very important in order to prevent a burn-out.
Besides staying in balance by setting clear boundaries, professional self-care is also about developing yourself professionally. This so you can achieve your career goals in a healthy way, while not missing out on your personal life.
Examples of activities
- Set boundaries for work hours and personal time
- Take regular breaks during the working day
- Take professional development courses
- Visit summits or conferences
- Seek support from colleagues or supervisors as needed
7. Financial self-care
Money can be a big stress factor for many people. It is no coincidence that there is such a thing as financial self-care.
This involves creating financial stability and security, and building/maintaining a healthy relationship with money. This so you become financially resilient.
Examples of activities
- Pay bills on time
- Track your income and spends
- Evaluate recurring expenses: insurances and subscriptions
- Save a part of your income regularly for emergencies
- Ask for professional guidance to start investing
The benefits of good self-care
The big question is of course; why would you make time for self-care anyway? Especially since it doesn’t come naturally for everyone and you have to invest time in it.
At the beginning of this article, you already read that working on your self-care is important for your overall well-being.
That is still a bit vague and there are actually a lot of benefits. – and you don’t want to miss them!
- Improved physical health: through exercise, nutritious meals, stress management, and adequate sleep, you will notice that your energy levels and immune system improve. This helps protect you against stress and illness.
- Enhanced mental and emotional well-being: taking care of your mental and emotional health is a crucial aspect of self-care. You will find that activities focused on relaxation and self-reflection help reduce stress and anxiety, and promote a sense of calm and resilience.
- Increased productivity and focus: with a relaxed mind and body, it’s easier to focus and it improves your productivity. This is the foundation for optimal performance in all areas of your life
- Strengthened relationships: by taking good care of yourself, you can connect more easily and deeply with others. Since you have more energy and focus, you are more present in the moments you spend with others.
- Increased self-esteem and self-worth: by consciously investing time in self-care, you show yourself that you deserve love, care, and attention. Especially by participating in activities that you enjoy and that align with your values, it can boost your self-esteem and self-worth
- Prevention of burnout: by actively dealing with stress and setting boundaries, you reduce the risk of physical and emotional exhaustion. It ensures that you replenish your energy.
- Increased resilience: prioritizing your physical, mental, and emotional well-being will help you develop more resilience. This allows you to overcome obstacles with more strength, adaptability, and a positive attitude.
- Enhanced creativity and inspiration: by experiencing less stress, there is more peace and space in your head for inspiration and creativity. Your imagination gets stronger, so you come up with new ideas faster.
Ultimately, self-care contributes to an improved overall quality of life. By prioritizing your self-care, you create a good foundation for a more balanced, fulfilling, and enjoyable life.
As a result of that, you will experience more satisfaction, happiness, and a sense of fulfillment. This in all different areas of your life; both with personal relationships as well as in your career.
Practical tips to get started
Now that you know what self-care is and what benefits can come with it, you may have become enthusiastic.
But how do you get started? Some examples of activities have already been given for each type of self-care, but here are a few simple tips to get started.
- Start small: self-care doesn’t require a “go big or go home” mentality. Small steps can already make a difference, and there are a lot of self-care activities of 30 minutes or less. For example; a short 5-minute breathing or stretching exercise.
- Set realistic goals: to keep up with something, it must be achievable. So look at how much time you can make free for self-care, without being overwhelmed. This can vary greatly per person, so don’t just copy routines from others.
- Combine with recurring activities: to keep it simple, you can bundle self-care activities with other activities that continuously recur in your daily life. For example, do a 5-10 minute breathing exercise after brushing your teeth.
- Plan self-care activities: once you know which self-care activities you would like to start, it is important to schedule them. This way you consciously make time for it.
- Involve others: you don’t have to do it alone. You can even combine different types of self-care with each other. For example, go to a yoga class with a friend and after that get a croissant and coffee together.
- Reflect and adjust: mastering something new often doesn’t happen overnight or without trial and error. Therefore, evaluate regularly which activities you like and which have the most impact on your well-being. Above all, stay open-minded to try new things. Eventually, you will find a good balance in your self-care routine that works best for you.
Self-care is a personal journey and we can conclude that it’s certainly not easy. It requires time, effort, and attention to find out which kind of activities you like and what works for you.
It can be frustrating, but once you figure it out, it becomes easier to consistently invest time in it.
Unfortunately, it’s not a one way fits all, since it can vary a lot from person to person. So expect some trial and error here, but don’t be afraid!
By investing time in it, you will start experiencing the first benefits and you might even create your personal self-care routine. After all, we all want to become the best version of ourselves, and taking care of yourself is important.
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