These things are self-care too.
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Most of Us Think Self-Care Is This
I don’t know why, but most of us think self-care is taking a bubble bath, getting a massage, getting your nails done, or buying something extravagant. While all of those things are nice, they are not the only ways to practice self-care. In fact, there are more important ways to include self-care in your daily routine.
You may have learned over the years that spending time taking care of yourself is selfish, or a luxury, especially if you are married, have children, or have a demanding job. However, self-care is actually a necessity. It is part of creating a healthy, happy life.
Self-Care Is Part of a Healthy Daily Routine
Self-care is just what it sounds like, taking care of yourself. That means taking care of your body, mind, and spirit. So, eating a healthy diet, exercising, meditation, prayer, time with loved ones, finding a purpose, and time serving your community, are all part of self-care.
In fact, studies show that social isolation has the same risk of inflammation and hypertension as not being physically active in adolescence. You thought a night out with friends was just something you get to do when you have time, but, NO!, it’s a necessity. Call your besties right now!
There are thousands of ways to practice self-care, but it is important to make it a priority every day, especially certain habits, like eating nutritious foods, or getting in some movement.
Some forms of self-care should be practiced daily, and some forms can be fit in when you have the time and resources, like that trip to Greece, or the self-help seminar you’ve been waiting to come to your hometown.
A few examples of daily self-care activities:
- Movement or exercise
- Prayer/meditation
- Reading inspirational books
- Eating vegetables and other whole foods
- Alone time
- Time working on a hobby or interest
- Time in nature
- Drinking water
- Getting 7-9 hours of sleep
- Time spent with loved ones
- Laughter
- Living your life purpose by working at a job you love or caring for your family (a joyful, but sometimes thankless job)
Self-Care That You Practice On a Less Regular Basis, But Is Still Important
There are some forms of self-care that are not practical to do every day, but they are still important to fit in. You may not want to do all the things below, but these are a few ideas that you may want to consider. Some may be fun for you, and some not so much. A few of these are necessary for a healthy lifestyle.
A few examples of weekly/monthly/yearly self-care activities:
- A planned vacation
- A special celebration
- Lunch with a friend
- Date night
- A special day with your child/children
- Annual check-ups (And yes, this is self-care. How many necessary appointments have you put off?)
- Exploring your hometown
- Time serving your community
- Spending time in a spiritual or religious group
- A reunion with family or friends
- Decluttering your home
- Planting a garden
- Remodeling or renovating part of your home
- Budgeting finances and allocating savings
- Courses or seminars
- Concerts, Plays, or any of the arts
These are just a few of the examples I came up with off of the top of my head. They are not what most of us think of when we hear the words self-care, but they are part of a healthy lifestyle. Without them, we can’t be as healthy and happy as we want to be. You’ve probably heard the saying, “Your wealth is in your health.”, which is so true!
I would love to hear some of the things you do for yourself that you consider self-care. Comment below.
My mini-course, You Can Only Change Yourself, has lots of self-care strategies.
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