How To Make Self-Care Work For You

Self-care has become the buzzword on everyone’s lips in recent years. And in light of everything that’s happened during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever. But the true idea behind it has got a little lost amongst Instagram posts of meditation and bubble baths.

If meditation and a nice hot bath is your kind of self-care, then you do you. But that doesn’t work for everyone. And it doesn’t always address the true idea of self-care. Self-care is a way to look after yourself, particularly when life isn’t going so smoothly. And let’s face it, we’ve all been there. 

Here you’ll find out how to identify what self-care means to you and then use that knowledge to integrate better habits into your life.

Ask Yourself

The first step in your self-care journey will be to ask yourself some tough questions. Although they’re not tough because they’re triggering, they can be tough because they require you to be truly realistic. Only by being realistic will you create self-care goals that are achievable and workable for you.

1. Will I Use This?

The first one is a big one. Ask yourself whether you’ll actually utilize the self-care method you’re looking into. For example, meditation and Yoga are excellent ways to look after yourself. But if you won’t use them, they become pointless.

2. Can I Afford It?

Joining a gym to exercise more is a great activity to do. But if it’s too expensive, you won’t be able to keep it up, and your go-to self-care routine will go out the window. Pick something that you can do in the long-term financially.

3. Is My Plate Too Full?

It’s brilliant to adopt new habits. But if you take on too many or try to do something when your plates too full, you won’t continue with them. And it’ll have the opposite effect self-care is meant to have by leaving you more stressed than when you started.

Taking Stock

Now that you’ve defined what sorts of self-care habits will work for you, it’s time to assess which needs aren’t being met. By determining areas that need work, you’ll be able to maximize all stress-busting activities. Because they’re targeting things, you want to improve. You want to think about three primary areas and topics within them that need your assessment attention.

1. Physical

• Sleep

Adults need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Not getting enough sleep or not getting quality sleep will hamper your concentration and make small stresses overwhelm you. Look at the rest you’re getting and if it needs improving.

• Nutrition

On the one hand, you want a good mix of foods because a balanced diet of foods that nourish you will help overall health. On the other hand, you can also look into intuitive and mindful eating, so you’re not only eating better food, but you’re enjoying it more too. 

• Exercise

Exercise is great for us because it releases happy endorphins. And you want to aim to move around in some way every day. But exercise can feel tedious. So don’t be constrained by thinking you have to go jogging for it to be valid. Low impact workouts like Yoga and Tai Chi are just as beneficial. And they integrate aspects of meditation. 

• Healthcare

Lots of people avoid healthcare because of cost and a dislike for doctors. Yet when things take a turn for the worse, you need to head to a professional. And accidents happen, so being on top of healthcare is an act of self-love. 

2. Mental

• Stress

Stress plays a big part in our mental health. But are you holding onto stress? Can you identify and release it? How can you reduce your load to reduce your stress?

• Therapy

Therapy might not work for everyone. But for some, it’s an integral part of self-care. If you have something, you’ve been holding on to for a long time, visiting a counselor can help you let go. 

• Cognitive

Mental doesn’t just cover mental health needs; it refers to your cognitive needs too. Because we all want to keep our brains sharp. You can easily boost your cognitive ability by reading or learning something new. 

• Break

Looking after your mental health means identifying when you need to take a break. Let yourself relax from time to time, and you’ll find everything else becomes a lot easier to deal with. 

3. Emotional

• Mindfulness

Our emotions give us clues about how we’re doing overall in ourselves. Using tools like mindfulness can help you slow down and recognize what’s going on inside. When’s the last time you took stock of how you were feeling, mind and body?

• Companions

We’re only human. And that means we need time to connect with others. So when’s the last time you met up with friends? Or called a family member just to chat? Remember to clock in times of intimacy with companions. 

• Personal

But don’t forget time for yourself. In the modern age, it can feel like we have to soldier on no matter what. But if you’re feeling low, taking a day off work to yourself will help productivity in the long run. ANd you’ll have a better relationship with yourself. 

• Affection

We all need to be reminded that we’re loved. If you don’t hear that very often, make a point of having a conversation with a loved one that this is something you need to hear. People are more open to these conversations than you might think. 

Bringing It All Together

Taking the time to discover new things about yourself and areas that need your attention is the first step of building a self-care plan that works for you. Now that you’ve identified all your needs, you can create a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly list of requirements. And actions you’ll take to meet them. You can keep track with phone reminders or a journal to mark your progress. 

Don’t forget that your needs will change over time. So be flexible with your self-care plan. And if an action isn’t working for you, switch it up and try something new. It’s literally all about you. And you can do anything.