The term ‘’Self Care’’ has become a ubiquitous buzz-word in recent years. With the phrase saturating social media and LinkedIn articles, it can be easy to dismiss what is an incredibly important practice that assists in maintaining mental health and wellbeing. So, what is self-care, and why should we build it into our routines?
Self-care is doing things that make you feel good. It involves finding healthy escapes, activities that fully absorb your attention, that keep you present and mindful in the moment. These could be hobbies or activities that you find enjoyable, and don’t take concerted effort for you to engage in. It’s important to regularly implement these activities into your routine to ensure that you are giving yourself time that is fully yours to rest and recharge. The old adage is true; you cannot pour from an empty cup. It’s important to remember that to manage others well, or to manage challenging situations well, one needs to manage oneself well.
Here are some ways to implement self-care within your day to day life:
Connection Between Mind and Body
Keeping healthy life practices can improve our mood. Physical health is highly correlated with mental health.
Strategies to improve your physical health include:
- Physical activity
- Eating healthy foods
- Tracking your health, lifestyle and exercise patterns
- Implementing lifestyle changes like reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption
Moderation of Screen Time
Screen time has an impact upon our mental health.
- Make a conscious effort to limit your screen time in moments where it is not essential
- Consider substituting activities such as watching TV with going for a walk
- Screen time impacts sleep quality; therefore minimize screen time immediately before bed or when in bed.
Connect with Others
Connecting with others provides an opportunity to share feelings and gain different perspectives and points of view. Some ways to broaden connections include:
- Reaching out to already established friends
- Joining a community group
- Volunteering in meaningful activity
Maintain Connection to Self
Engage in absorbing activities which capture your full attention. Choose activities that you find the most fulfilling and say no to the rest.
- Engage in activities and experiences that bring you joy and fulfillment
- Engage in a hobby
- Make time to unwind, unplug and engage in relaxation strategies
- Spend time in nature
Establish Routines
Establishing and maintaining simple routines which do not require any self-control.
- Setting up routine activities to allow you time to decompress
- Build self-care into your routine so that it is second nature in challenging times
Self Care in the Workplace
Self care is also important to build into your work routine. With working from home arrangements becoming more common, it can be especially difficult to switch off from work. Self-care can assist you with establishing boundaries and maintaining your mental health and wellbeing at work.
- Step away from your desk for a break in between tasks
- Go for a walk at lunch time
- Eat lunch away from your desk
- Take time to speak and debrief with colleagues
- Develop a schedule that includes phases of focused work and breaks
- Avoid being too rigid; stay flexible, each day will bring new challenges
- Know when to say no
