It goes without saying that the world we find ourselves in today has no shortage of stressors. Nevertheless, our responsibility to ourselves, our families, and our businesses don’t slow down because the world gets more complicated. Over the past decade, new research has explored the presence, and impact, that stress has had on all of us, finding that we are all more stressed than we were 20 years ago; with the highest day-to-day stress being present amongst people 45 – 60.
“It is what it is”
“Self-Care” has become the new buzz word of the 2020’s, outlining the importance in taking care of one’s mind and body. Unfortunately, many people continue to view this concept as a luxuery and not a priority; resulting in sparatic engagement in healthy eating, exercise, and all the other areas we need to be at our best.
When we forget to take care of ourselves, it’s not just us that pays the price. Undoubedly, we carry it with us everywhere we go – casting it out onto our loved ones and even ‘sharing’ it with our clients at work. But, can we afford to do this? As it was outlined above, the evidence is clear all of us are feeling the strain of life in the 21st century. Many of us will crack a fake smile or jokingly brush off concerning remarks from others as ‘I’ll get to it tomorrow.’ But at what cost?
Understanding Self-Care
We can think about Self-Care existing accross 5 dimensions: Physical, Social, Mental, Spiritual, and Emotional. Each dimension represents a unique and necessary component of what makes us not only human, but what makes us thriving happy humans. So lets define these areas in further detail.
Physical Self-Care
Taking care of our body is one of the most valuable components of living a healthy life. It has been understood for a long time that there is a strong connection between our mind-and-body; so in a sense, taking care of your body is taking care of your mind too. Physical Self-Care includes staying active, eating healthy, managing health risks, and getting enough sleep.
Social Self-Care
Humans are social creatures at our core, yet funny enough socialization is one of the first things we cut out when things get busy; often with our friends and family first. Socialization is not a set amount and it differs from person to perosn. What is key here is to reflect on what your social needs are and making sure that you make time to foster the relationships that matter to you and connecting with the important people in your life.
Mental Self-Care
Mindset is everything! A phrase I am sure we have all heard at least once in our lives. Yet, as cliché as it may be, the way we think, and the things we fill our mind with, has an astounding impact on our health and well-being. One way to tackle this area of our lives is exploring the concept of ‘Cognitive Restructuring,’ a set of strageties centered on assisting us fight against black-and-white thinking and jumping to conclusions.
Mental Self-Care also involves engaging in activities that help you stay mentally healthy, such as practicing self-compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance of ourselves and others.
Spiritual Self-Care
Spirituality is both paradoxically universal and very personal, and as a result it is the most free-form dimension we have as humans. Research over the past decade has been taking a closer look at the role spirituality has on our health and how developing our own spiritual awareness plays a pivotal role in our well-being and logevity.
Spirituality can be defined as seeking a meaningful connection with something bigger than yourself, and recognizing that what connects you to a higher power also connects you to others. So remember nurturing your spirit doesn’t have to involve religion, it can involve anything that helps you develop and connect to a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the universe.
Emotional Self-Care
Emotional Sel-Care rests on having healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like guilt, sadness, and anger. In order to honor our emotional needs, it is important to engage in activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings on a regular basis.
Whether you find time for exercise, connecting with family and friends, listening to music or engaging in art, the incorporation of Emotional Self-Care into our lives has a profound impact on the quality of life we live.
My Self-Care Plan
It is important to remember that we are unique people living our own unique lives, and as a result there is no one-size-fits-all solution for incorporating Self-Care. While the busy professional, doubling as a teacher at home, may need to remember to engage in more physical activity and honor their emotions. The retired individual may find themselves needing to reconnect with their social connections and reflect upon their spirituality.
What is important is that we all take the time to reflect and assess what is missing from our lives. This doesn’t mean trying to tackle everything at once, but rather creating a plan to slowly incoporate these areas so we can live our best life; and bring our best self forward for our families, business, and community.
Helping Hand
If you know anyone that is struggling within their life or could use a helping hand make sure to check in and let them know that they are not alone. You can redirect them to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Psychology Today to find a therapist near them.