Justice for My Jewel♕● May 15, 2023● 4 min read
Self-care is important to your overall health and well-being, but what is it exactly? According to Marni Amsellem, PhD, (a New York licensed psychologist), “Self-care is anything that you do for yourself that feels nourishing.”
With all the demands of life and responsibilities that never seem to end, sometimes it can be difficult to make time for self-care. Perhaps you even consider self-care an added expense that has little or no room in your budget, or that taking care of yourself first is being selfish. The truth is you can’t afford to not take care of yourself first. There is a reason airline stewardesses instruct passengers to put their own oxygen masks on first before assisting anyone else. If you can’t breathe, you may not get the opportunity to help your loved one whose life is so precious to you.
Money spent on self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity. Because so many people are more health conscious in today’s climate, more attention is being paid to healthy eating and exercise, but those are only two facets of self-care that demand your attention. Not all self-care requires money. For instance, have your feet ever barked at you – yeah, barked to let you know they need a break from those shoes you’ve been stuffing them into and all that running around you’ve been doing taking care of business? Take a moment to consider how hard your feet work. They help your legs swing you out of bed in the morning and are the leverage you need to push up and stand tall. They bear the weight of your entire body and carry you to wherever it is that your busy schedule requires you to be. So, give your feet a break! Stop waiting until your feet hurt to pay attention to their care. Happy feet…happy you! Take a few moments to elevate your feet to allow the blood to circulate freely and wiggle your toes. That feels so good, and the only thing it costs you is the time to do it. What if you had no feet? Does that thought make you appreciate your feet a bit more?
Take a moment to create a list: “To Do: Self-Care, Self-Care, Self-Care.” Yes, it’s that important, so put it at the top of your to do list. Fight for it. If getting a massage is not in your budget, purchase a massage gun and use it. Relax and love on yourself. You can go for a walk, listen to music, curl up with your favorite book, loom a hat, hang out with good friends, practice feeling grateful, plant a garden and get your hands dirty, journal and revisit what you wrote, breathe deeply and laugh just because, or get up a little earlier and enjoy your favorite morning beverage in the peaceful quiet of early morning. Also be mindful that going on vacation doesn’t equate to self-care if you take all your problems and stress with you. You simply end up stressing in a different location.
The following are seven areas of self care that you should address regularly. (Don’t pick and choose but address each area and love on yourself.) You might be surprised to discover that those assignments seem easier and those people you provide care for like you a lot better when you’re relaxed, unstressed, and smiling than when you’re grumpy, begrudging yet another obligation you feel you have to fulfill.
Areas of Self-Care:
Practice listening to your body, and it will reveal to you the type of self-care it needs to maintain overall health and wellness.
Emotional Self-Care: Creating healthy coping strategies to relieve stress.
Environmental Self-Care: Creating a peaceful uncluttered space to occupy.
Mental Self-Care: Creating a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity.
Physical Self-Care: Taking care of your body with rest, nutrition, and movement.
Recreational Self-Care: Making time for hobbies and activities that interest you.
Social Self-Care: Building relationships and making connections with healthy boundaries.
Spiritual Self-Care: Practices or activities that give you a sense of meaning and purpose.
According to everydayhealth.com/self-care/ Self-care can have a positive effect on your health and outlook, but it requires a commitment or intention to invest in your well-being. Decide today to commit to your well-being. Your body will thank you, and so will everyone connected to you.◼
Sponsored by
