The concept of self-care is deeply entrenched in today’s culture, from social media influencers and celebs to everyday life at work, school, and home. We see the self-care label attached to everything from CBD bath salts to skin care products and vacation packages, but what does it really mean?
With more people continuing to be afflicted by uncertainty, anxiety, depression, and other issues, we need self-care more than ever on an individual and societal level.
Let’s give a full rundown on self-care, what it can accomplish, and how to implement these practices in a sustainable, effective way.
Defining Self-Care
It’s right there in the name: self-care is focused on the individual, so craft a definition that suits you before seeking the advice of others.
Here are some tips to define self-care in a way that fits your lifestyle, goals, and priorities.
Fundamentals
While everyone has a unique take on self-care and the details involved, there are common threads throughout.
Healthcare leaders describe self-care as a set of actions and approaches to life that help you become happier, healthier, and more fulfilled overall.
For some people, the physical foundations of self-care are most important, such as exercise, hydration, balanced eating, and proper supplementation. For others, mental well-being is in the spotlight, including connection with loved ones, positive self-talk, journaling, meditation, and more.
Some self-care practices are transformative and deeply challenging, such as overcoming addiction or deep-rooted personal issues. Others are simple on the surface but can compound over time into something great, like going for daily outdoor walks, using CBD bath salts, or minimizing social media use.
What Self-Care Is Not
With so many possible ways to define the term, we need to tread carefully when establishing boundaries. Plenty of activities might provide us with physical or emotional relief for a short period but don’t contribute much to our long-term well-being. In some cases, such habits may backfire in the long term and do more harm than good.
These could be habits like drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis, eating junk food, or spending too much time glued to the artificial stimulation of a smartphone or TV. There may be a time and place for these instant gratification pleasures, but they should not constitute true self-care if you are aiming for maximum health and longevity.
Remember: sustainability is a component of self-care that we must never ignore! Keep that in mind when formulating your personalized strategy.
Why Self-Care Is Key: Three Zones
Whether you’re focusing on hygiene, diet, exercise, or just staying on top of daily tasks to avoid feelings of overwhelm, self-care can make a huge difference in your life.
Here are three “zones” that can be improved in noticeable ways when you start taking these practices seriously. If you need some persuading to adopt better habits and stick to your program, use this section as motivation!
1. Health
This is the core value proposition of most self-care concepts: your health comes first. It doesn’t take much investigation to see that many people are living below their potential in terms of health, and this leads them to underachieve in other areas of life.
With better health, you’ll feel better and regain that confidence you’ve been missing. By prioritizing hygiene, grooming, exercise, diet, and sleep, you can even begin to overcome chronic anxiety or stress and open up a new chapter in life.
2. Wealth
Can committing to self-care make you more money? This may sound like a cheesy infomercial, but it makes logical sense with further examination.
Think about it: your career requires energy, consistency, risk-taking, and forming collaborative connections with others. By taking care of yourself first, you can work harder, smarter, longer, and maximize your potential in many pursuits.
It doesn’t matter if you’re at an entry-level retail job or you’re carving out an entrepreneurial path; self-care is the foundation you need to make waves and level up in your financial life.
3. Relationships
It’s easy to forget that relationships are a two-way street, meaning we must put our best foot forward to make them work. Your partner wants to see you thriving, happy, and capable in all respects.
This is entirely possible with self-care, and you will avoid becoming needy and dependent on others. In this approach, everybody wins.
Never ignore self-care, even if you’re in a long-term committed relationship. If you’re single, make self-care a priority, and you may find that you won’t be on your own for too long.
Self-Care as It’s Meant to Be
Caring for oneself is a no-brainer and with so many fantastic health resources in our modern world, you are not alone in your quest for well- being. The hard part is going from theory to practice and sticking with the program for the long haul.
Use this guide as a launchpad for your self-care protocol and start living with deeper meaning, self-respect, and overall happiness.