You hear it all over TikTok and Instagram. Practice self care for a better life, healthier body, more productive day, and healthy mindset.
But have you ever stopped to wonder “What is Self Care”? And are you doing it wrong?
Maybe you are thinking to yourself, “Isn’t self care just bubble baths and naps”?
Hell no! If you thought this, you are missing out on some amazing opportunities to reduce your anxiety and improve your mental health.
This post will cover:
- What is Self Care? And What it really means.
- Why is Self Care Important?
- What are the benefits of Self Care?
- What Are The 7 Pillars of Self-Care?
- and some Examples of Self Care
We’re breaking self care down to the core today. And how self care will improve your anxiety, relieve stress, and how it will help you add balance back to your life.
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What Self Care Really Means?
Self care has been defined as many things in the past. Some even call it self indulgence. True self care is anything but. Okay, so what is self care?
According to the Oxford Dictionary it is the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
Whether you practice mental relaxation, physical care, management techniques for anxiety, or simple daily habits to promote wellness; self care will improve your physical health and emotional health , help you maintain motivation to reach your goals all while improving your mental health.
Why is Self Care Important?
When you suffer from an anxiety disorder, your nervous system has been conditioned to be hyper aware.
Your brain is working to keep you safe. Even if you are safe in bed with a hunky police officer beside you.
Okay, so that’s my brain with anxiety on overdrive, but what does normal anxiety look like?
A normal anxiety response is a short term burst. It helps you prepare for a speech, helps you prep your body to run that 5k race, and makes you nervous about cooking Thanksgiving for 10 for the first time so you will remember all your ingredients.
Normal anxiety is a performance enhancer. It’s does a job, then leaves after the task is done.
But anxiety disorder goes beyond that and disrupts your life. It sticks around like an infection.
Long term anxiety causes:
- Over Reactive nervous system
- Excessive stress hormones in the body
- Sleep disturbances
- Upset stomach and GI issues
- Headaches
- Body aches from muscle tension
- Mood Swings
- For more signs of an anxiety disorder, visit the Mayo Clinic.
When you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you need a pressure relief valve so your body and brain do not have to use its own resources to reset your nervous system.
Ever had a panic attack? That is one of your body’s pressure relief valves.
No one likes having a panic attack to reset the nervous system, why not try self care instead?
The importance of self care is prevention and management of strong stressors to help restore the nervous system back to baseline.
What are the Benefits of Self Care?
First, I want to tell you this simple fact: you are not selfish for practicing self care.
To give to others, your own cup needs to be full.
You are the cup, and how you care for yourself is what you pour into your world.
Self care is the fuel you need to live a happier life..
The benefits of self care include:
- Reducing physical and emotional anxiety symptoms
- Helps reset the nervous system
- Reduces stress hormones
- Improves self esteem
- Helps you become comfortable with your authentic self
- Improves social well being
- & Improves your sense of purpose.
Yes, Self Care when done right, can help you create a life you don’t need to escape.
RELATED POST: 20 Healthy Mindset Habits You Need to Improve Your Anxiety
What Are The 7 Pillars of Self-Care?
Okay Krystian, So I need to practice self care, but I have no idea where to begin.
No problem! I got you!
There are 7 pillars of self care for optimal health. Mental, Emotional, Physical, Environmental, Social, Recreational, and Spiritual.
Combining these self care types will help you create a custom self care plan to treat your own anxiety triggers.
Here are some examples of self care to help you explore how the 7 pillars of self care will help you:
- Choosing to take a self care vacation to gain perspective about a difficult situation that you need distance from.
- Taking time off to take care of your health.
- Reading a book instead of being on social media and becoming triggered.
- Having a routine that helps prep your mind and body for bedtime.
- Keeping a journal to take to therapy to work through concerns and questions you have between sessions.
- Eating healthy and caring for your body to help promote daily wellness.
- Learning to communicate with your loved ones.
- Having a self care kit to help you relieve stress.
Final Thoughts about What is Self Care
Self care isn’t just beauty treatments. It’s practices of whole body and mind.
From seeking help from a doctor or therapist to going to bed 15 minutes early to get an uninterrupted break before the kids get up to drink your coffee; self care takes many shapes and forms.
The benefits of self care are what add balance back to you
Tell me what self care means to you in the comments!
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Love this. Self-care is essential to successfully complete tasks.
Love your post! This was great advice and I love the course you offer too! I def need to get on with my self-care
Great post. Defining self care is important to understand what it means and how it truly relates to better health. Thank you for explaining it all and ideas to practice it all.
Self care is so important. For years I would hear about the hustle culture and to keep working but its good to hear more people talking about relax and take a moment. I love it. I try to at least everyday take a few moments to myself and just relax. It really does help with my anxiety.
I’m so glad you wrote this! I’ve been trying hard lately to listen to what my body needs and honor that, whether it’s food, sleep, sunshine, whatever…Mostly, lately, it’s sleep, so I’ve been trying to prioritize rest in a world that tells me rest is laziness.