As we step into the midpoint of 2024 and look at how the year has been so far, let us also take a step back and bring the focus on SELF. July is celebrated as the Self-Care Month and an important reminder this month is that ‘Self-care is not selfish’.
Self-Care Definition
Self-care can be defined as the ability of an individual, family or community to take care of oneself and preserve their health, be it physical health or mental health. These actions are focused on promoting good health, preventing diseases and coping with any illness without the need of a health worker or professional.
Why self-care is important?
- According to data by World Health Organization (WHO), 3.6 billion people lack access to essential health services. That is almost half of the world’s population! It is because of this lack of access that self-care measures have become much more important in all sections of life.
- It will allow people to take care of themselves without needing to depend on someone else.
- It will help us achieve universal health coverage and reduce the overall burden of diseases.
Importance of self-care in mental health
The importance of self-care in mental health is extremely important. As we are gradually moving towards a more technology-oriented life with less human connections, people realize their sanity is in their hands. It is our choice to go out, make connections, cut off from social media or do things that make us happy. The idea of self-care is to put yourself first and do things that benefit you rather than doing things for others.
- Self-care is good for your physical health and when you feel good physically, it will impact your mental health as well.
- It helps in reducing stress.
- It helps in building emotional health and resilience.
- Increased self-awareness.
- Enhances productivity.
- Improves relationships.
- Prevents mental health disorders.
Self-care examples
Some of the most common self-care example or mental self-care examples include-
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Walks
- Exercise
- Running
- Eating well
- Cooking
- Skincare
- Hiking
- Gardening
- Quality time with loved ones
- Taking breaks
- Setting goals
- Massages
- Therapy
- Creative activities like painting, dancing, drawing
- Praying
Types of self-care
Self-care can be of various types and does not have to be limited to any one particular section of life.
- Emotional self-care- Involves activities that help you connect with your emotions and process them better.
- Physical self-care- Activities that focus on improving physical health and well- being.
- Mental self-care- Activities that stimulate your mind and promote mental clarity and calmness.
- Spiritual self-care- Activities that are more purpose oriented or finding meaning in life.
- Intellectual self-care- These focus on acts that engage your intellect and creative brain.
- Environmental self-care- Doing things that help you take care of the environment and organizing it while immersing oneself in pleasant activities.
- Social self-care- Those activities that allow you to build relationships and build a supportive network.
- Financial self-care- Activities that help in managing finances and reducing stress and promoting financial security.
Parts of self-care
Self-care can be further divided into two parts- Self-care actions and self-care interventions.
Self-care actions
Self-care actions can be termed as habits, practices or lifestyle choices that we make to have a healthier life. They can include-
- Doing a regular physical activity
- Eating healthy
- Taking care of our mental health
- Quitting bad habits like smoking or drinking
- Indulging in creative hobbies
- Reading more often
Self-care interventions
According to WHO, “self-care interventions are the evidence-based tools that support self-care”. These include medicines, digital tools, diagnostics or devices. And with the advancement in technology, more such self-care interventions are being created to help make the lives of people better.
Our smart watches are a good example of self-care interventions that help us take actions that support self-care.
Top 10 Tips to Maintain Your Mental Health
- Stay away from social media. I think it goes without saying that social media is one of the most addictive habits for everyone these days. Being off social media allows your brain to reset and not constantly worry about comparing your lives with others. And of course, it keeps you away from doomscrolling and helps you maintain sanity.
- Get some physical activity. Well, this tip has been overstated way too many times and for a good reason. Being out of your house or breaking the sedentary life is important for your brain and body. The release of happy hormones and oxytocin during exercise or a game of badminton is much needed to keep your spirits up.
- Cut people out. It is the quality of friends that matters and not the quantity of people you surround yourself with. So, cut out people who are holding you down and not letting you grow. It might be a toxic friend or partner and it will be difficult at first, but it will bring you a lot of peace.
- Put yourself in the driving seat of your life and take charge of what is happening around you and in your life. Make your own decisions and see how things change in your life.
- Focus on what you are eating or not eating. Try the routine of fasting once a week (or month) and eating healthy the rest of the days. Introduce more minerals in your food and work with a health coach to bring this practice into your life. Mindful eating is another practice you can benefit from.
- Have a routine. There is a lot of calmness and structure that comes with just building a routine for every day. A morning routine or skincare routine are ways to devote time to yourself and this will help with some self-care time.
- Get a coach or therapist to work with! This is a good way to build your personality and devote time to yourself.
- Go on a trek or take that trip! Engage and connect with nature and take some time to do the things you love, such as travelling.
- Connect socially and build strong relationships. Take some time to focus on yourself and your social life and prioritize relationships.
- Sleep! Sleep is a magical potion that takes care of your physical and mental health. Make sure that you prioritize your 6-8 hours of sleep, daily.
This Self Care Month, learn to put yourself first and build the habit slowly into your life. You are your biggest cheerleader and can hold the power to change how you feel!
