Six Types of Self-Care
In times of stress, personal needs can take a backseat to the tasks at hand. Although it may be difficult to find the time, it is important to check-in with yourself and practice self-care. When you hear ‘self-care’ you may picture spas and face masks, but self-care can take many forms. See the multiple ways you can incorporate self-care into your life.
Emotional – Connect, acknowledge and process the full range of emotions through creative expression. Common examples of emotional self-care are journaling, playing music and painting.
Practical – Look for ways you can help make your life less stressful, such as creating a budget, organizing your garage, taking professional development courses or meeting with a financial planner.
Physical – Focus on maintaining or improving your physical health by getting up from your desk to stretch, taking daily walks or focusing on cooking healthy meals. This could also mean choosing to rest instead of checking another item off the to-do list.
Mental – Keep the mind engaged and focused on something you enjoy, such as reading a book, playing scrabble or completing a crossword puzzle.
Social – Build and grow your relationships. Take time to meet with friends, call loved ones and keep date night on the calendar.
Spiritual – Nurture your spirit that allows you to think beyond yourself. For some, this could be religious, such as going to church or praying, but it could also be meditating or hiking
Often, self-care can fit into multiple categories. For example, a hike could be both physically and spiritually fulfilling. Take a few minutes to write a few examples of activities that cultivate joy and find time to do those things in times of stress.
