It’s the thick of summer: you’re stressing over work, upcoming travel plans, or figuring out next week’s activities for the kids. The last thing you need right now is to catch a cold or the latest virus. But, what can you even do to help yourself?
Self-care is the intentional practice of maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional health. And it matters.
Why Is Self-Care Important?
The World Health Organization notes that practicing self-care can help you manage stress, restore balance in your life, and prevent some illnesses.
How Do I Practice Self-Care?
Self-care activities can range from exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep, to setting healthy boundaries, meeting up with friends and family, or taking time for hobbies. Researchers with the Mayo Clinic point out that when done properly, “self-care actually helps fuel us to be our best selves and will maximize our performance gains and achievement.”
How To Get Started
How do you get out of that rut? Start slow by making small changes and know not every skill will work in every situation. Here are a few examples shared by the Cleveland Clinic
- Practice deep breathing. Regulating your breath can lower the stress hormone cortisol.
- If you can, step away from the situation. Go for a walk to clear your mind. Spend time in nature.
- Write down what’s causing your stress and see if there’s small ways you can tackle the issue. Do you need to delegate someone else to certain tasks, ask for an extension on a project, set boundaries, etc.
- Find a workout that can release stress. Boxing, kickboxing, jogging, lifting weights. All of those activities can give your stress an outlet and in return you’ll get an endorphin boost and likely a shift in your mood.
- Listen to a funny podcast or watch a sitcom to get you laughing.
- Talk with a mental health professional. They can help you pinpoint what’s really bugging you and help you find ways to cope.
- You can meet our providers at this link.
- If you’d like to meet with one of our providers for assistance, get started here.
What Is Not Self-Care?
- Avoid falling into a routine where you treat the symptoms of your stress, grief, life challenges but not the underlying cause.
- Don’t reach for alcohol, drugs, or snacks to cope.
- Don’t short yourself on sleep. Get enough sleep, but not too much.
- Don’t let yourself couch rot for too long. Do your best to avoid procrastinating on projects.
All of these things may provide temporary relief from the current situation, but you’re not addressing the actual problem.
Remember, your mental health matters. You matter.
If someone tries to make you feel bad for spending time at the gym, taking walks, reading a book, or just sitting in a room by yourself, remind them that this is your form of self-care and it is necessary for your health as well as the health of those around you.
Because you can’t pour from an empty cup.