Intro to Self-Care

The term 'self-care' gets tossed around like rice at weddings, but what does it really mean? It’s acknowledged that self-care is not selfish. But then capitalism does what it does and we start to believe that self-care means luxury trips and indulgent spa days. I equate those experiences with self-soothing, which is temporary reprieve. However, self-care is long term and doesn’t have to cost much, if anything. Could be the less you spend, the more you get. Why? Because self-care is all about taking intentional actions to care for your physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s about maintaining your overall well-being. I’m going to break down self-care into several key categories to help you understand and implement it in a balanced way.

First up, we have physical self-care.

This involves activities that improve your physical health.

Think: regular exercise, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and maintaining good hygiene. Physical self-care might also mean going for regular medical check-ups and taking steps to prevent illness. For example, incorporating a daily walk into your routine can significantly boost your mood and energy levels.

Physical Self-Care: Activities that promote physical health and well-being, such as exercise, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, hygiene practices, and regular medical check-ups. We’ll hear from folks who have a favorite place they walk, a yoga move that strikes the right somatic chord to release emotion, or maybe even the act of a deep conditioning hair.

Next, let's talk about emotional self-care. This is about acknowledging and expressing your feelings in a healthy way. It might include practices like journaling, talking to a therapist, or simply setting aside time each day to reflect on your emotions. Setting boundaries and saying 'no' when you need to is also a crucial part of emotional self-care. Remember, to honor and respect yourself by prioritizing your emotional health.

Emotional Self-Care: Practices that nurture emotional well-being, including expressing feelings, setting boundaries, engaging in activities that bring joy, practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques, seeking therapy or counseling when needed, and surrounding oneself with supportive relationships.

Mental self-care is all about stimulating your mind and keeping it sharp. This could mean reading books, solving puzzles, engaging in creative activities, or even learning a new skill. It's also about managing stress effectively. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and positive self-talk can help keep your mind clear and focused.

Mental Self-Care: Activities that support cognitive health and mental clarity, such as engaging in lifelong learning, stimulating the mind through puzzles or creative endeavors, managing stress effectively, setting goals, and practicing positive self-talk. 

Humans are social creatures, so social self-care is vital. This involves nurturing your relationships with friends, family, and your community. Make time for social activities that bring you joy, and don't be afraid to lean on your support network when you need it. Remember, it's about quality, not quantity, so focus on the connections that truly support and uplift you.

Social Self-Care: Actions that foster healthy social connections and relationships, such as spending time with loved ones, maintaining boundaries in relationships, seeking support from friends and family, joining clubs or groups with shared interests, and reaching out for help when feeling isolated. Did you finally end a toxic relationship that you realized echoed the connection or disconnection you have with a parent? The action following that realization was self-care!

Spiritual self-care doesn't necessarily mean religious practices, although it can for some people.

It's about connecting with something greater than yourself.

This might involve meditation, spending time in nature, practicing gratitude, or engaging in activities that give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Find what resonates with you and makes you feel connected and grounded.

Spiritual Self-Care: Practices that nurture the spirit and provide a sense of purpose and connection to something greater than oneself, such as meditation, prayer, spending time in nature, engaging in acts of kindness or service, participating in religious or spiritual activities, and exploring personal beliefs and values. You can be atheist or agnostic and still commune with nature. 

Professional self-care is about balancing your work life and avoiding burnout. This means setting boundaries between work and personal life, taking breaks, and seeking opportunities for professional growth. Don't hesitate to delegate tasks when needed and always advocate for a healthy work environment.

Professional Self-Care: Strategies that promote well-being in the workplace or career, including setting boundaries between work and personal life, seeking opportunities for growth and development, delegating tasks when necessary, practicing time management, and advocating for oneself in the workplace. A client recently started taking lunch breaks and it was a revelation that completely changed her day. Rest is self-care.

Your environment can significantly impact your well-being. Environmental self-care includes organizing your space to reduce stress and create a pleasant atmosphere. This could mean decluttering your home, decorating your workspace with plants, or spending more time outdoors. A clean and comfortable environment can do wonders for your mental health.

Environmental Self-Care: Actions that contribute to a healthy and supportive physical environment, such as decluttering living or work spaces, surrounding oneself with objects that bring joy like an altar or Hendrix poster, connecting with nature, reducing exposure to toxins, and creating a calming atmosphere at home or work. A few years ago, I colored (with crayons) a picture of a little girl sitting cross legged on the grass overlooking a sunset. I have it taped to my desk, under my laptop. When I need a moment, I connect with this peaceful energy, take a few deep breaths, and ground myself before my next session. That is self-care.

Depending on the belief system you were born into, most humans were created from a handful of folks making us all in some way connected. Also based on your beliefs, energy doesn’t go anywhere. It just gets recycled which means the butterflies and trees are our ancestors. Gardening, then, is an act of self-care that connects to ancestors.

Financial stress can take a toll on your overall well-being, so financial self-care is crucial. This involves budgeting, saving, and managing your money wisely. It's also about making informed financial decisions and seeking help when you need it. Taking control of your finances can reduce stress and provide a sense of security.

Financial Self-Care: Practices that support financial well-being and stability, including budgeting, saving and investing wisely, avoiding overspending, managing debt effectively, seeking financial advice when needed, and cultivating a healthy relationship with money. I’m not Catholic, but the year I observed Lent by not buying anything from Amazon and educating myself on the company, I learned something that helped me change my spending, empower myself using my values and capital as leverage, and redirect my purchases locally. All of that, including boycotting corruption and monopolies, is self-care as well as community care.

Don't forget to have fun! Recreational self-care is about engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. This could be anything from hobbies and creative pursuits to watching your favorite movies or spending time with pets. Make time for leisure activities that help you unwind and recharge.

Recreational Self-Care: Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment and relaxation, such as hobbies, creative pursuits, reading for pleasure, watching movies or shows, listening to music, playing sports, or spending time with pets. We’ll hear about the music, books, movies, and shows that folks vibe to for comfort and why.

Lastly, I want to talk a little about cultural self-care. This means engaging in activities that celebrate your cultural identity and heritage. It could involve attending cultural events, learning about your history, and connecting with communities that share your background. Embracing your cultural identity can provide a sense of belonging and pride.

Cultural Self-Care: Participating in activities that celebrate one's cultural identity, heritage, or interests, such as attending cultural events, festivals, or ceremonies, learning about one's cultural history, traditions, and practices, and connecting with communities that share similar cultural backgrounds. Last year, I hosted a spring equinox ceremony that tapped into my cultural self-care by surrounding myself with wonderful people, having meaningful conversations, and taking time out of the week to watch the sunset. It was magical and part of my cultural heritage, to discuss community with other abolitionists, and participate in a fire ritual.

Now be honest. Before reading this post, did you realize there were so many forms of self-care? Did you equate self-care with money and believe that you couldn’t afford it? Self-care is a multifaceted practice and while you should absolutely treat yo’self, true self-care is about making choices that elevate your well-being across various aspects of your life. That’s what makes self-care a necessary act of self-love.

By taking care of yourself, you're better equipped to take care of others too if that’s what you’re called to do. Self-care makes it easier to handle life's challenges better too. Then while listening to the various forms of self-care, did you realize that boundaries or the creation of time to engage in self-care IS a sacred space??

Time for self-care creates sanctuaries where you are nourished, held, and restored. Celebrate yourself, your journey, and find peace and happiness every minute of everyday. That’s self-care, my way at least.