What is it?
Self-care is a relatively new term and is now used as a buzzword for media relating to anyone taking time out to look after their own needs. Although this may seem like a new trend, the practice of this has been implemented over centuries e.g. mediation, relaxing baths, date nights away from the children.
Why do it?
Self-care is a necessity for humans to regulate emotions, to improve their well-being and maintain feelings of healthiness. Self-care can also reduce feelings of ‘burnout’ from home and peoples professional lives; especially those in a caring profession.
You probably practice self-care now, you may even say:
“I definitely have self-care because I watch Coronation Street on my own once a week”.
But the importance of self-care, isn’t just doing one thing on you own a couple of times a week, but it’s about tracking how this makes you feel and if it benefits your whole being.
How to track self-care?
When I look at lists of the many ideas of self-care e.g. take a bath, drink coffee in the garden, go for a hike, I just see a list of things that could make the majority of people a bit happier for a short period of time.
Instead of just taking to these lists and ticking off what might have some effect on you, you should ask yourself the following questions.
· Do I genuinely enjoy this? - (not ‘well I should like reading but I can’t really get into this book’) There is NO point in making a self-care list To-Do if it will just feel like another chore.
· Would I happily put this into my day/ week? (Not ‘well I was going to sit in the garden but it would be better to finish the washing’). Again this relates to the question above, but the point of self-care is looking at your own needs which should take prominence over other menial tasks. If you think that cleaning out the fridge for an hour is more important than looking after you needs by doing self-care, then your self-care choice is not fulfilling.
· Will this affect me in the long term by doing this self-care? If you enjoy reading, by making time to do this long term this will fill you with happiness and the escapism you feel you need.
· Have a picked a mix of self-care that pins into all areas of my life? Self-care with the family e.g. walk to the park with the kids, Relationship self-care e.g. date nights, work self-care e.g. turn email notifications off when at home.
Self-care ideas
Now I’m not saying don’t look at ideas on how to create a bit of love and care for yourself!
By all means please do, just track whether this is the right self-care for you and your life.
Here are some ideas below to try out:
Physical
Exercise
Take time off when you are sick
Get a full nights rest
Wear clothes you like
Take a day trip
Practice martial arts
Yoga
Get a massage
Eat healthy
Psychological
See a counsellor
Journal
Read
Start a new hobby
Spend time outdoor
Self-reflect
Go to sporting event
Emotional
Reread favourite book
Cry over a film
Play with children
Contact family/friends
Spiritual
Meditate
Nature walks
Identify what it meaningful/ gratitude journal
Nurture others
Listen to inspiring music
Workplace/ professional
Go outside for lunch break
Identify what goals you want to achieve in work
Have a colleague support group
Rearrange work space
Limit email/ communication outside work hours
Charli Davies
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