The essence of self-care is to take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s meant to help you be well, be healthy and thrive within all areas of self, including your mind, body and spirit. .

The good news is that people are finally realizing the importance of self-care for themselves and their loved ones. In fact, according to Google Trends, the number of people searching the term ‘self-care’ has more than doubled in the past few years.

If you’re interested in being healthier, calmer, more centered, and less anxious, then you’ve come to the right spot. We’ll talk about the five areas of self-care you can’t ignore so you can start making it a priority in your life. Let’s dive in.

Mental/Emotional Self-Care

Mental, or psychological, self-care is the first thing people usually associate self-care with because it helps clear your head and release anxiety.

The great thing is that there are so many things you can do to practice this type of self-care. They’re all designed with one aim: to improve your personal growth and boost your confidence. They also have a great impact on your overall mental well-being.

One of the most common activities is positive affirmations and learning how to redirect negative self-talk.

Other activities include:

• Solving a puzzle

• Take Breaks

• Connect With People – Enjoy Social Time

• Do Something You Enjoy

• Drink In Moderation

• Connect With A Loved One

• Be Mindful - Live In The Present Moment

• Practice Self-Compassion

• Set Boundaries And Say “No” When You Need To Take Care Of Yourself:

• Forgive Yourself

• Avoid Comparing Yourself To Others

• Spend Time In Nature

• Set Goals And Priorities

• Practice Gratitude

• Focus On Positivity

• Practice Meditation

• Unclutter Your Life And Your Spaces

Activities that help promote emotional self-care are all about helping you contemplate, handle, and reflect on your feelings in a healthy way. Once you know how to do that, you have better control over your behavior and actions.

It’s worth mentioning that the way you deal with your emotions says a lot about how much you love and appreciate yourself.

Self-Care For A Better You

Practical self-care involves all aspects of life. It relates to the tasks you complete each day that help you feel fulfilled and happy.

Examples Of Self-Care For A Better You Include

• Perfecting work skills

• Learning new skills

• Introspections

• Personal Growth and Development

• Listening to yourself (getting out of autopilot)

• Treating yourself with kindness

Social Self-Care

Many people think self-care is all about spending time alone. While that may be part of it, it’s not completely true.

A large chunk of taking care of yourself relies on the relationship you have with others. Whether it’s family, friends, or colleagues at work, they all have an impact on how you feel about yourself.

If anyone in your life is bringing in toxic energy that’s somehow affecting your self-esteem, you have to cut them out of your life. Why would you keep people around who only make you feel bad?

On the flip side, you should spend more time with the people who support and encourage you. So, a good way to practice social self-care is by having weekly dinners with your family or going out with friends.

Examples Of Social Self-Care Include

• Set Boundaries

• Connect With Loved Ones

• Host A Game Night With Your Friends Or Family

• Take Your Significant Other Out For A Date

• Spend Some Time With Your Pet

• Surprise A Loved One With A Letter

• Plan Face To Face Time

• Review The Health Of Your Current Relationships

• Seek A Social Group

• Volunteer

• Forgive Someone You Have A Grudge Against

• Attend A Social Event

• Go Out And Explore Your Town Or City

• Take A Class

• Join A Sports Team

• Join A Community That Has The Same Interests As You

Physical Self-Care

This is probably the most talked-about type of self-care worldwide because it has to do with the kinds of food you consume and how much you exercise. It also focuses on how much you’re staying hydrated and how much sleep you’re getting each night.

Another important aspect of physical self-care is taking a break from work or chores whenever you need it. It may seem like a small thing, but it can greatly affect how you feel about yourself.

Besides eating right and working out, try getting a massage or a nice mani-pedi to lift your mood and boost your confidence.

Examples Of Physical Self-Care Include

• Get Enough Sleep

• Exercise Regularly

• Avoid Tobacco Use

• Limit Alcohol Consumption

• Enjoy Breakfast Everyday

• Take Care Of Your Teeth And Gums

• Manage Stress

• Balanced Diet

• Stay hydrated

• Manage stress

• Sign Up For A Yoga Class

• Mindfully Check On Your Posture

• Track Healthy Habits

• Get regular checkups

• Get Regular blood work

• Take A Break From Sitting At Your Desk And Move Around

Spiritual Self-Care

Spiritual self-care is all about taking care of your soul, aka your ‘true self.’ This type of self-care doesn’t involve religion or any faith-based theories. It’s simply doing the things that nurture your spirit and feed your soul, and to promote inner peace, calm and serenity.

There are many things you can do to practice spiritual self-care. Yet, the two that come to mind are meditation and yoga.

Both these techniques allow you to be present in the moment without any distractions or judgment. They also teach you how to appreciate being still and simply focusing on your breathing.

Examples Of Spirit Self-Care Include

• Meditate

• Commune With Nature

• Think Positive Thoughts

• Disconnect From Devices On A Regular Basis

• Regular Moments Of Silence

• Consider A Support Group

• Practice Gratitude

• Socialize With Friends

• Budget Time And Money

• Journal

• Embrace Music

• Set Boundaries

• Compliment Yourself Regularly

• Learn Personal Signs of Stress

• Avoid the News

• Positive Self-Talk And Affirmations