Self-Care…More Than Just a Hashtag
Self-care, self-love, we love to say it! But how do we use it in our lives as more than just a fad and something to record and upload to TikTok or Instagram?
Self-care has been defined as “a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being.”*
There are so many facets of self-care and so many options to choose in caring for your mind, your body, your emotions, and your soul.
I believe the truest expression of self-care is exploring what works best for you, and unapologetically following those practices in your daily life. I also believe that self-care is ineffective if it’s viewed as something to perform or “achieve” like some to-do list. Embrace imperfection, balance, and flexibility day to day with some ready-to-use sources of self-care sprinkled into each day.
Self-care can touch on many aspects of our lives, including: physical health, mental health, relationships, and spiritual health. It may be helpful to check in to the following areas, assess where you feel dissatisfied or stressed, and create a game plan to find more balance, relief, or joy.
General ideas for self-care in the following areas may include…
Physical health
Incorporate more movement into your daily routines, and prioritize home-cooked meals with someone you love. Your physical well-being is tied to the food you eat, your level of activity, as well as your general feeling of balance and equanimity.
Emotional health
Investigate how you currently cope with difficult feelings. Try out journaling, punching a pillow or screaming into a pillow (no joke), talking to someone you love, walking it off, crying it out, running yourself a calming bath, and daily self-awareness. When we realize that our emotions are a result of our thoughts, our beliefs, our upbringings, and how the world treats us…we can offer compassion to ourselves and others.
Mental health
Get adequate sleep, avoid toxic situations and people, set boundaries, attend therapy and/or self-love support groups, and practice loving-kindness meditations. Our mental health is vital to our overall well being. Try not to let the pressures of our society override your time and attention to how you’re feeling. There are people here to help you when needed- asking for help is a sign of self-love and self-care, not weakness.
Spiritual health
Find something you connect to beyond yourself and your own physical life. Spirituality does not have to include anything inherently religious, and can be any representation of a higher power, nature, or even science. Finding something that makes you feel connected to what’s around you can offer a broader perspective and sense of comfort.
Once you have an idea of what self-care practices you gravitate towards, start implementing them little by little. Soon you’ll have rituals and routines that you look forward to, knowing that they provide you the time, tools, and space to focus on yourself. Despite what our [opinion: misogynistic, capitalistic] culture has ingrained in our minds through subliminal after subliminal (well, sometimes not so subliminal) messages, this is NOT selfish! And honestly, sometimes being selfish, aka prioritizing your own well-being, isn’t the worst thing (if it’s done in a non harmful way to others)!
I love helping people –especially those struggling with burnout, health issues, disconnection from their passions and purpose– connect with a self-care practice that serves them. Reach me at jessnoreiga.com to work together towards a self-care regimen that will transform your day-to-day!
Resources and sources:
https://www.yogicselfcare.com/what-is-yogic-self-care*https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729Mental Health resources:-https://www.inclusivetherapists.com-https://mhanational.org/racism-and-mental-health-https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groupsWishing you well,
Jess
