MINDFUL REFLECTIONS: Cultivating Self-care Practices during Mental Health Awareness Month
What is Self Care
Self-care is those activities that help one maintain physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) defines Self-care as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent illnesses, maintain and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.
Self-care is extremely important, especially as we advance in age. Self-care can mean different things to different people, but at the end of the day, these people have a simple goal, which is to maintain and promote their well-being. It encompasses taking time to do things that help one live well and how we cope with various stressors in our lives. There are several forms of self-care, including:
1. Physical: “This type of self-care is taking care of your body,” says Dr Gobin. “It involves getting enough sleep, making sure to work movement into your day and fueling your body with nourishing food.”
2. Mental: Mental self-care starts with paying attention to how you’re talking to yourself, says Dr Shaw. If you are feeding yourself toxic messages, like that you aren’t good enough, mental self-care replaces that with something more encouraging. She says another aspect is challenging yourself intellectually, such as through word game apps like Wordle, reading or learning a new language.
3. Emotional: “Emotional self-care is about understanding your emotions,” adds Dr Shaw. “A lot of people go through life just reacting and not understanding where those reactions are coming from.” Journaling and therapy are examples of emotional self-care.
4. Spiritual: Connecting to a higher purpose can be a form of self-care, according to Belmont. For some people, this is tied to religion, but it doesn’t have to be. “It’s about connecting to the fact that your life has meaning and pursuing your passion,” she says.
Importance Of Self-Care
Activities that help us de-stress and carve out time for ourselves count as self-care. The importance of self-care cannot be overemphasised as it cuts across all areas of our lives. Below are some of the importance of cultivating self-care practices.
Reduced Stress Levels.
Putting your health and needs first, along with giving yourself some rest, can significantly reduce stress levels.
Increasing Self-worth.
The more you take care of yourself, the better you will feel about who you are as a person. This is because more of your core needs will be met on a regular basis.
Managing Chronic Conditions
By practising physical and mental self-care strategies, conditions such as depression, diabetes and heart diseases can be effectively managed.
Healthier Relationships
When we take better care of our personal needs, we are better able to engage in healthy relationships, partially due to increased self–esteem and self-worth.
Disease Prevention.
Implementing self-care practices such as regular exercise, healthy eating and stress management techniques reduces the risk of diseases like heart attack, stroke and depression in the future.
Improved Quality of Life.
When self-care practices help to better manage health conditions, reduce stress or create a greater sense of belonging, the overall well-being and quality of life improve.
Self-Care Tips
Activities that help us de-stress and carve out time for ourselves count as self-care. The importance of self-care cannot be overemphasised as it cuts across all areas of our lives. Below are some of the importance of cultivating self-care practices.
• Observe one’s personal hygiene at least once on a cold day and twice on a sunny day, and clean your surroundings.
• Get quality sleep regularly, for adults, 7-9 hours a day.
• Eat a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables and limit intake of processed foods
• Drink clean water regularly.
• Take a 30-minute walk at least 3 times a week, especially in the evenings.
• Have a routine exercise and plans for the day to remain focused and prevent unfinished tasks.
• Go for regular check-ups and floss your teeth daily, or depending on your dentist's advice.
• Engage in relaxing activities that help manage stress, like dancing, listening to good music and meditation.
• Reconnect with and be around friends and family often.
• Set boundaries with people, walk out of toxic/parasitic relationships and show gratitude always.
Conclusion
Although some people often misunderstand self-care for selfishness, it is important to know that the two words are not synonymous to each other. Self-care is not selfish; it is an investment in your overall health and resilience.
Prioritise yourself, and you will be better equipped to handle life’s challenges and support others around you. If you adopt the right technique to care for yourself, you will be able to reap the benefits, such as better physical and mental health, prevention/better management of diseases and better personal/workplace relationships.
If you read this and find yourself feeling sad or demoralised from the challenges of establishing a self-care routine, then it is best to seek help. You can contact us directly through the provided contacts below.
You Are Not Alone, Let Us Help
If you’re finding it hard to cope, please remember that healing begins with one step.
At Aventurine, we provide a safe, women-only environment where you can receive compassionate support and professional care.
Join our FREE women-only support group, created to help you find strength, connection, and emotional balance.
We invite you to attend our Women’s Mental Wellness Open Day, where you can meet our team, learn about mental health resources, and connect with other women on their healing journey.
📧 Email: info@theoliveaventurine.com
REFERENCES
Moira Lawler, Seth Gillihan, what is self-care? And why is it so important for your health? March 17, 2023.
Rufus Tony Spann, Emily Laurence. 10 Easy Self-care Ideas that can help boost your Health. (Forbes Health) January 2023.
Nimh.nih.gov/health, Caring for your mental health, February 2024.