What is Self care?

What is self care? How do we used self care? I always wonder how to start using self care. Does anyone have any advice?

Hi Buffy01,

From my experience through almost 2 years of counseling self-care is simply taking care of yourself and recognizing yourself and needs as your own, not someone else's. In today's society people seem to give brownie points for those who have the busiest schedules and social lives. But in the process the implied belief is to take care of yourself last.

How can this be illustrated? If you travel, airlines always include oxygen masks in the case of air space pressure loss in their preliminary safety video. Self-care, as is stated in these videos, is putting your mask on BEFORE helping others. Just think how dangerous it would be, rushing around the entire cabin putting masks on all the other passengers while you haven't even put it on!

In the same way failure to practice self-care can have serious repercussions, like depression or loss of individuality. Self care ranges from simple routine activities, like ensuring adequate sleep at night or brushing your teeth, to saying "no" to toxic relationships. Selfishness is not always a bad thing. In fact, it can help you become healthy, happy and balanced. Self care, in an even more faceted sense, acknowledges yourself as a unique person with your own skill-sets and personality.

You are your own unique person, Buffy01, and I know that you have your own skills and hobbies that compose your unique personality. In my case I have gotten into scuba diving. How did I channel this interest? I recently got certified for recreational diving. Like woodcrafting? Then go out to your shop and carve out some wooden figurines. When you find authentic, genuine people who admire who you are, hopefully they will also respect that you have such traits and cool hobbies.

Go out there embrace the person you are and don't let anybody take it away from you!

I will try to find a hobby.

For me self care, is taking time for myself. Meditating, doing things like facials, manicures, etc. Taking care of my body, and mind. Be it building mastery or relaxing.

I think that it has a narrow meaning and a broad meaning.

Narrow meaning starts with hygiene. Gum health is very important as gum disease can lead to cardiovascular disease, so the most important step is probably flossing. Dental tape is better than dental floss. When you floss, do not just go up and down, but also sideways. Water flossers are recommended to supplement string flossing. I got a Waterpik flosser but now have to figure out how to use it...

Further on dental hygiene, brushing with fluoride toothpaste and rinsing every other day with ACT fluoride mouthwash (for 60 seconds and then for 30 minutes no eating or drinking or water in the mouth) are also essential.

Moisturizing skin is key (any store bought moisturizing cream would do - CeraVe is a great brand that does not cost a lot of money).

Sunscreen on face, neck and hands when going outside; mineral sunscreen is better because you can put it right before sun exposure.

If not pregnant or nursing, prescription-strength Retin-A at bedtime.

If you have a chronic illness that requires taking pharmaceutical medications, then taking them (and putting them into a weekly pillbox so that you do not forget) is also part of self-care).

If you need supplements, such as vitamin D or Fish oil or Melatonin, then taking them is also self-care, but beware of scores of useless supplements out there.

Getting enough sleep on a regular schedule is self-care - probably one of the key factors.

Getting some sun during the day is self-care, and for people with seasonal affective disorder, using their light-box is self-care, too.

Getting regular physical exam, annual skin care exam, annual eye exam is all self-care, but you need access to healthcare for that.

Keeping yourself well hydrated is self-care, almost as important as sleep.

If you like coffee, then, based on mounting evidence of its beneficial properties, you can think of drinking coffee as self-care. Same for tea. Safe for fermented milk products that boost immunity and promote gut health. But if you do not like them, it is not worth forcing yourself to eat or drink them.

Eating a varied diet with enough protein, fat, complex carbs and fiber is self-care. Making sure that it is palatable and aesthetically pleasing is self-care too.

Keeping your residence tidy and clean is self-care for most people, but there are people who exist best among "artistic messes" and for them cleanliness is not self-care.

If you have a creative / artistic side that needs and outlet, then finding a venue to express your creativity is self-care for you.

If you have a nurturing personality, then finding an expression for that would be self-care for you - say, if you like baby animals, then volunteering at a shelter would be self-care for you, but if you indifferent towards animals, then such volunteering would feel forced for you and would not constitute self-care.

If something is bothering you and you need to see a doctor for it, then seeing the dr promptly is self-care for you, but again, for that you need access to healthcare.

Most people do better with some routines and regularity and if that applies to you, then instituting those regular patterns to what you do (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) would be self-care for you, but if you are somebody for whom chaos and spontaneity are invigorating and inspiring, then you better stick with them.

If you are learning something new, then learning it according to your learning style (there are 7 styles) and not forcing yourself to adjust to another's mold would be practicing self-care for you.

If you like organized sports or organized exercise practice, then doing what you like would be self-care for you, but if you do not like them, then swimming solo or going for a walk and shooting pictures with your phone camera would be self-care for you and forcing yourself to take gym classes would not.

I personally find restorative yoga a necessary step of self-care and I go to a class weekly and plan to also practice at home.

Doing what you like is very important. Giving yourself permission not to do something just because an "authority" says that it is "good for you" is key.

All the best!

I could try those out.

Well, first of all, self-care is easier said than done. Second, self-care is a shift of priorities. Instead of placing others' need before your own, you place your own need before others'. For example:

You are exhausted and need to catch up on your rest. But someone wants you to take her to the airport. Will you prioritize your need for rest by telling her that you can't?

Again, easier said than done. Hopefully, it gets easier over time though.

I will try this out!

This is all great advice!

Don't get too elaborate with it in the beginning. Keep it basic like proper eating and proper rest. All the relaxing lovey stuff can come later.

Great question! I think of self-care in terms of Body, Mind, and Spirit. For example, Body needs exercise and rest and nutritious foods and lots of water. Try to reduce or avoid alcohol, caffeine, unhealthy foods etc. Mind needs stimulation and rest and positive thoughts. What Spirit needs is harder to specify...different for everyone...think of activities you do which make you feel lighter or more free somehow...then you're probably on the right track to caring for Spirit by repeating those activities regularly.

For everyone, meditation and mindfulness are great ways to care for the Self. Also, practicing gratitude each day and helping others in any way you feel comfortable. When we help others, we also help ourselves.

You may find the documentary 'Happy' on Netflix helpful. Best wishes with your self-care

I will keep that in mind!

I will keep that in mind. Great advice!

Thanks for the advice

Thank you for this thread.

Of course! I was running out of ideas about how.to start self care!

It is simple....take care of your needs......eating, resting, emotional support. etc.

It is what you need to do to get through the day. This includes support from others and rest needed with breaks.

self-care is just that, caring for yourself

things like: knowing when to stop (because you're taking on too much), taking care of your body (eating, keeping clean, resting) finding positive distractions that keep you from thinking negative thoughts, and treating yourself now and again

Self-care is when you take care of yourself, not just physically but emotionally too. You're able to meet your emotional needs, you don't depend on someone else to meet them. For example, when you're engaging in your hobbies or whatever it is that you love doing, that is a form of self-care because you are doing something you love because it brings you joy. When you are trying to improve yourself as a person by exercising, or reading books to broaden your mind, you are taking care of yourself since you are trying to be the best version of yourself that you can be.

Basically, just like a loving parent treat their child with love and care, and tries to make sure that their child succeeds in life by encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves, you treat yourself like how a loving parent does.

Self-care is a very important step in building up self-esteem. When your self-esteem is healthy, you are able to see which person is good for you, and you are able to recognize toxic people with ease.

That is great advice! Thank you!

Ok! I will keep that in mind!

Okay that is great advice!

Thank you! I will keep that in mind! I will check out the link!

I know this is an old thread, just wanted to add, I don't believe we are "taught" selfcare, that's such a great pity. I never even knew what it was (no, seriously) before I hit my mid thirties. Lol, a while on from there, I still struggle with said thing, I guess it's a mindset? So, so many other people I know, are/where like I am, it simply doesn't register often, and, yet, it's crucial for a happy/healthy life! Ty for raising awareness xx