Have you ever wondered why taking care of ourselves is so important, and why does it seem so hard to do when it comes to us?
Not everyone has an idea of how much this can affect not only us but also those around us.
If you also have the feeling that something is not going well in your life or if you are always dissatisfied and stressed, or maybe you feel unloved, then let me tell you that this starts with you.
Chances are you’re not taking care of yourself in a proper way and you are putting others first.
This is why it is important to start a self-care routine as soon as possible, which can help you get back on track and see life in a different way.
It won’t be easy but if you are determined to start to work on yourself, step by step, you are already on the way to winning.
In this post, I’m going to explain what self-care is and why it is important for ourselves, what types of self-care there are, and above all how to start practicing it.
Let’s begin!
Pin it for later!
What is Self-Care and why it is important
Nowadays, the word self-care is interpreted as taking care only of the physical aspect.
But this is only part of it.
Self-care means more.
Self-care means taking care of yourself in every aspect of your life, from the inside to the outside.
It means taking time and doing things that lead to your emotional and physical well-being.
Taking care of yourself means respecting yourself, and knowing how to respect not only yourself but also other people.
It means to love each other and to be able to be loved.
By having good self-care, both mentally and physically, you prepare yourself to face the journey in the best way, and in the long term, you lead a happier, healthier life.
It also helps reduce stress, anxiety, and negative feelings and increases energy, happiness, and consequently the relationship with others and with yourself.
If you take good care of yourself, you will automatically take care of others as well. Why is it so?
Let’s say you are stressed or you have a mind full of problems. How would you manage to take care of those around you?
If you transmit negative energy, how can you expect others to be serene?
If you are happy, you can also make others in a good mood.
As you can see, self-care is not only about the physical aspect.
There are, in fact, different parts of us that we need to take care of – apart from the body – and they need the same attention.
The six areas of self-care
Here are the six main areas of self-care you will need to focus on if you want to live a happy life.
Emotional self-care
If you want to be carefree, it is essential to know how to process your feelings in the healthiest way possible.
Knowing how to transform negative feelings into positive ones is vital if you want to live peacefully.
It all starts with you. You are the person you need the most.
If you find yourself engaging in negative self-talk, try to start saying loving things to yourself.
And then spread these positive thoughts and emotions to your friends.
It may be difficult at first, but over time you will see that it will become easier.
Examples:
- practice gratitude every morning
- repeat positive affirmations
- create boundaries
- accept yourself
Physical self-care
There is a saying that says: the body reflects who you are.
If you eat badly or don’t get enough rest, your body is the one that suffers.
But if you pay attention to its needs it is obvious that your body will appear fitter.
We need to take care of ourselves physically so that we can always be strong and healthy and live in harmony with our bodies.
How can you take care of your body?
You just need to do activities that improve your physical health.
Depending on your lifestyle, you can opt for things that are relaxing if you are a person who does hard work, or for walks if you are a person who sits all day.
Personally, I love to dance and I find it perfect because I practice movement and at the same time the music calms me, giving me extraordinary sensations.
To take care of yourself physically you have to engage in activities that you enjoy and that help your body feel good at the same time.
Examples:
- a warm bath after a stressful day
- have a cup of coffee
- prioritize sleep
- eat healthy food
Spiritual self-care
Anyone can practice this form of self-care.
You don’t have to be a religious person to be able to take care of yourself spiritually. Indeed!
Spiritual self-care serves to connect with your deepest self and feed your soul.
It has the power to let you really know who you are, cultivate your spirituality, clear your mind and clarify what you want to be in life.
Moreover, it is a help for those seeking comfort during low moments in life.
Being a believer, I feel very good when I pray and talk to God about my problems or feelings or when I feel lost.
But I also love being in nature and reflecting on how wonderful life is. It gives me a sense of peace.
You can practice this type of self-care in several ways. Find the one that suits you best that can allow you to have a connection with yourself.
Examples:
- practice meditation
- talk to God
- walk in nature
- watch inspirational videos
Mental self-care
Needless to say, to live well with yourself, you must also develop a positive mentality. Why is it so important?
By taking care of our minds, we will be able to make better decisions for our well-being, eliminating what hurts us and giving priority to what makes us feel good.
On the contrary, those who do not have a good relationship with their mind would also accept things they would not want to do.
Until recently I was making decisions based on people’s happiness. Then I began to prioritize, to understand what is good for me and what was need to be cut out. I’m still working on it.
So start prioritizing yourself!
Examples:
- start to say no to things you’re not comfortable with
- avoid toxic people
- read a book
- practice mindfulness
Social self-care
Since we are human beings, we feel the need to create bonds and share our emotions with others.
But today it is becoming increasingly difficult to establish and maintain stable and lasting relationships.
Due to today’s busy life, we no longer have time to spend moments with family members or loved ones.
And time spent on social networks increases virtual relationships and decreases real ones.
For this reason, it is important to try to carve out some time, to stay less on social media, and prioritize those who are close to us and love us.
To feel good about ourselves we have to better manage all our social relationships.
By practicing social self-care you will receive many benefits.
It improves mental and emotional health, you will get to know yourself and others and you will be able to build healthy connections.
Moreover, it has the power to decrease depression and anxiety.
Just find the right people to spend quality time with and build relationships.
Avoid any negative self-talk, set boundaries, and cut out people you believe are bad for your well-being.
Start to create relationships that can bring positivity into your life and make you feel happy.
Life is already hard, so don’t make it even harder trying to be alone or to include toxic people in it.
Examples:
- start to say no
- plan a night with your best friends
- go for a walk with your dog
- be part of a community
Financial self-care
An independent girl must be able to provide for her own needs, both emotional and financial.
By taking care of the financial aspect, you will focus on how to spend money wisely and how to save for future plans.
This will give you the security of a future without money problems, it will allow you to live happily without stress and worries and moreover, it will be easier for you to set goals and achieve them.
By that, I’m not saying that you have to spend all your money on fun or clothes, but not even that you have to deprive yourself of the wonderful things you would like to own.
Just find a balance between the two and know how to develop a healthy money mindset.
If you can do that, then you will be able to achieve financial freedom.
Examples:
- start an emergency fund
- keep track of your expenses
- save early for retirement
- eliminate debt
Now that we’ve seen the different types of self-care, how do you start practicing them?
How to start self-care
Self-care should be a priority, even if there are people who see it as something not everyone can afford.
If you want to take care of yourself but don’t know where to start, then the solution to this problem is to create a simple self-care routine.
The secret is to start with things you enjoy doing most and that will benefit to your mental and physical well-being and try to incorporate them into your day.
If you have found that you are not exercising enough, try to carve out some time and go for a good walk.
If you have oily skin, incorporate a skincare routine before going to bed or start cooking healthy meals and avoid frozen foods.
Do you spend a lot of money? Try to set a weekly budget and stick to that.
Conclusion
These are the 6 areas of self-care you need to focus on. As you can see, you don’t have to change everything at once.
Indeed, the secret is to start by incorporating small habits at a time, so that you don’t feel overwhelmed and risk quitting.
The important thing is that you try to improve yourself day after day and above all begin to put yourself first.
Start taking care, you owe it to yourself!
With love,
Thank you! Very well explained and in-powering thank you for the time to share! Many blessings
Thank you so much!