9 Areas of Self-Care: The Ultimate Guide on How to Practice Them
Source: Hautestock
How good are you at taking care of yourself? This might seem like a weird question, but many of us were never taught to practice true self-care.
It took me a long time to realize that I wasn’t truly taking care of my needs on a regular basis. Maybe I would do something nice for myself every once in a while, but this is not real self-care – as I came to understand.
Exhaustion and burnout forced me to finally make a change. To really nourish my body, mind, and soul, I needed to prioritize myself on a regular basis in all areas of my life.
There are 9 main areas of self-care: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, environmental, professional, recreational, and financial. Making sure you're practicing self-care in all areas of your life can help you become the best version of yourself.
Once I started being intentional with my self-care, everything changed for the better: my health, my relationships, my work, and my money. This is why I believe self-care is one of the pillars of creating a life you love. Without it, we lack the resources to truly go for what we want in life.
In this post, I’ll go over what self-care really means, and give an overview of the 9 areas of self-care. I’m also including self-care examples that can help you take small steps toward a self-care routine that works for you.
What Does Self-Care Really Mean?
Often when people think of self-care, the first things that come to mind are manicures, spa days, and going shopping – basically, to “Treat Yo Self”. While I have nothing against the Parks and Rec version of self-care, truly taking care of yourself goes a lot deeper than that.
Practicing self-care means you value yourself enough to prioritize taking care of your needs on a daily basis. Self-care is about self-love. It shouldn’t be regarded as a luxury, but rather as a regular practice of taking care of your body, mind, and soul.
Sadly, many of us were taught that self-care is selfish and that we should put others' needs ahead of our own. While helping others is, of course, a good thing, when we consistently ignore our own needs we become exhausted and burnt out.
Once your tank is empty, it takes a lot more time and effort to restore your energy and well-being. Trust me, I've been there. And when you’re feeling depleted, how well can you really take care of anyone else?
Try to give yourself the same compassion and care that you give others. When you’re able to create a more fulfilling and meaningful life, that’s beneficial for everyone in the end.
9 Areas of Self-Care
Self-care practices are as unique as each of us – they’re not one-size-fits-all. The goal of this guide is to help you become more conscious and intentional with your self-care in all areas of your life.
But don’t feel like you need to incorporate every idea into your self-care routine. I hope you can use this as a resource to assess which areas of self-care need some attention when you’re feeling out of balance.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this process, start with small things that are easy to implement into your day. Try to make self-care a part of your regular routine so that it becomes a habit and is not something extra you have to do on top of everything else.
1. Physical self-care
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Taking care of your physical health is one of the most important things you can do. Without your physical health, it's hard to enjoy life. Physical self-care involves taking care of your body through exercise, healthy eating, proper sleep, and good hygiene. This can help prevent burnout, boost your immune system, and improve your overall well-being.
Physical self-care examples:
Create a regular sleep routine to get 7-9 hours of sleep
Limit sugar and refined carbs
Drink 16oz of lemon water every morning after you wake up
Schedule 30 minutes of exercise a day
Take a sauna once a week
Do some self-massage with a foam roller or massage tool
Do 5 minutes of breathwork every day
Take a quick nap to recharge
Get some sunshine (and vitamin D)
2. Mental self-care
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Having good mental health is just as important as having a healthy body. Mental self-care involves taking steps to maintain and improve your mental well-being through practicing mindfulness, cultivating a healthy mindset, and learning new skills. Taking care of your mind can help you feel less stressed, increase your self-esteem, and have a more positive outlook on life.
Mental self-care examples:
Do a brain dump to declutter your mind
Do a mindfulness meditation
Take a course on Udemy or Skillshare for personal growth
Work on your mindset with a life coach
Read a self-help or personal growth book
Do a (social) media detox
Think of 3 things you are grateful for every day
Avoid negative self-talk and practice self-compassion
Spend time by yourself to reflect on life
3. Emotional self-care
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It's important to have healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness. Emotional self-care involves taking steps to manage and cope with your own emotions in a healthy way. When we take care of our emotional needs, we’re better able to deal with stress and handle difficult situations.
Emotional self-care examples:
Ask for help when you need it
Start a mood journal
Get to know your emotional triggers
Take time to sit with your emotions
Talk to a therapist or counselor
Take a break from the news
Join a support group
Listen to soothing music or nature sounds
Watch a funny show
4. Spiritual self-care
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Spiritual self-care aims to nourish your soul and connect you with your purpose in life. This can include activities such as practicing meditation, journaling, reading spiritual teachings, and spending time in nature. Spiritual self-care can be a way to connect with your inner self, find inner peace, and also connect with something greater than yourself.
Spiritual self-care examples:
Spend time alone in nature
Read a spiritual book
Do a meditation to connect with a higher power
Do a spiritual ritual
Create a vision board
Take an astrology class
Begin a spiritual journal
Get a tarot reading
Join a spiritual community
5. Social self-care
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Even though self-care is about taking care of yourself, it’s important to build and maintain healthy relationships with others. Social self-care involves spending time with loved ones, participating in social events, and reaching out to friends or family for support when needed. But it’s also about setting boundaries with people who are emotionally draining and learning to communicate well with others. A strong social network gives you a sense of belonging, the ability to manage stress better, and can boost your overall mood and happiness.
Social self-care examples:
Reconnect with an old friend
Ask for help or support when needed
Find a meet-up group to meet new people
Set healthy boundaries to protect your time and energy
Re-evaluate which social media apps really give you joy
Learn to balance alone time with being social
Show up for your friends and family
Contribute to your community (online or offline)
Cut ties with unhealthy relationships
6. Environmental self-care
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Our environment can really affect how we feel, especially for highly sensitive people (like myself). Being in the right environment can make all the difference. Environmental self-care means making sure your surroundings, and the physical spaces you are in, are helping you thrive. This involves things like maintaining an organized living space, choosing more natural products for your home, and spending time in nature. Making adjustments to your physical environment to meet your needs, can help improve relaxation, well-being, and a sense of harmony with the natural world.
Environmental self-care examples:
Tidy and organize your living space
Get some new houseplants
Make your bed every morning
Create cozy vibes (think candles, tea, and your favorite music)
Go outside and get some fresh air
Declutter your closet
Get noise-canceling headphones
Detox your home (e.g. choose more natural and eco-friendly products)
Give away belongings that no longer serve you
7. Professional self-care
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Most people spend the majority of their lives at work (womp womp), so making sure you practice self-care at the workplace is essential. Professional self-care is about taking steps to create a sustainable and healthy work environment for yourself. This involves things like setting healthy boundaries, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and continuing to learn new skills.
Professional self-care examples:
Take small breaks once an hour to stretch or move around
Declutter your workspace
Communicate your needs with your manager and team
Take time for a healthy, nourishing lunch (away from your desk)
Ask for a professional development budget (books, courses, conferences, etc)
Set clear, healthy boundaries (saying things like “I’m not sure” or “let me get back to you on that” can be life savers)
Set up an ergonomic workspace
If feasible, get a change of scenery (e.g. work from home or at a coffee shop)
Use your vacation days and sick days
8. Financial self-care
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This might not be the first thing you think of when you think of self-care (or the most fun) but not taking care of yourself financially can lead to a lot of stress in your life. Financial self-care involves things like creating a budget, paying off debt, and saving for emergencies and long-term goals. Taking responsible financial decisions now will ensure financial security when you most need it.
Financial self-care examples:
Start budgeting (I highly recommend Mint)
Set up automatic savings for a long-term goal
Bump up your 401(k) contribution by 1%
Cancel memberships you aren’t using
Make an extra debt payment
Take an investment course
Start creating a $1000 emergency fund
Work with a money coach
Purchase disability insurance
9. Recreational self-care
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We can’t always focus on our work or to-dos: taking time just for the purpose of having fun is also important to keep a sense of balance in your life. Recreational self-care involves taking care of your inner child with fun activities, exploration, and relaxation. Engaging in activities that bring you joy (or doing nothing at all), will help you relax and recharge.
Recreational self-care examples:
Explore somewhere new
Play a board game
Read fiction or a magazine
Give yourself a Gua Sha facial massage
Go for a picnic in the park
Schedule time to do nothing
Try a new hobby
Take an Epsom Salt bath
Go to the movies
Final Thoughts
Self-care is not just about treating yourself, it’s about nourishing your body, mind, and soul. When you feel recharged and energized, you’re ready to take on what’s important to you in life.
I hope this guide will inspire you to review what areas of your life could use some more self-care so that you can develop a self-care plan to fit your needs.
XO
Annie
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