Posted on December 1, 2023 by Cybill Vargas

I use to think of self care as treating yourself every once in a while. Now, I know that it is so much more than that. Self care has multiple parts and the goal is to try to meet the parts in order to meet your needs. I’ll discuss a few parts of self care. Then, you can make a decide what you doing well and what areas you need to improve.

Mental self care includes doing things thats keep you mentally stable and thinking clearly. You engage in activities such as journaling, meditation, mindfulness, going on a vacation, learning something new, taking a break from social media, deep breathing, writing a list and practicing gratitude.

Emotional self care is when you take time to understand what is important to you. The more you practice this skill, the more you will begin to understand yourself. Emotional self care can include calling and venting to a friend, asking others for help, watching a funny movie or watching funny clips on You Tube, listening to music you enjoy, learning to set boundaries and sticking to those boundaries.

Spiritual self care includes being involved in something that is bigger than yourself and participating in activities that give you a sense of purpose. This can mean finding your community, volunteering to help others with a cause you support, spending time in nature, praying, attending religious ceremonies and meditating.

Physical self care includes taking care of your body, inside and out. This includes eating healthy meals, staying hydrated throughout the day, moving your body, geting 7-8 hours of sleep, scheduling and attending physical and dental examinations and taking prescribed medications.