The 5 Types of Self-Care and Why Is It Important?
Self-care is important. But do we truly understand its effect on our well-being?
With our schedules getting busier, the concept of self-care is also increasing in prominence. In fact, Google Trends reports that the number of searches for self-care has tripled since 2019! Yet there are many who fail to understand the meaning and impact of self-care on our well-being and instead view it to be nothing but a form of selfish indulgence.
That is however not the case as taking some time for ourselves is an essential part of maintaining optimum levels for our well-being, according to experts. In this article, we explore the often misunderstood concept of self-care and how it benefits us.
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What is Self-Care?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) refers to self-care as an individual’s ability to boost their well-being, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with any illness or disability with or without the assistance of a health worker. Self-care is all about enriching the relationship we have with ourselves, ensuring that we have all that we need to function at our optimum and, of course, our happiest level.
Self-care involves being able to recognise, prioritise, and address our needs, taking on a proactive approach to our health and happiness. It is considered to be a holistic approach that aids in the maintenance and subsequent improvement of our well-being through purposeful practices to nurture the mind and body. Self-care practices often revolve around us making use of the information and knowledge about our mind as well as body that is readily available to us.
5 Types of Self-Care
Self-care is not just about how we relax or unwind. It is a comprehensive and intentional practice which promotes our overall well-being including physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social dimensions.
Physical Self-Care
This refers to how we treat our bodies. From how much physical activity you do to how many hours of sleep you get, physical self-care is essential, particularly if you want it to ‘run efficiently’. Moreover, the connection between our mind and body is considered to be strong, which implies that if we take care of our physical being, we are more likely to think and feel better.
Mental Self-Care
Taking care of the way we think and what we fill our minds with greatly impacts our well-being. Be it doing puzzles, reading a book, or learning something new, mental self-care helps keep our minds sharp.
At the same time, it also involves helping you maintain and protect your mental well-being. For example, practising self-compassion and acceptance can help us maintain a healthy and constructive inner dialogue (i.e., our mind's voice). Moreover, practices that nurture mindfulness are considered to be effective tools to manage stress, improve focus, and foster mental clarity. These techniques can help us be present in the moment while reducing the impact of anxiety or negative thoughts.
Social Self-Care
As humans, we are quite social beings, making socialisation a key part of our well-being. Yet, with our fast-paced lives, our social lives can take a hit, often leading us to neglect our relationships and, by extension, our personal lives.
While there is not a specific number of hours we need to spend with our family and friends. Therefore, it is important that acknowledge and understand our social needs to set aside time in our schedule to maintain an optimal social circle. Remember, your social needs may differ from those of another individual.
Emotional Self-Care
Throughout the day, we experience a range of emotions, and sometimes they can be uncomfortable or make us feel vulnerable. Emotional self-care helps us find constructive ways through which we can express these feelings without affecting us negatively. By talking to family and friends or journaling any uncomfortable feelings, we need to ensure that we incorporate some form of emotional self-care into our lives.
Spiritual Self-Care
Literature suggests that incorporating some form of religious or spiritual practice into our lifestyle can significantly improve our well-being. Whether through religious practices or otherwise, spiritual self-care refers to any activity that helps us develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the world around us.
Why is Self-Care Important?
Self-care plays a critical role in protecting our overall well-being both in the short-term and long-term. Practising self-care is considered to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression levels while increasing our happiness levels. According to Kaylee Crockett, a clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, self-care practices can help prevent the onset of illnesses and build our capability to manage stress and tackle adversity.
When we practice self-care, our parasympathetic nervous system gets activated, which helps us relax our minds and bodies. Moreover, taking the time to take care of our mind and body can help prevent physical illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Self-care practices not just benefit our physical and mental well-being but also our day-to-day activities. For example, various self-care activities can have a positive effect on our productivity levels. Dr. Russell Thackeray, a licenced clinical psychologist, states that when we indulge in self-care practices, certain cognitive abilities improve, such as our focus and concentration levels.
Practising self-care can have significant benefits in our lives. While it may seem like a mammoth task at first, sparing 5 minutes for yourself is a good place to start. If you are unsure how to begin your self-care journey, sign up to get a copy of our self-care planner to help you find what's best for you!
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