While you may be more familiar with a selfie than you are self-care, that doesn’t mean it’s less important. In fact, self-care is one of the most popular search terms. Mental health professionals are constantly talking about self-care, in regard to our clients but also each other. We know the toll work, family, general adulting, can take on a person, and we know the importance of replenishing oneself. So, what the heck IS self-care, and why is it so important?

Let us discuss.

My dear friend Wikipedia defines self-care as, any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated (2018). Simply put, self-care is anything we do to take care of ourselves. But is that it, is that what all the excitement is about, well no. To truly see the benefits of self-care we must appreciate, be mindful of, and find rejuvenation in, the act of self-care. Meaning, self-care is different for everyone.

While taking a hike in nature, being mindful of the fresh air, finding peace in the calm environment, may be very fulfilling for me; someone with pollen or grass allergies may find this act stressful, anxiety inducing, and somewhat painful. Not at all self-care for the person with the allergy. Additionally, an hour yoga class may be an amazingly restorative experience for you. But for me, I’d rather spend a half hour running as hard as I can (which is still pretty slow) to “burn my stress out”, as I like to call it.

As our daily lives become more stressful, as we take on more responsible, it is pertinent that we not only identify those activities that work to replenish our “wellness bank”, but we must also implement them on a daily basis. Frankly, who in your life does not need a little self-care right now?

Some general ideas for self-care, and some you may not have considered, include:

Yoga – Restorative yoga, as I mentioned, can be a fantastic self-care activity.
Reading – Many of us enjoy getting lost in a powerful story, just be careful to choose ones that will not take away from, or add stress/anxiety to, your already maxed out “wellness bank”.
Gardening – Personally I have a black-thumb, but if yours is green, go for it!
Hiking – Be mindful of the fresh air, the noises in nature, and the calm of your surroundings. As long as you are not allergic to anything, simply being in nature can be the most restorative (and cheapest!) act of self-care out there.
Running – If you like to “burn your stress/anxiety out” then count your run as self-care, and be mindful of the restorative qualities you are receiving.
Barre/Pilates/Boot camp/whatever? Class – Have a great class you love to go to but don’t always make the time? This week, challenge yourself to go, maybe even a few times, and notice your stress levels before and after the class. Was this restorative for you? Yes, then great, be mindful of it, and add a class to your weekly schedule.
Massage – Being mindful of the muscle tension relief and focusing on your breathing during a massage can be extremely beneficial physically and mentally.
Meditation – With hundreds of years in existence, meditation must offer something great right? People quit their jobs and dedicate their lives to the practice of meditation and its teaching. It definitely has powerful benefits. Give it a try, it certainly can’t hurt!
Swimming – Lap swimming can be restorative for so many reasons. This activity is not only low-impact, you can do it all year, and there is no place quieter than under the water.
Fishing – Being in nature, watching the water flow and waves lap, waiting for a fish to bite, can be bliss. If you’re not going to eat your fish though, please throw him back, the act of catching him was your self-care.
Walking – I’m not talking about walking from your car to into work, or to the bus stop with your kids. I’m referring to the act of taking a walk in your neighborhood, the park, on a treadmill if the weather is bad. Clearing your mind while you move your body can do wonders.
Being in nature – Remember what I said about hiking? It applies here too. Be mindful of the fresh air, the noises in nature, and the calm of your surroundings. As long as you are not allergic to anything, simply being in nature can be the most restorative (and cheapest!) act of self-care out there.
Playing an instrument – For those of you (not me), who are musically inclined, playing an instrument, focusing on the music and reverberation of the sound can have astonishing restorative qualities.
Listening to music – Clearing your mind and focusing on music, especially instrumental pieces, can replenish your “wellness bank” in just a few short minutes.
Floating (aka. Float Therapy) – Now I haven’t personally tried this, but I know some who have and swear by it. If you’re up for a self-care adventure, there are places you can go to practice float therapy (aka. floating in water by yourself) in individual “pods”. Google search it, I bet you’ll be able to find somewhere near you to give it a try.
Treating yourself to… - Whether it’s a latte or a new tech gadget you’ve had your eye on, treating yourself to something (within reason) every now and then, can be a really fun act of self-care.
Looking at artwork/going to a museum/gallery – Focusing on pieces of art and giving your attention to the detail within, can fill up your wellness bank faster than you can say Vincent Van Gogh.
Playing with your kids – Putting all of your housework, office responsibilities, and daily to-do’s aside, and just simply playing with your kids can be tremendous self-care for you, and validating for your kids. Really, when was the last time you built a cool sofa fort, or got caught up in taking care of baby dolls? Try it, your kids, and your soul, will thank you.
Cleaning – Seriously! For some people, throwing themselves into cleaning can be very restorative and validating. Talk about a 2 for 1, you get a clean house and a chance to clean out your mind.

Challenge yourself this week to try a few new self-care activities, and rethink some of the things you already do on a daily basis. Is there anything you could be more mindful when doing, that might help replenish your wellness bank? Is there anything you are already doing for self-care that wasn’t on my list? Please comment below and let me know, I’d love to keep this as a running list for us all to use.

Next week, I want to know how your self-care challenge went and what you learned. Also, I’ll be talking about anxiety, and how we can use self-care to battle the symptoms.

By Katherine Biggs, MSCP