July 11, 2024 by taylor.4411

A lot of us have probably heard the term “self-care”. Self-care is any activity that you do to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health.  There are many benefits to self-care. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Improved physical health
  • Improved mental health
  • Improved emotional well-being
  • Increased productivity
  • Stronger relationships
  • Increased self-esteem
  • Prevention of burnout

Self-care is essential for mental health because it can reduce stress and improve mood. Self-care is also a great prevention for burnout. Practicing self-care increases your energy making you more resistant to stress.

Did you know that there are several different ways to practice self-care? A few examples of ways that you can practice self-care to improve mental health include:

  1. Physical Self-Care- taking care of your body
  2. Emotional Self-Care- expressing emotions in a healthy way
  3. Social Self-Care – nurturing relationships with friends and family.

Understanding the benefits and types of self-care, let’s look at ways to practice self-care. It can be important to set a personal goal for practicing self-care. This can include when you practice, why you want to practice, and how you will practice self-care. A few examples of self-care goals would be managing and reducing stress or taking care of your physical health.

There are several different activities that you could do to practice self-care. Mental Health First Aid shared four basic ways to start your journey.

4 Simple Self-Care Tips

  • Move more. Physical activity can help the brain cope better with stress, making it beneficial in the treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms. Walks, hikes, or runs may be easier to fit into your schedule. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can help reduce fatigue, making it a great way to manage symptoms of depression or burnout.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Try to incorporate as many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your meals as you can. Other healthy choices include fatty fish, leafy greens, and nuts.
  • Prioritize sleep. Sleep has a significant impact on how you feel mentally and physically. Getting enough sleep will help regulate your mood, improve brain function, and increase your energy to help tackle the day.
  • Plan self-care and set boundaries. It’s critical to schedule regular self-care time – plan time to do something that gives you joy and helps you recharge. If you’re feeling anxious, setting boundaries can help you feel safe and comfortable in your surroundings. Learning to say no to things that cause unnecessary stress will positively impact your mental well-being.

Self-care is crucial for mental, emotional, and physical well-being and can lead to improved health, increased productivity, and stronger relationships. It can be practiced through physical, emotional, and social care and by setting personal goals. Some self-care activities include physical movement, maintaining a healthy diet, prioritizing sleep, and planning and setting boundaries for self-care time.

If you enjoyed this topic, check out these other self-care blogs, https://livehealthyosu.com/2023/09/28/self-care-for-all-of-you/

Written by: Megan Taylor, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Union County

Reviewed by: Kay Kramer, Office Associate, Ohio State University Extension, Union County

Resources:

8 areas of self care and how to practice them. Rocky Vista Health Center. (2022, October 1). https://www.rockyvistahc.com/8-areas-of-self-care-and-how-to-practice-them

Glowiak, M. (2024, January 23). What is self-care and why is it important for you?. Southern New Hampshire University. https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/health/what-is-self-care

Kapil, R. (2022, March 14). How and why to practice self-care. Mental Health First Aid. https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/03/how-and-why-to-practice-self-care/