There are 8 common categories that self-care typically falls under. They will be identified and defined in this blog and you will be provided with examples that can be easily brought into your life.
Physical
Involves movement, health, sleep, diet, touch and intimacy.
Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (everyday)
Eat healthier
Exercise
Get medical care for prevention
Seek medical care when needed
Take time off work
Get a massage
Get enough sleep
Take a nap
Wear clothes you like and feel good in
Take a day trip or mini vacation
Dance
Swim
Walk
Run
Play
Be sexual (with yourself or partner/partners)
Psychological
Involved learning something new, thinking, engaging motivation from within, expression through creativity and intentionality.
Allow yourself time to self-reflect on an event, your day, or your life
Find a counselor
Journal
Read something that is non school/work related
Let others see different aspects of yourself
Be curious
Say “no” to extra responsibilities
Put your phone down and do a “digital detox”
Listen to your thoughts, beliefs, judgements, attitudes, and feelings (your inner dialogue)
Emotional
Enhances emotional literacy, assists one in navigating emotions, increasing empathy, managing stress more effectively, and develop compassion for self and others.
Spend time with those who you enjoy
Stay in contact with people from your past
Love yourself
Play
Express your outrage in social action, letters, donations, volunteering, marches, protests…
Allow yourself to cry
Be aware of your own boundaries
Journal (focused on gratitude)
Social
Individuals that are in your life that you trust and can turn to when needed. Allows you to feel connected to others.
Go meet new people
Volunteer
Do intramural sports league
Ask for help when needed
Join a committee or networking community outside of work
Maintain boundaries with others
Be consistent and honor your commitments made (do what you say you are going to do)
Professional
Maintaining clear professional boundaries, sharing your strengths and talents, and living your life and following your passions outside of work.
Remind yourself that you can negotiate for your needs to be met
Eat a full meal at lunch away from your desk
Set and maintain clear professional boundaries (not responding to emails on your lunch break)
Take part in professional development opportunities
Be clear on your roles and responsibilities for your day to day
Environmental
Clean, clutter free, organized work, business and personal environment.
Cleaning your clothes on a regular basis
Cleaning your dishes on a regular basis
Decluttering your house
Taking care of your car
Recycling when you can
Not littering
Monitoring your technology time
Spiritual
Beliefs and values that guide you and that are important to your life.
Spend time with nature
Find a spiritual connection or community
Be aware of nonmaterial aspects of life
Try to NOT be the expert at times
Be open to not knowing things
Make time for reflection
Identify what is meaningful to you
Listen to inspirational things
Read inspirational literature
Meditate
Go on a retreat
Financial
Being responsible with your finance and having a conscious relationship with money.
Knowing how much income is coming in
Knowing what your expenses are
Knowing how much your expenses are on a month to month basis
Keeping all insurances up to date
Completing taxes on time, and responsibly
Saving money for near future items or vacations
Saving money for far away future endeavors
Shannon Gonter, Professional Counselor in Louisville, KY
Written by: Shannon Gonter, LPCC, NCC
I specialize in working with men and young adults. I am passionate about my career and want to work with you to create positive change. I also strive to create a counseling environment where men and young adults can relate, feel heard, and find new solutions to their negative patterns. Some issues that I most commonly work with are stress, relationship issues, difficulty saying “no” to others, difficulties recognizing emotions and emotionally connecting to others, anger, and intimacy issues, among others.
The information and resources contained on this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to assess, diagnose, or treat any medical and/or mental health disease or condition. The use of this website does not imply nor establish any type of therapist-client relationship. Furthermore, the information obtained from this site should not be considered a substitute for a thorough medical and/or mental health evaluation by an appropriately credentialed and licensed professional.