“Self-care” is one of those terms that gets used a lot, but which frequently seems to mean different things to different people.
Sometimes, “self-care” is used to refer to simple relaxation – like having a long soak in the bath, and then relaxing on the sofa with a box of chocolates.
At other times, “self-care” refers to things like picking up a good exercise routine, so that you can get into the kind of shape you’ve always wanted to be in, or committing to further education.
All of these meanings are valid, but the simple core of “self-care” is boosting your overall sense of well-being, and the positive meaning you experience in life.
Here are a handful of directly practical and effective tips for good self-care, that people often overlook.
Look for help when you need it
Life can be hard from time to time, no matter who you are, and there are certainly going to be moments where you feel overwhelmed by the way circumstances have developed, and don’t know where to turn or what to do, next.
In these cases, often what you really need is a break – some time to step away from the situation that has been weighing on you, so that you can “recharge,” and gain a newfound sense of perspective.
In terms of self-care, the best way to achieve this is often by looking for help when you need it, instead of being too proud to do so.
If you are caring for a sick relative, contacting a Respite Care provider to handle some of the care duties for you, occasionally, might genuinely help. Likewise, if you’re struggling in your career, or feel as though you’re losing track of your dreams and goals, you might need a good talk with someone trustworthy who wants the best for you.
If you can’t figure out what you should be doing, figure out what you shouldn’t be doing
One reason why self-care is often stressful for people, is because it’s not always clear – by any means – just what you actually “should” be doing any situation, in order to make things “better.”
When you find yourself in this situation, one of the best self-care strategies may actually be to focus on figuring out what you “shouldn’t” be doing, instead.
Just about anyone can identify certain habits of theirs which they know are detrimental, or self-destructive.
Focus on undoing and replacing those habits, and you’ll be doing yourself a big favor.
Work to organize your surroundings, as a way of achieving greater balance and inner calm
A major factor in good self-care, is doing things that help you to regain a sense of control of your own life.
When things become chaotic and haphazard, you can quickly lose that sense of balance and inner calm which is so essential for overall well-being.
A great way of resolving this situation, is to work to organize your surroundings in a physical sense. That means de-cluttering and organize your home, sorting through your clothes and deciding which ones to keep, and paying more attention to your personal grooming.
From here, your sense of confidence and balance will likely be significantly greater.