Resources and Ideas for Self-Care

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care means asking yourself what you need and following through on the honest answer. Self-care can be as simple as getting to bed earlier on a work night, or as hard as taking a look at some of the habits you’ve created for yourself and their long-term effects.

Self-care is essential. It’s human work we all need. Not just the activists among us, but every one of us who’s been paying attention for the last few years and watching our communities come apart. We all feel the weight of this time we’re living in, and we are all being called to do our part to ensure a more perfect Union. (mindful.org)

How Self Care Benefits You

We are all less able to handle the stresses that come our way when we’re depleted by physical and emotional exhaustion. Or, put in a more positive way, we are more resilient and more able to handle life’s stress when we are feeling our best both physically and emotionally. A massage, a hot bath, or another form of pampering revitalizes you inside and out. Taking time out to maintain self-care has several benefits. (verywellmind.com)

Self-Care for Stress Management

There are several different ways to focus on self-care. Many involve making time to get enough sleep, prioritizing healthy meals, ensuring a balance of leisure time in your schedule, and making time for friends. (verywellmind.com)

Self-Care Tips

• Live Healthy — eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, exercise, and avoid drugs and alcohol.
• See friends — nurture your sense of belonging and connection.
• Try to do something you enjoy every day — Read a book, watch TV, work in the garden, craft, paint, do yoga, volunteer.
• Find ways to relax — like meditation, yoga, getting a massage, taking a bath or walking in the woods.

Distraction as a Strategy

Activities are a great way for us to distract ourselves from our current emotions until we are better able to cope. When our level of distress is too high, we may not be able to effectively handle a situation and need ways to bring our emotional state down. Some suggestions may seem similar to self-care, but distraction activities serve a different purpose. One person’s self-care activity is another’s distraction technique. (activeminds.org)

EXAMPLES

• Call a friend (and don’t talk about what’s causing you distress)
• Create something
• Describe your surroundings using your five senses
• Do a puzzle
• Do something kind for someone else
• Focus on a single task
• Go out to eat
• Go to an event
• Hold ice
• Listen to music or a podcast
• Make a list of things (cars, dog breeds, music artists, etc.)
• Take a hot or cold shower
• Try something new
• Volunteer
• Watch something funny
• Watch TV or a movie