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The Self-Care Center

  • Define Self-Care - what it is and what it is not?

You may have heard the term “Self-Care” being used frequently nowadays on social media or spoken about within
conversations. More and more people have begun to embrace the notion of self care as an act of tending to themselves to balance the amount of stress they have in their lives.

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Stress management is especially even more crucial in these unprecedented moments where uncertainty with the pandemic continues and our lives have taken an unusual twist in adaptation to new routines. Not only do we deal with the demands of being “on” all the time at our desks and at work, we also have our personal lives to handle. This can all
be too daunting and overwhelming to cope with on top of the daily headlines in the news of increased crime rates and
political issues making our living experience immensely different and challenging to one we once knew. So this
makes sense that Self-Care can be viewed as a necessity for self-preservation in our current times ( or times like these).

  • So you may ask what is Self-Care exactly?

Self-Care has been portrayed in many different ways on social media from bubble baths to shopping sprees to yoga
classes to doing nothing - the list goes on. There is no one simple answer. Self-Care is the practice of connecting and
responding to our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs and simply, learning to take care of ourselves on a day to day basis with the goal of maintaining and responding to these needs to enhance well-being and positive ways of being. Self-care does not need to mean luxury either as it can be as small as finding micromoments in our schedule to step out to do something for ourselves. Self-care may feel selfish or indulgent to some but it isn’t as it is what will replenish and sustain us for showing up to do the things we need to do in life and in staying well. In essence, Self-Care is whatever you do for yourself that creates feelings of relaxation, joy, happiness, compassion and nurturance.

  • Why is Self-care good for you?

Self-Care can help to:

  • Increases emotional well-being and positive feelings

  • Bring more connectivity to self and emotions

  • Alleviate or prevent burnout 

  • Boost levels of resiliency and increase stress management skills

  • Serve as preventative measures to physical illness and mental health issues due to prolonged stress 

  • Increase longevity and positive well being health outcomes

  • Define Self-care for yourself

Everybody’s Self-Care needs are unique to each individual. You may be surprised that even small gestures or actions in your day can also serve as means to Self-Care. Take some time to connect inwards to your body and feel what it needs.
What things come to mind first? Sometimes what is simple and what comes to mind first is key.

  • What ways can you show yourself care?

Well-being is composed of the facets of the mind (emotional and mental health), body (physical health) and soul (spiritual health). Showing care to ourselves can look differently per person but here are some ways of Self-Care.

  • Mind

Being kind to yourself Exercising self compassion setting boundaries listening to yourself and your needs valuing your time and individual core values speaking to a therapist meditation connection /social support with loved ones and friends Joining a support group or interest group of choice trying or doing hobbies Saying no.

  • Body

Eating whole and nutritious foods that nourish you physical exercise - your favorite sport or outdoor activity getting a massage Going for a walk in nature swimming in the ocean hot bath soak dancing like no one’s watching sleeping well and getting enough sleep resting when needed yoga being mindful about ways we may harm the body building protective factors.

  • Soul

Connecting to God or spirituality prayers connecting to or finding your purpose building a personalized ritual visiting a sacred place.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy: Beating stress and anxiety with mindfulness and meditation

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