What is Self Care?

What it is and what it isn't

So I'm going down this rabbit hole in hopes of saving you the time, energy, and disallusion that I have encountered trying to improve myself care. The media bombards us with commercials featuring spas, nail salons, facials, and tub soaks. Is this really self care? Well, it can aboslutely be, but that isn't necessarily the case. Self care has seven components and they are:

1. Physical Health: a healthy lifestyle that incorporates physical activity, a solid diet, adequate sleep, healthcare, and overall physical wellness

2. Mental Health: this ties into physical health as well, since there is no separation between the mind and body. Keeping stress at a reasonable level, having a support system, setting healthy boundaries & goals, and seeking professional mental health services when needed are just a few examples.

3. Spiritual Health: whether this comes in the form of religion or pursuing some other form of spirituality, your soul is just as important as your physical body.

4. Social Health: having a supportive community and engaging with people who support your well being is absolutely critical to being physically and emotionally healthy. Build your support system wisely.

5. Environmental Health: the spaces in which we spend time have a profound impact on our spiritual, physical, and mental health. Take time to make sure that your surroundings are clean, safe, organized, and well suited to create a space of decompression and relaxation

6. Financial Health: nobody likes to talk about the effect that money can have on physical and mental health. The fact of the matter is that it does and without planning and intention, finances can become a significant source of stress.

7. Health Literacy: the bottom line is that in today's world, if you don't advocate for your health, nobody else will. Educate yourself on any chronic medical conditions and lifestyle changes necessary to mitigate their effect. Educate yourself on nutrition so that you can make informed dietary choices. I could go on forever with this, but please, be an educated consumer.

So now you see, self care isn't a bubble bath at the end of the day. It is taking consistent action to ensure that you don't need to escape your every day life. It's caring for youreself first and foremost, so that you can care for your family, friends, and community. Self care is saying no because you're too exhausted to go to the party. It often looks like seeking the help of a therapist or financial counselor to get the expertise and help in sorting your life so that you're not a ball of stress, but instead a healthy human that has self awareness and coping mechanisms that enable you to live a happy life, even in rough waters. In June through mid July, please use the discount code selfcare10 to enjoy 10% off of scheduled services. Come take care of your body, mind, and spirit here at Integrated Bodywork.