Part 1
Over the years, the idea of self-care has become a topic that many people are aware of and are interested in. Self-care offers many benefits, although it does take time and effort.
What does self-care actually mean?
In essence, it is listening to your body and making the time to check in and intentionally tuning into your thoughts and challenging any behaviours and belief systems in your life that you consider are out of alignment.
As you read this, you might feel ready for the challenge. However, it is not enough to recognise that you need self-care. In fact, you need to adopt a self-care practice which can improve your life, especially as we live in a world where so many things are out of our control.
How do I do it, then?
Let me tell you. It all starts with understanding what self-care is and isn't. It is commonly seen as preserving overall health in an individual's life. However, the concept is only sometimes apparent because many different definitions exist. Yet it can be defined as the ability for yourself through being aware and self-controlled and having self-reliance to achieve what you have set out to do, to maintain it and promote optimal health and well-being in one's life.
Therefore, self-care is multifaceted, meaning that self-care is intentional and a proactive pursuit of an integrated balance that ultimately balances one's mind, body, and spirit, whether personally or professionally.
It must be understood, though, that it is more than just taking care of your physical health and that even if a behaviour is seen as good for you, it doesn't necessarily mean it constitutes self-care. That is why it is good to find something you look forward to doing as part of your self-care, for example, exercising, painting, spending time with friends and family and many more. This shows that the common denominator of self-care practices is gaining joy from your activities.
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