What Is The True Meaning Of Self-Care
Have you heard of self-care or do you practice self-care? Most people hear it daily as it has become a daily buzzword in the wellness industry. Doing yoga, face masks, going shopping, and going to the spa aren’t the only things you should be doing as self-care acts. It is also important to make sure you are feeling okay. Tune into yourself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally to make sure you can recharge to avoid burnouts. Now, let’s discuss the idea of self-care and the ways to effectively accomplish it.
When Did the Idea of Self-Care Start?
The Greek philosopher Socrates believed that it was important to take care of yourself to be an effective person, this way you are able to accomplish more tasks in your daily life and feel fulfilled. There is a powerful connection between self-care, activism, the healthcare industry, and the wellness industry. In the late 19th century, activist and writer Lorde declared self-care a powerful act – to take time just for yourself. In the medical field, the idea of self-care is divided into two concepts — the first being self-help patients would find methods to care for themselves without medical supervision and the second focuses on medical professionals taking care of themselves to be able to give better care to their patients. We know now that this concept that dramatically evolved beyond these fields has become a taboo subject.
How Do I Practice Self-Care?
It is often hard to find time for yourself when most of the world is crazy busy, jobs are stressful, and our lives revolve around social media – to recognize what your body, brain or heart needs to feel fulfilled and recharged. Start small and don’t feel guilty about putting yourself first. Learn what strategies you can accomplish realistically and implement them into your daily routines such as eating healthy, sleeping, and setting boundaries. Scholars have suggested focusing on your five senses — that way you can connect to yourself in the present without focusing on anything else.
Is Self-Care Selfish?
Remember that if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t expect to take care of others. Take a pause, breathe, and remember that your well-being is important. There isn’t only one way to practice self-care, the key is to make sure your practices are helping you and that adding on these self-care actions will not become a major stressor in your life.
Self-care makes people feel productive and effective in their everyday lives –making healthy decisions and nurturing your body and mentality are the best methods of self-maintenance. If you are having a hard time finding ways to effectively incorporate self-care actions into your everyday life, a trained professional at Ottawa Counselling will be able to give you valuable support and aid.