Looking after yourself
Dr Nikki Twomey
Looking after ourselves is an important part of daily life. Yet it’s often overlooked when life gets busy. However, looking after our own wellbeing helps to focus, to make decisions and stay healthy, making us better able to deal with stressful situations and to care for others. A good health plan includes a Self-Care Plan.
Self-Care are activities we engage in on a regular basis to maintain and preserve our physical, emotional and mental health. They give our body and mind time to rest, reset and rejuvenate and reduce or avoid symptoms of anxiety and stress. They leave us with more energy to meet the demands of daily life making us more productive. Self-care is also vital for building resilience toward those stressors in life that we can't eliminate. When you've taken steps to care for your mind and body, you'll be better equipped to live your best life.
Self-Care Plans are varied and individualised. A busy mum with toddlers will have different needs to university students or those in the corporate world. Activities don’t need to be complex. They could be exercising and eating right, spending time with a loved one or taking a nap. It could be meditation or mindfulness or watching an entire series of television in one weekend while you lounge in your pyjamas. It’s whatever is needed to take care of the mind body and spirit. You could break it down into the following areas:
Physical Self-Care
You need to take care of your body if you want it to run efficiently. When caring for your body, you'll think and feel better too
Ways to improve your physical self-care
• Regular sleep
• Eating a healthy diet
• Being active
• Taking care of your health
Social Self-Care
Close connections with others are important to mental well-being.
• Make time for friends and family
• Chat with co-workers
• Schedule dates with your spouse/partner
• Play with your children
• Join groups with shared interests
Mental Self-Care
The way you think and the things that you fill your mind with affects your psychological well-being.
• Keep your mind sharp – read, learn about interesting subjects, watch movies, do puzzles
• Be kind to yourself – show self-compassion, acceptance in your inner thinking
Emotional Self-Care
Emotional self-care may include activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings on a regular basis.
• Be able to talk to your partner, friends, work colleagues about how you feel
• Set aside time for enjoyable leisure activities
• Maintain a good work/life balance
• Learning new things builds confidence
Spiritual Self-Care
Nurturing your spirit can involve anything that helps you develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the universe
• Attending Religious services
• Meditation
• Spending time in nature
Self-care can also be about processing emotional reactions to life and doing things that we might find difficult, like asking for help.
Having a regular GP who knows you and your life is a good starting point. Your GP will be more than happy to help where they can.
