Self-care is an important component of mindfulness; as mindfulness is about a way or living or being.

Many think of self-care as treating yourself to a new outfit, a massage, getting your nails done, or indulging in that dessert you’ve been craving. However, that is not truly taking care of yourself. Self-care is the intentional daily practice of doing activities that promotes our inner and outer well-being. It’s about taking the time out of each day to nourish ourselves in a way that helps us to live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

Key Aspects of self-care, Self-Care, Mental, Physical, Emotional, Professional, Mindfulness, Long Island, NY

Let’s Explore Further:

We all know there are many advantages to engaging in acts of self-care with the biggest bonus being: It makes us feel good! Engaging in a self-care routine has also been clinically proven to reduce symptoms relating to anxiety or depression, improve concentration, increase feelings of happiness, reduce feelings of stress, minimize feelings of frustration or anger, prevents illnesses (such as heart disease, stroke, or cancer), improves energy levels, increases productivity, and many more!

Dimensions of Self-Care:

There are four key aspects associated with developing a safe care plan:

  1. Mental
  2. Physical
  3. Emotional
  4. Professional

Lets explore each of the four essential dimensions of self-care and ways we implement them in our daily routine:

Mental:

Examples Include: Taking a break from technology, engaging in a hobby you enjoy, or spending time with friends and family.

Physical:

Examples Include: Exercising daily, eating a well balanced diet, and maintaining good sleep hygiene to ensure you get enough rest.

Emotional:

Examples Include: Writing in a journal, practicing self-compassion, or engaging in breathing exercises to help regulate emotions.

Professional:

Examples Include: Using vacation time, setting professional goals, and working for a company that prioritizes employee wellness.

Putting It Into Practice:

Now that you’ve learned all about the dimensions of self-care, start to think about ways in which you can begin to incorporate them into your daily routine!