A recent survey in the UK has shown that 84% of the UK population feels there should be a greater focus on self-care following the effects of Covid-19. The survey also found that regular self-care enhanced self-confidence (64%) and increased productivity (67%) and happiness (71%), so self-care really can benefit your health.
Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence or selfishness. Self-care means taking care of yourself to be healthy and better positioned to navigate life. Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve your physical and mental health. This will help you manage stress, develop work-life balance and prevent burnout.
Four Types of Self-Care
- Physical self-care: Examples include eating a healthy diet, trying new physical activity, and getting enough sleep.
- Mental and emotional self-care: These activities may include talking to a therapist or healthcare professional, taking breaks, developing positive self-talk, and prioritising alone time.
- Social self-care: Maintaining healthy social connections is an essential type of self-care that allows you to feel connected to the world.
- Spiritual self-care: Like all the other varieties, spiritual self-care will look different for everyone. Examples of self-care include meditation, spending time at a place of worship, and connecting with nature.
How to Practice Self-Care
It only takes a few simple steps to develop your self-care plan.
1. Evaluate your daily routine. Think about the areas of your life that bring you the greatest stress and joy. Are there any healthy practices you can incorporate daily to improve your feelings? Consider how and when you can incorporate these healthy and joyful activities into your day while minimising stress from more challenging activities.
2. Choose an activity. Start small if you’re new to adding self-care to your routine. Choose one activity to practice regularly. Examples include walking, taking a nightly bubble bath, listening to a wellness podcast, and eating healthy foods for breakfast.
3. Practice regularly. Self-care is a practice; you don’t have to get it right daily. The goal is to reduce stress levels and increase self-esteem over time. Try adding your new activity into your routine as best you can and see how you feel.
4. Evaluate and tweak. Try practising your new activity for several weeks and take inventory of your feelings. Evaluate the impact of adding this activity to your schedule. Depending on how it makes you feel, tweak your current activity or try a new one.
Download our WorkSpa self-care cards for parents/careers, men, and to support you at work.
