March 25th, 2019
“Taking care of myself doesn’t mean ‘me, first.’ It means ‘me, too.’”
- L.R. Knost
Self-care seems to be a trending topic. Put on a face mask and feel better, take a hot bath and solve all of your problems, meditate and reach enlightenment! Those examples may sound silly, but some of the recent articles I’ve come across talk about self-care like it’s the ultimate life hack.
Self-care is crucial, but it is not the answer to all of our problems. Self-care is certainly an important tool for us to keep in our back pocket as we go throughout life, but you need all of the tools in the toolbox to live well. Self-care, paired with things such as, a strong support system, a steady job and/or education, and a happy/healthy living space, are some of the things that will elevate the results of self-care.
So what is the definition of “self-care?” According to the Oxford Dictionary, self-care is “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.” The word “practice” is key, self care is a practice that must be set in place for it to actually work. You can not just go to the gym once and write that off as self-care. Setting up those healthy habits of things to do each day, making it a daily “practice” is what self-care is all about.
Let’s talk about some easy ways to start practicing self-care:
Self-care can also reduce the number of doctor's office visits you may otherwise make. In an article from “sciencedirect.com” researchers point out that patients can help to prevent their own illnesses and maybe even skip the doctor's office if they practice self-care. Sciencedirect.com pulls from an academic study, stating “In 2002, a study found that self-care may reduce the use of health services and increase patient satisfaction.”
If individuals use the right resources to find out which self-care practices work best for them, they can make fewer trips to the doctor's office and improve their day-to-day health. Fewer trips to the doctor's office should serve as just another reason to practice self-care.
It is clear that taking care of oneself is important. You maintain a healthy relationship with yourself, you realize your self-worth. It is vital to stress management. It involves physical health, leading to a healthier you. You become more productive in your everyday life. When you’re giving yourself the gift of self-care, you have more to give to others.
So go forth with this information and build your own self-care routine. It is not always easy to break old habits, just to dive into something new. Build your routine day by day, it will make the process less stressful. Do a trial period, to decide which self-care practices work best for you. Once you have determined what steps you want to take towards a better you, start the practice. You will soon start to notice that you are living a happier, healthier lifestyle. So, practice, practice, practice that self-care routine!
At Clarity Clinic, we have highly trained mental health professionals who specialize in therapy and psychiatry services. Call Clarity Clinic on (312) 815-9660 or schedule an appointment today to learn more about how we can support your mental health.
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