Deepening Your Self Care Practices: How to Get Started
In today’s society, our attention is constantly being pulled in every direction, leaving us feeling scattered and distracted. We feel we always have tasks to finish, people to see, and problems to solve. From work deadlines to family obligations, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. This hyperstimulation can deplete our personal energy, making us sluggish, unmotivated, and out of touch with our own emotions and desires.
So what should we do when all of our energy is being focused outward and not inward? The answer is self care. And not just any self care, but deep self care.
An inner commitment to yourself can help revitalize your spirit, keeping you centered, and tune you back into your own personal goals. While the term “self care” has become a buzzword in recent years, what we are referring to is a deeper practice that awakens the mind, body, and soul to stimulate self reflection and personal growth.
Self care isn't just a way to de-stress after a long day. It's a way to work on your mental health, practice mindfulness, and prioritize yourself even while juggling a busy schedule. Establishing a daily self care routine can help you focus on your wellness, maintain a healthy mind, and support your physical health.
This article is going to define what deep self care is, explain why it’s important, and highlight how to practice self care on a regular basis. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to use these deep self care tips in your daily life to stay centered, present, and focused on your own personal desires and goals.
What Is Deep Self Care?
Oxford Languages defines self care as the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness. While this definition is broad, you can see how it’s centered around improving one’s state of mind, physical health, and self awareness.
Individuals can incorporate self care into their daily routine through a number of different strategies. However, the important thing to remember is that there is an overarching theme of self improvement, inner healing, and personal reflection.
What Are the Different Types of Self Care?
Self Care is a catch-all term that covers a wide spectrum of practices. If you’re looking to take your self care routine to a deeper level, it’s imperative that you consider all facets that contribute to your practice. Below, are some of the most common types of self care to consider.
Emotional Self Care
These activities help you reflect, acknowledge, and improve your emotional state. What activities help you clear your mind in moments of anxiety or uncertainty? Is there anything you do throughout your day that instantly lifts your mood and helps you create a more positive state of mind? These are emotional self care practices you want to incorporate into your daily routine.
Examples: Seeing a therapist, writing in a journal, creating art, practicing gratitude, etc.
Physical Self Care
Your physical health is just as important as your mental wellbeing. Exercise is one of the greatest self care practices you can do for your body. Not only is physical activity a healthy habit that should be practiced daily, but it also helps instill a feeling of accomplishment at the end of a long day. Now, this physical activity doesn't have to be hours in the gym lifting weights or running a marathon. These activities can include anything that gets your body moving.
Examples: Dancing, going for a walk, eating a healthy meal, getting enough sleep, practicing deep breathing, etc.
Mental Self Care
When learning how to practice self care, mental stimulation is often forgotten and yet it’s one of the most important factors to consider. Stimulating your brain and your intellectual side is often forgotten, yet it is equally as important as the others. This can be any hobby outside of your job that brings you a sense of intrigue or curiosity.
Examples: Going to a museum, reading a book, playing board games, solving a puzzle, traveling, etc.
Social Self Care
While it’s important to place focus on oneself for growth and introspection, it’s also essential that you surround yourself with supportive individuals that motivate you, inspire you, and push you to be better every day. Deepening relationships, getting to know people, and engaging in meaningful conversation are all ways to practice a form of self care.
Examples: Calling family regularly, meeting up with friends for dinner, cooking with a loved one, etc.
Spiritual Self Care
When discussing spiritual self care, consider activities that allow you to connect with your true self. These self care activities help you focus on your spiritual practice and recognize a higher power that’s greater than yourself. Whether religious or not, practicing your spirituality should be incorporated into your daily routine.
Examples: Practicing meditation, walking in nature, praying to a higher power, partaking in self reflection, etc.
The Importance of Deep Self Care
In a world where most jobs extend beyond the typical 9 to 5 and schedules are packed to the brim, it can feel impossible to find a moment for yourself. However, setting some time aside in your day can help you be more focused and grounded in everything else that you do.
Running on empty and forgoing any type of self care practices can lead to a number of harmful consequences such as burn out, depression, or anxiety. Remember, the demands of daily life can become overbearing at times. If you are trying to make room for that work deadline, presentation, or project, you are most likely cutting out your work out session, tea time with friends, or morning meditation. Establishing a self care routine can help you find that work-life balance and allow you to be more intentional as you go about your day.
What’s important here to keep in mind is that self care is not selfish. Many people’s inner critic would begin to sound the alarm at the thought of practicing self care each day. However, this isn’t something that should be viewed in a negative light. If this is your current mindset, shift your focus and view these practices as a form of self compassion. When you spend more time investing in yourself, you can then be a better, more intentional individual for others. You’re more focused, energized, and clear-minded in both your work and personal life. Giving yourself just 30 minutes a day to practice deep self care can make all the difference in how you not only treat yourself, but others as well.
Wrapping Up
Forming your daily habits to include deep self care and reflection can make a massive impact on both your mental and physical state. By enhancing your self awareness and partaking in daily activities that support your true self, you'll be able to stay more grounded in life and maintain optimal health.
