Redefining Self-Care & How to Implement

Redefining Self-Care & How to Implement
by Emily Nykamp, LLMSW | Outpatient Therapist

Self-care is the practice of being in-tuned to what your needs are and addressing them to promote personal health and wellbeing in day-to-day life. Areas of self-care can include your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Types of Self Care:

1. Physical Health

• Doing any sort of movement throughout the day whether it be going to the gym or deciding to take the stairs instead of the elevator this time.
• Set personal hydration and diet goals.
• Create a nighttime routine to enhance sleep quality and a morning routine to set yourself up for the day.

2. Mental Health

• Make to-do lists and prep ahead on tasks for the week.
• Devote time for relaxation activities, hobbies, creative outlets, or anything that brings you joy.
• Check-in with trusted family and friends or seek professional help.

3. Emotional Health

• Practice setting personal boundaries in relationships such as sharing expectations, learning to say “no”, and expressing your honest feelings with others.
• Practice self-compassion in offering yourself grace when things don’t go as planned.
• Reflect on what energized you in the last week vs. what drained you.

4. Spiritual Health

• Attend church or participate in spiritual events.
• Practice routine devotionals, prayer, or meditation exercises either through a phone app, YouTube videos, or a journal.
• Practice gratitude in reminding yourself of things you are grateful for and the challenges you have overcome.