Originally published here

2021 has been tough for most of us

We have had quite a year. The pain and challenges we have faced in the past year have been so real. So we need to start this new year with a resolve to take better care of ourselves. But what does that actually mean? Self-care can be any way you improve or enhance your mind or body. Self-Care is about taking an active role in your life and decisions that affect you. It’s about focusing on yourself because you matter, and making your own happiness should be a priority.

The importance of self-care

Some aspects of personal care are connected with various health benefits such as longer life or improved health in general. Exercise, finding purpose, and sleeping are linked with increased lifespans. Most people view self-care as a luxury instead of a priority. Self-health is a necessity. After taking the appropriate steps to the wellness of the body, it gives us the ability to live life in the greatest conditions possible. How do I take care of my soul in diverse ways? Here are five aspects of self-care that you should address.

1. Social self-care

Socializations can be very helpful for mental wellbeing. Sometimes you need to take a break and not forget about your relationships when you have too many responsibilities and not enough spare time. This personal connection matters for you to thrive. It’s all about getting time to build and preserve good friends and relationships. There shouldn’t be a time limit for interacting with your friends. What matters is figuring out your social needs and setting up a balanced, productive schedule.

I have a lot of friends who are busy with work and don’t always have time for socializing, so I understand how it may be more difficult said than done for many of us. For me, my gym buddies provide me with my social fix without having to talk about work or anything serious.

2. Physical self-care

We must treat the body with great care for everything to operate as it should. Remember that your body has a strong connection with your mind. Self-care for your physical health includes eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water, and exercising.

Having a balanced diet is key to having a healthy mind and body. I’m not perfect and have my own struggles with maintaining a balanced diet, but I have found that when I eat mostly plant-based foods, I have more energy and feel better overall.

Exercise is also key to a healthy body. Again, I’m not perfect, and I don’t enjoy working out, but I have found that I feel so much better when I make time for it. Exercise releases endorphins, which make you happy, and it can also help improve your mood overall.

3. Spiritual self-care

Research suggests living with religious or spiritual affiliations is generally healthy for people. Connecting with power or higher being can provide individuals with a sense of purpose and belonging. However, you do not have to be religious to benefit from spiritual practices. Spending time in nature, meditating, or simply talking to a higher power are all examples of spiritual self-care. I find that I need to do some spiritual self-care every day. I usually start my day by meditating, and I also like to spend time in nature whenever possible. If you see me talking to myself, you know what I am up to.

Your mental state will have a profound effect on your health. Mental self-protection includes thinking of questions or observing the subjects you are interested in. Read books on an inspiring topic to boost your brainpower.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it’s something that we should all be working on. I know that there are times when I need to take a break from work to recharge my mental batteries. I usually do this by reading a book or going for a walk where I don’t have to think about writing or work.

5. Emotional Self-Care

We all go through challenging emotions from time to time. It’s critical to have healthy and effective techniques for dealing with these feelings. We should employ suitable coping methods when dealing with serious emotional difficulties like anger, sadness, fear, or grief.

There are several different ways to manage difficult emotions. Some people find that talking about their feelings is helpful, while others prefer to keep their feelings bottled up. I usually find that talking about my feelings with a friend or therapist helps me cope better. When those options are not available, I tend to write about them.

It’s also essential to have healthy coping mechanisms for when you’re feeling good. Positive emotions, such as love, happiness, and joy, can be just as challenging to deal with as negative emotions. We can’t always stay in a good mood, and that’s perfectly normal. However, it’s important to have ways to bring ourselves back down to earth when we’re feeling too good.

It’s essential to find balance in our emotional lives. This varies from person to person, and you may have to try a few things before finding what works best for you.

Develop a self-care plan

Before doing anything, you should acknowledge how important it is to take care of yourself. Remember that you have to help yourself first to help others. Customizing your own wellness strategies can help prevent over-stressing yourself. Check the areas in yourself that need improvement. Social, physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.

Once you know which areas need the most work, it’s time to start developing your self-care plan. This can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Just remember that you need to make time for all of the different areas of your life.

If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, here are a few things you can try:

– Meditate for 10 minutes each day.

– Read a book of your choice before bedtime.

– Spend about 20 minutes planning out the next day.

I usually spend time on tasks from all of these categories, and I’ve discovered that they are incredibly beneficial in recharging my batteries and getting through the day.

Self-care is a personal matter, and what works for one person may not work for another. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. It’s critical to recognize that we must look within and care for ourselves during these difficult times.