Self-care. It’s a phrase we hear often from our family, friends, health care professionals, and social media. But what exactly does that look like on a daily basis?
Often when people think of self-care they think of something big like a vacation or spa day, but self-care doesn’t have to be big and elaborate. In fact, daily self-care can be simple and easy. Learn more about what self-care is and strategies to incorporate self-care into your daily routine, including ways to overcome barriers.
What is self-care?
The essential activities we deliberately do that improve our physical, mental, and emotional health are self-care.
The University of Buffalo School of Social Work describes self-care as the activities and practices we do on a regular basis that help reduce stress and improve our health and well-being.1 exercise class. Always check with your health care provider to ensure the workout is appropriate for you.
Connecting with others self-care strategies
- Volunteer—find an organization or project that’s meaningful to you and get involved.
- Join a book club, card game group, or other hobby group.
- Schedule time to connect with family and friends.
- Join a CDMSE or Falls Prevention class.
- Do a good deed for someone else.
What are the barriers to self-care, and how can I overcome them?
Most of us can relate to hearing the words “self-care” and feeling like it’s yet another item on our already long mental to-do list. Here are some common barriers and solutions:3
- Time —When we have competing priorities it can be difficult to fit another “thing” into our already busy schedules, especially if we’re providing care to someone. The good news is self-care doesn’t need to take hours, carving out even 5 minutes to listen to music, talk to a friend, or take a quick walk adds a drop to your bucket. You may also consider scheduling self-care time like any other appointment or get creative about when you engage in self-care. If you’re spending time in a waiting room for an appointment, listen to an audiobook or podcast while you wait.
- Guilt—It’s a common misconception that self-care is selfish. In fact, we know that it is essential to our health and well-being. When we take care of ourselves, we can be a better partner, friend, or caregiver. Remember the airplane oxygen mask analogy (put your mask on first before helping someone else with theirs). You won’t be able to support others if you’re not taking care of your needs.
- Motivation—Forming a new habit takes time and motivation. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities, you might not have the motivation to incorporate self-care into your routine. Start by acknowledging your feelings and then consider some of our tips for getting started.
Tips for getting started
Start by naming your needs.4 Plan to check in with yourself a few times throughout the day and identify what you need. This will build self-awareness and help you tailor your self-care strategies to your specific needs. For example, if you’re feeling lonely considering a self-care strategy that involves Build Daily SelfCare Tips What
