7 Self-Care Areas for Women You Need to Know

Do you ever wonder how to begin a self-care practice when you are overwhelmed and not sure of the right path to follow?  Not to worry, you just need a guide to the self-care areas to help point you in the right direction.  By mastering some self-care basics, you will soon be well on your way.

The basics of Self-Care for Women include focusing on the following areas of your life and how healthy you feel in each one.  When you focus your attention and energy on any of these, you can make changes to increase your overall health and well-being.

7 Self-Care Areas of Your Life to Consider

Emotional

What is it – Handling feelings and moods and expressing them appropriately.

How you can practice it – Be aware of your thoughts and feelings.  Discuss issues with a safe person or professional.  Set healthy boundaries on your time so you don’t become too stressed and overwhelmed.

Resources: Why Is Self-Care so Important?, Taking Care of Yourself First (Oxygen Mask Theory), Extreme Self-Care Days for Rough Times

Fun (Pleasure)

What is it – Things you find pleasure in doing.

How you can practice it – Pursue hobbies you enjoy and that make you forget the time.  Explore new places by going on vacations or day trips.  Take time off from work or school as needed.  Search for things YOU enjoy  – TV, Movies, Books, etc.

Resources: Bored? How to Find Your Next Great Hobby, How to Have Fun Again when You Forget How, see the Escape Pods category for shows that can provide a temporary respite when you are in the “thick of it”.

Mental

What is it – Finding new ways to learn, be or do.  Growth and maturity, recognition of your mastery in certain areas and acceptance of those areas you still need to work on.

How to practice: Learn new things for the fun of it.  Stretch yourself in ways you haven’t before.

Resources: Books that Can Change Your Life, How to Manage the Chaos – Help with Organizing

Physical

What is it – Taking care of the physical body you were given.

How to practice: Giving yourself the proper amount of sleep, nutrition, and movement.  As well as checking on your overall health via doctor and dentist visits, practicing proper hygiene, seeing a therapist for mental health, etc.

Resources: How to Sleep Well (And Why It Matters), Take Care of You – Physically

Sensory

What is it – Think hygge – the Danish word for all things cozy and comfortable.  Per Lexicon “A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being”.  Engaging your five senses – taste, smell, sound, touch, and sight.

How to practice: Relishing a good meal (taste), stopping to smell the lilacs on your walk (smell), listening to music you love (sound), getting cozy under a fuzzy blanket (touch), and looking at beautiful art (sight).

Resources: Food to Comfort You When You Need It, Pamper Yourself with the Perfect Bath

Social

What is it – Spending quality time with your family, friends, and/or your mate.

How to practice:  Sorry friends, but social media doesn’t really cut it here.   It may have the word social in it, but being face to face is a much better way to interact with those you love and value on this earth above all else.  Actually talking to people and doing activities together is the best way to make a connection, if that isn’t possible then runners up would be: call, write – email or text, video chat, etc.

Resources: The Power of Friendship, Why You Need to Invest in Date Time

Spiritual

What is it – This doesn’t necessarily have to be religious, but it can be.  This can be everything from being in nature, praying, focusing on the things that bring meaning to your life, and practicing mindfulness or meditation.  In other words, what does hope look like for you?  This is the big, overarching principle and meaning of your life.

How to practice: Find ways to spend time with your thoughts.  You can journal about what you would like your life to be, look for people or things that inspire you, and find the beauty in the world around you.  You can also bring your values to life by aligning yourself with causes you believe in.

Resources: Retreats 101 – Why You Need to Take One, Hefty Dose of Wonder

All of the above combine to give you a firm foundation for whatever it is in life you want to pursue.  Sign up for the Loveselfcare newsletter for further recommendations to get you on the road to feeling better and making your own self-care a priority!

For more on this subject, see:

Psych Central – “What Self-Care Is and What It Isn’t”

Psychology Today – “Self-Care: 12 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself”

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