Taking action to preserve or improve our health is a necessary practice. When creating a self-care plan of your own it’s important to remember that it’s not necessary to address every area of your health or wellness at once. It is much more effective to select a few areas to address and change or try new ones over time. The following is a list of areas of health we can work to improve: 

Environmental – recycling, planting a personal or community garden.

Emotional – Activities that involve each of your senses can help you improve emotional health. Anything that engages smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound.

Intellectual – Read a book, relax, taking a break.

Occupational – Balance between work and leisure time. Building relationships with coworkers and industry peers.

Physical – Exercise, eat a variety of healthy foods, taking a walk outside

Spiritual – Creating a quiet space for solitude and contemplation can be useful for improving your spiritual health.

Financial – Following a budget, cutting back, or limiting unnecessary expenses.

Community – Turn to a partner, friend or family member when you feel overwhelmed.

When self-care is practiced regularly it helps buffer the impact of a mental health challenge. When we care for ourselves we are better equipped to help ourselves and others. Self- care is an important tool to help achieve wellness. It is a deeply personal process of regaining physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional balance. It means different things to different people.

During stressful times in life, people naturally carry their stress with them everywhere they go. Whenever you feel overly stressed, or better yet before you feel overwhelmed, it may be a good time to focus on self-care.

When was the last time you did something to take care of yourself? How has self-care helped you to maintain balance in your life?