/ Wellness Office

Self Care

Self care is everything an individual does deliberately for their mental, physical and emotional well-being.

You need to be conscious of your well being before you can achieve true self care. Some simple acts may include not checking emails at night when you know it affects your sleep, and it may extend to more important decisions like going for a vacation or booking a massage when you feel you need one.

Why it's important

Self care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself so that you are able to give and share good feelings with others. Often when we think of self care we associate it with being selfish, as it often feels awkward to put ourselves first. When you pay adequate attention to your well-being you are actually re-energizing yourself so you can be the best version of yourself for those in your life.  Individuals we constantly interact with also reap the benefits of renewed energy and joy.

self-care tips to improve your well-being

  1. Pay attention to your physical health
    • Difficult to be in a good mood and your best self when you don’t feel good about yourself…
    • Regular exercise increases level of serotonin in the body which improves mood and energy. When exercising for self care, choose an activity you enjoy.
  2. Get enough sleep
    • Sleep deprivation takes a toll on our physical and mental health
    • Spend so much time working and little time sleeping
  3. Be a healthy eater
    • Eating excessive amounts of sugar or foods with low nutrition value leave us on a cycle of craving more sugar/caffeine and decreasing ability to concentrate, sleep, etc.
    • Strive for a balanced diet of protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates along with fruits and vegetables to provide all the vitamins and minerals and balance your energy to tackle each day
  4. Manage stress
    • Constant stress can negatively impact physical and mental health
  5. Have a healthy work-life balance
    • Overworking can make you less productive, disorganized, and emotionally depleted, leading to anxiety, depression and insomnia
    • Take breaks, set professional boundaries and avoid overextending

Incorporating self care into your current lifestyle

  1. Go for a walk, jog or run (or get active in another way you enjoy)
  2. Meditate, attend yoga, stretch or do deep breathing exercises daily
  3. Take breaks when you need them
  4. Choose who you spend your time with
  5. Laugh heartily at least once a day
  6. Avoid emotional eating — focus on eating foods that fuel the body and mind
  7. Start a journal
  8. Learn to say “no”
  9. Stop overthinking
  10. Enjoy a long hot shower or bath
  11. Read a new book or take up a new hobby
  12. Pay attention to the small things (such as the way the sunlight hits the grass in the morning while drinking coffee or tea)