Caring is sharing.
How do we practice self-care, and what does it entail? It’s a term you may have come across in the past and not known how it is defined. That’s OK! We will get into that. Self-care is defined as taking the time to do things that will help you live well and improve your overall health.
Looking after yourself shouldn’t be something you do sporadically or when you’re under stress. Looking after yourself has to be planned. It has to be action-based. Your well-being is directly correlated to your academic success.
It doesn’t have to be the same for everyone, however. It can be personalized, but the tenets of a self-care plan remain consistent.
6 key pillars of a self-care plan
So, how do we define the core principles of a self-care plan?
They are physical, emotional, social, mental, spiritual and professional. It isn’t solely one of these principles, but rather the combination of them that gives you the toolbox to explore which of these pillars make sense for you.
Perhaps your need is more physical? How about social? You would then focus your self-care plan to be geared towards those aspects which reflect what you need most.
These pillars are flexible in nature and don’t have to be rigid and concrete rules. They can change over time in regard to what you need, but the principles themselves will never change. It’s up to you to choose how to approach them in your self-care plan.
So, what is my personalized self-care toolkit?
Daily movement
Staying active doesn’t necessarily mean you have to live in the gym! Movement entails anything from going on a nice long walk to carrying your groceries from the car to your place. Shovelling snow during the winter, raking the leaves during the fall and mowing the lawn during summer all relate to movement.
Running is also a great way to burn calories. Sweat out all that pent-up emotion!
It has so many benefits that aren’t just related to changing your body type. Sweat equity pays off in dividends, and making it a routine is paramount as it relates to your self-care toolkit.
Healthy meals
Who doesn’t love a good meal? Whether you’re going out to your favourite restaurant or grabbing takeout from your local eatery, your health should come first.
Cooking for yourself allows you to pick fresh ingredients and even control your costs. Are you a pescatarian? Go to your local fish market. Are you a vegan? Be sure to purchase the right ingredients for your particular palate. Are you a carnivore? Your local butcher is where you go for all things meat-related.
The validation that you get from putting together a meal that you made is a tremendous boost to your confidence. What you consume also has a spiritual component. When you eat healthy, your spiritual thirst for fuel for the mind and body is fulfilled.
Journaling
Journaling is the purposeful and regular practice of recording thoughts, feelings and experiences into a notebook or digital tool.
Keeping a journal doesn’t mean creating undue work for yourself. It means putting your memories on record so you can come back to them later. Having an inner dialogue on the page creates a conversation with yourself.
You can always look back and reflect on what you’ve recorded. Have you changed over time? Perhaps. Have you achieved goals that you’ve set? Yes! Having a chronological timeline of your life allows you to visit and revisit those moments which you journaled. This is a crucial tool in your self-care plan.
Journaling enhances self-awareness, manages stress and promotes mental clarity.
Practicing meditation
We’ve all heard of meditation, but how many of us actually do it? Meditation is not just mindfulness, but rather a habit that is formed by sitting in silence and contemplating your inner thoughts.
Focusing on your breathing helps. Inhale, exhale and focus on letting your inner thoughts enter and exit your mind. By not dwelling on problems or stressing over obligations that you have, you can create a kind of peaceful serenity.
Make it a habit, at least once a day, to sit quietly and ponder your life. Take the good and embrace it, take the bad and accept it. Meditation is not about how you process information, but rather how you find peace with the decisions you’ve made.
Sleep
Busy school day? The self-care tool that I use most is an early bedtime. It allows me to implement the self-care tools above to maneuver around my obligations as a student. Sleep hygiene is so important, but not sleeping on the self-care toolkit you decide on is key.
Many times we forgo sleep to make time for other commitments. Sometimes we do not account for the fact that sleep should be a commitment! Staying on top of this will help you focus, and keep your body sharp.
My self-care toolkit
So what is my personalized self-care tool kit? I have always leaned towards the 6 key pillars concept for my peace of mind. For me daily movement is so important as it gives me a nice start to the day. I try and make sure I am eating as healthy as possible, and sleep has always been the most important tool in my kit.
How about yours? You don’t need to incorporate everything listed above, but feel free to pick and choose what works for you. We all have different needs which ties into what we need to prioritize in life. Building a custom set will allow you to get started on reaching goals and accomplishing tasks!
Dealing with the pressures of school and life doesn’t mean you have to do it on your own. Check out the Rhea app, the IGNITE Zen Zone and the IGNITE Sleep Lounge, and embrace your very own self-care toolkit!
Feature image courtesy of Max van den Oetelaar via Unsplash.
Are you now equipped with your own personalized self-care kit? Check out how to manage your living space!
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