SELF CARE

Self care is not selfish, it is a necessary habit that we should familiarise ourselves with. What is self-care? Self care refers to the intentional practice of taking care of one’s overall wellbeing. It encompasses the physical, mental,and spiritual aspects of one’s life. As such self care produces an all round healthy being who satisfies the WHO definition of mental health; “ an individual who can lead a fulfilling and productive life.” 

Self Care Practices 

One can take care of themselves physically through practicing proper hygiene. Bathing and maintaining cleanliness improves our confidence and boosts our self esteem. Self image is a huge contributor to mental health, how we see ourselves determines our self esteem. Individuals with low self esteem are likely to succumb to depression. 

Body shape and size are a sensitive topic when it comes to women. Appreciating that we are created differently and uniquely beautiful is a key to satisfaction and good mental health. However it is also important to be intentional about how we take care of our bodies. Regular exercise, visiting the gymn , healthy eating all contribute to good physical appearance. As such it is essential to have a healthy routine to maintain a good weight and body shape. 

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of self -care. A good sleep routine is a healthy habit which helps us to be rejuvenated and relaxed. As we sleep the body produces hormones such as Melatonin,, GABA, Serotonin, Cortisol and Adenosine. These hormones are responsible for mood regulation and offer many other mental health benefits including stress regulation. As such, good sleep hygiene will improve our mental wellbeing. 

Our minds also need to be taken care of through engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles, crosswords and reading. This helps us to strengthen our cognitive function and reduce or delay neuro- degenerative processes which may lead to conditions such as Dementia. It is a good practice to learn a new skill and thus also improves the mind  culture and function. 

Emotional self care is often neglected as we focus more on physical appearances. It is important for us to have a self care routine which covers the emotional aspects. Intentional social interactions like picnics, taking a walk , a fun evening with friends and family are crucial in enhancing good emotional health. Journaling can be very useful as it allows us to express our feelings through writing, art and painting also contribute to emotional wellbeing. Ultimately seeking help when we feel unwell emotionally, talking to a friend and most importantly a mental health professional will be very beneficial in improving our mental health. 

Benefits of self care

Benefits of self care include stress regulation and mood regulation. Improvement of overall mental health. Self care also boosts self esteem and confidence helping us to be more productive. Resilience can be enhanced through self care activities and we develop better coping mechanisms for our challenges and setbacks. 

If you have been practicing self care, well done, keep it up. I hope you maintain the routine and to those who had not started I hope we start our journey of self care so we can benefit and embrace good overall health . 

Nqoba Sibenke is registered with AHPCZ as an intern Counselling Psychologist and can be reached at nqoba.sibenke@icloud.com