Self-care: What is it and how to do it

According to the World Health Organization, self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker. It means different things to different people, and there’s no single way to do self-care.

Your self-care activities have a cumulative impact. As you develop and sustain a self-care practice, you will start to notice changes in how you feel. You will be more resilient and better able to cope with life’s inevitable ups and downs.

Signs you may need more self-care:

• Loss of pleasure and enjoyment
• Depression and anxiety
• Concentration problems
• Increased errors
• Loss of objectivity
• Isolation
• Emotional reactivity
• Relationship issues
• Insomnia
• Fatigue

How to do self-care:

• Accept that self-care is an investment and indulge in it daily. Look for micro-moments to give yourself care. Considering the small things that give you a feeling of joy, comfort, soothing or support may help you make a list.
• Try something new or return to an old interest. Trying new activities is a great way to form new connections and find activities to get lost in. Schedule time for activities you enjoy.
• Explore and practice. As you try new activities, recognize that you need to do them more than once to start to see benefits.
• Remind yourself why you’re doing self-care. It supports your overall longevity and helps you enjoy life. It also enables you to show up better for others.

Read the full article: rtoero.ca/self-care-for-retiring-education-workers