Sounds simple right? But when we really think about it, do we consciously and actively take good care of ourselves? For many, the answer is no.
Initially it can be challenging to find the time as we can overthink self-care and make it this “big thing” to achieve, however it can be quite simple, it comes down to small, daily decisions that add up to big rewards when you look at the big picture.
Here are 8 pillars of self-care that you can be focus on:
Physical: This involves movement of the body, your health, nutrition, sleep/rest touch and sexual needs. Some ways you can focus on physical self-care are 1) take a walk and connect with nature whenever possible 2) eat health nourishing foods, 3) get adequate sleep, aim for 8 hours a night on average, and 4) drink plenty of water.
Psychological: This involves learning new things, showing creativity, practicing mindfulness, using consequential thinking, engaging intrinsic motivation. Some ways you can focus on physical self-care are journaling and self-reflection, practicing mindfulness and an awareness of the present moment and cultivate a feeling of acceptance of what is. Master a new skill that feels good to you-crafting or drawing or learning something new and expanding your knowledge, just make sure it does not cause stress.
Emotional: This involves exercising compassion for yourself and others and seeing negative emotions arise and not letting it control you. Finding ways to focus on emotional self-care are watching your thoughts, developing a better emotionally supportive dialogue in your mind, and become aware of your feelings. Manage stress through therapeutic activities like listing to music, create art, or engage with nature.
Social: This involves your connection with your community, your co-workers, your friends and family, the world, and humanity. With social distancing and lockdowns, this can put a strain on your social connections. It makes it more important to make the time to connect with loved ones any way you can safely. Ways you can focus on social self-care include recognizing and keeping away from toxic people in your life. When we join a group, community or volunteer our time to help others, we fill our own happiness cup up too. Meet new people and connect on a deeper level. Realizing we are all connected and all unique.
Professional: This involves loving what you do for a profession. Having a clear understanding of your role and responsibilities and feeling that your work makes an impact every day. Ways too focus on professional self-care are- attending professional development courses and get involved at work in committees etc. Set clear healthy boundaries and have a good work-life balance, negotiate your needs and benefits in a clear assertive way.
Financial: This involves a healthy relationship with your money. How do you see money? Ways to focus on financial self-care are include being conscious of spending habits and debts that may be outstanding. Manage your money wisely, plan a budget that suits you and get help from a planner if needed. Keep mindful of what bills need to be paid and do it on time. It will make you feel relieved and focus on having a good relationship and purpose for your money.
Spiritual: This involves connecting with your higher consciousness, feeling the life and connectedness to all living beings within all of us. Ways you can focus on spiritual self-care are – making a list of personal beliefs and guiding values but its best to not have a fixed, rigid mental state that must be defended – accept what is. Spend time connecting with nature and feel its essence. Ensure to allow for adequate spiritual practices or religious activities, what makes you feel connected with others and feels good to you.
Environmental: This involves your space you live in, your connection with the earth and all living things. Ways to focus on your environmental self-care are to keeping your living and workspaces clean, neat, and organized. This will help you focus, gain clarity, and comfort when needed. Complete seasonal cleaning and organizing and allow for that time to regenerate and change things up. If it is not working seek out a feng shui approach to help. Consider your direct impact on the health of Mother Earth and do whatever you can to reduce your impact. For example, reuse, reduce and recycle when possible. Plant trees and plants that help heal the earth and reduce chemical use in the home and in the garden. Healthy soils equal healthy life.
Remember everyone’s self-care plan will look so different and be totally personal. Start by making small goals and feel joyful about self-care try to reduce and overwhelmed feelings related to it! I hope this helps everyone’s self-care journey! Lots of love to you all!
RN Director of Nursing
Inaonekana rahisi, sivyo? Lakini tunapofikiria juu ya hili, je, tunajitunza kwa bidii? Kwa wengi, jibu ni hapana. "Hata hivyo, inaweza kuwa changamoto kupata wakati kama tunaweza overthink kujitegemea huduma na kufanya hivyo ""jambo kubwa"" kufikia, hata hivyo inaweza kuwa rahisi kabisa, inakuja chini ya maamuzi madogo ya kila siku kwamba kuongeza hadi tuzo kubwa wakati wewe kuangalia picha kubwa. """ Kuna misingi minane ya kujitegemea ambayo unaweza kuzingatia: Mwili: Hii inahusisha harakati za mwili, afya yako, lishe, usingizi, mapumziko, kugusa na mahitaji ya kingono. Njia za kujilinda ni kama vile: (1) kutembea na kuwasiliana na asili kila inapowezekana, (2) kula vyakula vyenye afya, (3) kulala vya kutosha, na (4) kunywa maji mengi. Utafiti wa kisaikolojia: Hii inahusisha kujifunza mambo mapya, kuonyesha ubunifu, mazoezi ya akili, kutumia kufikiri kwa matokeo, kushiriki motisha ya ndani. Njia za kuzingatia huduma ya mwili ni kuchapisha na kujikumbusha, kufanya mazoezi ya ufahamu na ufahamu wa wakati wa sasa, na kukuza hisia ya kukubali kile kilicho. Kujifunza ujuzi mpya unaohisi vizuri - kutengeneza au kuchora au kujifunza kitu kipya na kupanua maarifa yako - hakikisha haisababishi mkazo. Hisia: Hii inahusisha kuonyesha huruma kwa wewe mwenyewe na wengine na kuona hisia hasi zinatokea na kutoruhusu zikuwale. Kupata njia za kuzingatia kujitegemea kwa hisia ni kuangalia mawazo yako, kuendeleza mazungumzo bora ya kihisia-moyo katika akili yako, na kuwa na ufahamu wa hisia zako. Udhibiti mkazo kupitia shughuli za matibabu kama vile kusikiliza muziki, kuunda sanaa, au kushiriki na asili. Jamii: Hii inahusisha uhusiano wako na jamii yako, wafanyikazi wenzako, marafiki na familia yako, ulimwengu, na ubinadamu. Kwa sababu ya umbali wa kijamii na kufungwa, hii inaweza kuweka shinikizo kwenye uhusiano wako wa kijamii. Ni muhimu zaidi kufanya wakati wa kuungana na wapendwa wako kwa njia yoyote unayoweza kwa usalama. Njia za kujilinda za kijamii ni kutambua na kujitenga na watu wenye sumu katika maisha yako. Tunapojiunga na kikundi, jamii au kujitolea wakati wetu kuwasaidia wengine, tunajaza kikombe chetu cha furaha pia. Kukutana na watu wapya na kuungana katika ngazi ya kina. Kujua kwamba sisi sote tunaunganishwa na sisi sote ni wa kipekee. Kazi: Hii inahusisha kupenda kile unachofanya kwa ajili ya kazi. Kuwa na uelewa wa wazi wa jukumu lako na majukumu na kuhisi kwamba kazi yako inafanya athari kila siku. Njia pia kuzingatia juu ya kitaaluma kujitegemea ni kuhudhuria kozi za maendeleo ya kitaaluma na kushiriki katika kazi katika kamati nk. Weka mipaka ya wazi na usawa wa kazi na maisha, na ujadili mahitaji yako na faida kwa njia ya wazi. Uwezo wa kifedha: Hii inahusisha uhusiano mzuri na pesa zako. Unaonaje pesa? Njia za kujilinda kifedha ni pamoja na kuwa na ufahamu wa tabia za matumizi na madeni ambayo yanaweza kuwa ya kipekee. Tumia pesa zako kwa busara, kupanga bajeti inayokufaa na kupata msaada kutoka kwa mpangaji ikiwa inahitajika. Kumbuka ni bili zipi zinazohitaji kulipwa na uzifanye kwa wakati. Hii itakufanya uhisi vizuri na kuzingatia kuwa na uhusiano mzuri na kusudi kwa pesa zako. Hii inahusisha kuunganisha na ufahamu wako wa juu, kuhisi maisha na uhusiano na viumbe vyote vinavyoishi ndani yetu. Njia za kuzingatia kujitunza kiroho ni kufanya orodha ya imani za kibinafsi na maadili ya kuongoza lakini ni bora kutokuwa na hali ya akili iliyowekwa, ngumu ambayo lazima ivikwe kukubali kile kilicho. Tumia wakati kuunganisha na asili na kuhisi kiini chake. Hakikisha unaruhusu mazoea ya kiroho au shughuli za kidini zinazofaa, ambazo zinakufanya uhisi unahusiana na wengine na unahisi vizuri. Mazingira: Hii inahusisha nafasi yako unayoishi, uhusiano wako na dunia na vitu vyote vilivyo hai. Njia za kuzingatia utunzaji wako wa mazingira ni kuweka mazingira yako ya kuishi na ya kazi safi, safi, na kupangwa. Hilo litakusaidia kukaza fikira, kupata uelewevu, na kufariji unapohitaji. Kufanya usafi wa msimu na utaratibu na kuruhusu wakati huo kuzalisha upya na kubadilisha mambo. Ikiwa haifanyi kazi tafuta mbinu ya feng shui ya kukusaidia. Fikiria athari yako ya moja kwa moja kwa afya ya Mama Dunia na fanya chochote unachoweza kupunguza athari yako. Kwa mfano, kutumia tena, kupunguza na kuchakata tena inapowezekana. Kupanda miti na mimea ambayo husaidia kuponya dunia na kupunguza matumizi ya kemikali nyumbani na bustani. Udongo wenye afya ni sawa na maisha yenye afya. Kumbuka kila mtu's mpango wa kujitegemea utatafuta tofauti sana na kuwa kabisa binafsi. Anza kwa kuweka malengo madogo na ujisikie furaha kuhusu kujitunza jaribu kupunguza na hisia za kuzidi zinazohusiana nayo! Natumaini hii husaidia kila mtu safari ya kujitegemea huduma! Ninakupendeni sana nyote! RN Mkurugenzi wa Uuguzi