Self Care by Peer Educator Brenda Galvan

 

By Brenda Galvan

My name is Brenda Galvan. I am 22 years old and a first year college student majoring in psychology. I am currently working in a preschool and hope to become a child psychologist in the future.

What is self care? 

It is taking care of oneself by doing positive things that promote your physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Why is self care important? 

Contrary to popular belief, self care isn’t only a positive benefit for oneself, it is also beneficial to those around you. If you are taking care of yourself and being healthy, you will be able to do your job and even take care of/help those around you when needed. You can’t fill someone’s glass if yours is empty! Self care helps you be the best version of yourself. 

Types of self care 

Emotional self care is to be aware of what you are feeling and then to let that feeling sink in in a way that allows you to honor your emotions and yourself as well. Suppressing your emotions is not a good tactic to use because your feelings will eventually come out in a negative way. 

Tips for emotional self care 

  1. Say yes to yourself! It is very easy to ignore our own needs in fear of being selfish. Start saying yes to your needs. 
  2. Be careful with the way you talk to yourself. If you are constantly talking down to yourself, you will feel bad about yourself and this affects your emotions. Try turning negative thoughts into something positive. 
  3. Figure out things that trigger you. Once you realize the things that trigger you, you can find good ways to respond to these triggers. 
  4. Set boundaries for yourself. Know when you need your alone time! Sometimes it is hard when you want to be there for others but stretching yourself thin isn’t good for your mental health. 
  5. Talk to someone. It’s easy not to want to “bother” others with your problems but talking about your feelings is very helpful. Whether it’s talking to a friend, family member, or a professional. 
  6. Make time to rest. Life can be overwhelming sometimes and while you might always be on "go mode," rest is important to stay balanced. 
  7. Write down the things you are grateful for everyday. You can keep a journal where everyday you write about the things you are grateful for. This helps give you a more positive outlook on your days. 
  8. Do something creative that you love! This could be drawing, painting, cooking, or even learning something new. 

Physical self care is the activities that you do in order to stay physically healthy, such as maintaining a healthy diet or getting some type of exercise. This is important because being physically healthy gives you the energy you need for your busy days. 

Tips for physical self care 

  1. Get your full 8 hours of sleep. Maintaining good sleep hygiene is important to do. 
  2. Go outside and sit in some sunlight. It is important to get vitamin D. People with very low vitamin D can experience fatigue and mood changes that can lead to depression. 
  3. Take a bath or shower. Whether you were too busy all day, got home and are now too tired, or whether you are feeling depressed and have no motivation to get out of bed, taking a bath or shower helps you have good hygiene and is great self care. Keeping yourself clean will make you feel good. 
  4. Eat one healthy meal per day. Of course we love eating greasy pizza or fries, but eating at least one healthy meal per day is a good way to balance and will help you stay healthy and avoid illness. 
  5. Stay active. This could be whatever you like. It could be going on a walk, going to the gym, swimming, doing yoga, surfing, or riding a bike. 

Mental self care is important to keep your mind fueled. This helps keep you inspired. 

Tips for mental self care 

  1. Practice mindfulness. This will help you be in a more relaxed state, making it easier to pay attention to your emotions and thoughts. 
  2. Read a book. Reading is known to keep your brain stimulated so this is good for your mental health. 
  3. Listen to your favorite music. Putting on music that makes you happy will put you in a better mood 
  4. Listen to a podcast. There are many podcasts that are great for helping you with your well-being! Even if you want something funny to listen to there are plenty of funny ones too. Doing this will help keep your mind occupied and often gives you something to think about. 

References and resources 

  1. https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/22-ways-practice-emotional-self-care-letting-go/  
  2. https://www.perimeterhealthcare.com/about/news/the-importance-of-self-care/ 
  3. https://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/selfhelp/copingskills/selfcare.html

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