Sustainable Self-Care: Explained

Written By Eager Mind Services, LLC

Estimated Read Time: 15-20 min.

Written: Raquel Luster

It’s a new year. And instead of focusing on resolutions or things you’d like to change, let’s shift the conversation to something a bit more sustainable. I bet you’ve heard of the words, drum roll, “self-care”. But what does it really mean to practice self-care? And is it for everybody? Let’s dive into self-care explained.

What makes something self-care? Is it feeling good after doing an activity? Or maybe feeling calm? Both answers are correct and more. Self-care helps you to regulate yourself. So feeling good or calm is a positive sign, but not the only indicator. What if you feel empowered or brave after an activity? Can that be considered taking care of yourself or self-care? Possibly!

I’m sure you’re familiar with the word “boundaries”. It’s been a buzzword for a few years now. But what if setting a work boundary is an act of self-care, such as setting a specific time that work is done? Meaning no more work after XYZ o’clock and sticking to it. Because you have so much data and experience with what happens if you push past that time, and then we don’t have the energy or bandwidth for the other aspects of our lives, like loved ones or down town.

 Let’s focus on the word sustainable for just a bit. Sustainable can be thought of as being able to do said tasks or activity at some regular interval, or to be maintained. Let’s look at a plant or a dog for examples next. You’re thinking of adding something new to your life, and you’re torn between a green being and an animal companion. We’re going over the pros and cons of having a plant versus a dog in this case (cats, I’ve heard, are much easier to navigate, so they didn’t make the cut this time). And we decide to ask ourselves, what can I take care of on a consistent basis or with some regularity to it? I can opt for a low-maintenance plant, but can I incorporate its needs into my schedule? What happens if I forget to water it for a week, or what happens if it outgrows its pot? Maybe I ask myself, do I have options for sunlight where I live, etc., etc.? I’m also in a long-winded way, asking, can I sustain this new addition in my life? If not, the plant dies, and all is lost. (To be fair, the plant might still not survive with all the proper maintenance, but this isn’t quite the point I’m trying to make – although true.) Somewhat similarly with a dog, asking self can I accommodate potty breaks, walks, play time, feeding, and vet appointments? Can I actually make this work with my current schedule, energy levels, and all the things?

In asking myself can I do this for the above scenarios, I’m not asking do I want to do it? The answer is most likely yes on that account. I’m not asking, if I try my best, can I make it happen? I’m sure we’ll give it the good ole’ middle school try (assuming that’s a saying). What I’m asking and where this can begin to feel uncomfortable is, based on what I know about the plant or the dog, can I add this new addition into my life without disrupting the other important aspects of my life? And now we’ve come to understand sustainability.

Let’s focus now on self-care. What is it and why do I care, assuming I care. And if you’ve made it this far, I think we can say you kinda care a little bit. Yay.

Self-care isn’t just about being happy and doing fun things. It can be, though. Let’s think of self-care as a piece of the mindfulness mindset. And let’s make the mindfulness mindset really simple: Being present in the moment. Sighs, that shouldn’t be so hard, I hope. When we think about self-care, I’d pair it with the question of “What do I need now?” By assessing what our needs are in the present moment, I can direct my actions and behaviors to meet that need.

Here's an example. After the workday, you notice that your body is a bit tense. Maybe you notice that your shoulders and jaw are pretty tight. You ask yourself the magic question, “What do I need now?” And what if you don’t know the answer? Guess what, your body does. Yay. Maybe after work, you notice you start pacing, or walking around scrolling on your phone, or sigh as you walk to your car or to another part of the house (for those of us that WFH). The self-care my body chose was physical. With more intention, I can turn that small act into an activity that my body could find really beneficial after work, like exercising, going for a walk, gardening, or another physical activity to garner the same effect.

Another example. You’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or overstimulated. Not quite sure where to begin or what your needs are, we find a space alone. Maybe that’s it! The self-care our body chose was reflection or alone time. With more intention of our needs and with increasing self-awareness, maybe the activity we do before or after the activity that brought such overwhelm and overstimulation, becomes a crossword puzzle, or a creative or intellectual activity that helps us navigate the situation differently next time.

 Let’s talk about the different categories of self-care practice.

  • Physical health

  • Mental health

  • Spiritual

  • Social

  • Intellectual

  • Creative

  • Natural

  • Financial

  • Professional

This is not an exhaustive list, but a list created from what people seem to need and what research discusses, personal and professional information as well. It’s perfectly ok if you’re asking yourself, there’s no way she’s going to talk about all of these subcategories? The answer is yes, especially for those of us who like a detailed to-do when needed. Don’t worry, there will be a list at the bottom if you’d like to skip straight there.

Physical self-care is probably the most common type of self-care discussed in the mainstream, especially around this time of year. Physical self-care is the practice of caring for your physical body and the many aspects of it. Physical fitness or exercise can be included in the physical health space. Along with fueling (nutritious eating habits), water intake, possible medication, vitamins or supplements, and grooming habits (such as skin care and hair care). Apparently, our bodies need maintenance (who knew?).

Mental self-care is similar to caring for your mind. Some of the other categories can definitely overlap with this premise. Here are a few examples to explore mind caring (which I don’t think is a phrase just yet). Maybe attending a therapy group or individual session. Or it could look like cleaning a part of your room, office, or home for mental clarity. Maybe it includes journaling your thoughts (and the processing that might come along with that). It can even look like listening to a friend and letting them know you’re there to support.

Social self-care. Ok, bear with me on this one. Let’s include activities that you do with others and activities that you do solo in public spaces, or even activities that help you connect. For example, maybe you’re going to a movie solo, or you’re meeting a group of friends at a restaurant, or even going to a local museum for a guided tour. In these examples, you’re connecting with others or being connected in a public space. Final example, maybe you’re watching a live stream (for those that comment in real time, that’s amazing btw) or the premiere of a new show, and you’re reading the open forum or social media posts related. Social self-care is related to connection.

Spiritual self-care. This could look like connecting with your faith, or high power, or yourself, or really anything that speaks to you related to purpose and similar themes. With this category, maybe you’d like to connect with similar-minded folks or attend services to worship as you’d like. Maybe this looks like meditation, prayer, or even learning about another faith.

Intellectual self-care. This subcategory is related to stimulating your mind (in a healthy way). So maybe you’re interested in reading about a specific time period or listening to an audiobook by an author you’ve heard so much about. Or maybe you’d like to learn a few words in another language to communicate with a peer or friend whose native language isn’t English. This could also look like having a conversation with a friend about a taboo topic or current events, and lastly, this could also look like taking a class or certification because it could help you later in your career or to get a promotion.

Creative self-care could look like starting a new hobby or project. Or trying a new skill entirely. Maybe it’s completing a DIY project or getting the supplies ready at least. In this subcategory, we’re doing something that might lead to creating something tangible, like painting or pottery, or being a part of a creative experience like going to a performance or seeing a movie. There are so many options in this category.

Natural self-care can be connecting to nature, in whatever way that means to you. So this could look like hiking, walking, or other physical activities. It could be bird watching, or foraging, or even camping. This could look like bringing nature into the home by taking care of plants or visiting a plant shop. And this could look like spending time in your backyard, local park, or something special to you, and observing.  

Financial self-care. Let’s think about planning, understanding, or building in relation to finances as self-care. Maybe you’d like to create a monthly savings goal or have a three-year plan for your financial future. Or what if you’d like to learn more about a particular type of finance, and you’re seeking help, guidance, or learning? For some, this one might not be as exciting or fun, but I imagine if it speaks to you, it can be a learning journey for you.

Professional self-care can look like setting clear boundaries for yourself. Maybe, for example, not working on the weekend unless there’s a pertinent project or an upcoming due date. Maybe it can look like going to the company baseball game or asking your coworkers about their weekend. It can even look like planning days off throughout the entire year, to prevent something called burnout. Also, if professional self-care sounds like an oxymoron, that’s perfectly fine too. We’re working on redefining work in your life, and maybe not work as your life.  

 Here are the categories and examples of self-care practices we’ve compiled:

  • Physical health

    • Fueling (nutritious eating habits)

    • Water intake

    • Medication compliance

    • Vitamins and supplements

    • Grooming habits

    • Skin care

    • Hair care

    • Nail care

    • Moving your body

    • Playing a sport

    • Sleep hygiene

    •  Attending medical appointments

    • Switching providers to find a better fit, if needed

  • Mental health

    • Therapy (shameless plug)

    • Mental health social media posts

    • Life coach

    • Cleaning

    • Organizing

    • Journaling

    • Talking with a close loved one

    • Actively listening to a close loved one

  • Spiritual

    • Attending service

    • Meditation/Prayer

    • Reading religious texts

    • Spending time with others in community

    • Studying your faith or different faiths

    • Participate in spiritual rituals and celebrations

  • Social

    • Community groups

    • Spending time with loved ones

    • Spending time with self

    • Visiting a museum

    • Attending a concert or performance

    • Visiting your local library

    • Trying a new restaurant or activity

    • Visiting a new part of town

    • Traveling

    • Participating in online groups or forums

    • Watching a livestream

    • Volunteering with an interest group

  • Intellectual

    • Reading

    • Audio booking

    • Puzzles

    • Games

    • Playing video games

    • Conversations with trusted people about impactful topics

    • Taking a class

    • Completing a certification

    • Learning a new language or new subject, or a new skill

    • Read or write a peer-reviewed journal or article

  • Creative

    • Crafting

    • Cooking

    • Baking

    • DIYing

    • Decorating

    • Painting

    • Writing (a song, a poem, a book, a short story, a screenplay, or a comedy set)

    • Sewing or crocheting

    • Fermenting

    • Following or creating a new recipe

    • Going to an art show or art performance

    • Going to a local open mic

    • Going to a movie or theater performance

    • Going shopping

    • Playing an instrument

    • Dancing

  • Natural

    • Outdoor physical activities

    • Gardening

    • Going for a walk or run

    • Visiting a park

    • Going on a picnic

    • Going to a plant store

    • Taking care of plants

    • Foraging

    • Fishing

    • Camping

  • Financial

    • Creating a savings plan

    • Opening a new bank account

    • Creating a sustainable budget (weekly, monthly, yearly)

    • Learning more about/participating in cryptocurrency

    • Checking your credit score

    • Creating a financial plan (one-year, three-year, five-year, etc.)

    • Get a head start on your taxes

    • Meet with a financial planner

  •     Professional·   

    • Setting clear start and stop times for work

    • Planning time off throughout the year

    • Minimal working through your lunch break

    • Limit after work hours work

    • Participate in work activities

    • Find something you enjoy about your work

    • Find something you have improved on

    • Identify a new personal goal for work

 

Taking care of yourself isn’t just about luxury activities, it’s also about clocking out of work on time or even remembering to call that friend back. However you choose to do self-care, know that it’s really hard to mess up, and we typically know it’s working if we don’t feel burnt out, drained, more irritable than usual, and if we feel a sense of relief or relaxation after the activity. Enjoy taking care of yourself out there. I’m sure the many aspects of you will thank you and be very appreciative. 

Eager Mind Services, LLC