3 self-care practices to try

Remember the “self” in self-care. We each come to it with our own perspective, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of practice. Still, we can try these self-care ideas if we’re looking for a place to start experimenting until we find what works for us.

  1. Meditation

    2. Many of us lose a sense of fun and play as we grow older, but it can be freeing and even connect to improved physical health. Research also shows that laughing is linked to reduced stress, tension, and anxiety, suggesting that it’s a valid form of self-care all on its own.

  2. Play

    3. Many of us lose a sense of fun and play as we grow older, but it can be freeing and even connect to improved physical health. Research also shows that laughing is linked to reduced stress, tension, and anxiety, suggesting that it’s a valid form of self-care all on its own.

  3. Gratitude

    4. The simple act of writing one or two things we’re grateful for each day can help us avoid getting caught up in life’s frustrations, and recognize instead that we’re grateful for all that we do have. We might also find that when we take the time to make gratitude a part of our self-care routine, we can be grateful for that routine itself.

The benefit of self-care practices

Many of us know what it feels like when we neglect our well-being. Our body or mind eventually forces us to stop. Maybe we’ve been skipping the daily stretches that help us get through a workout and we get injured. Or maybe we’ve been working overtime without the rest our body needs and we lash out at someone close to us. When we aren’t taking good care of ourselves, we don’t feel our best or interact with others at our best.

Rather than view self-care as a nice-to-have or an indulgence, an internet trend or something only reserved for Sundays, we can look at this practice as part of our ongoing mental health self-care. As mental health experts note, we’re not paying attention to ourselves in a self-centered, narcissistic way, but in a way that makes sure we’re being cared for — for us and by us — by taking time to do things that help us live well and improve our health.

Headspace meditation teacher Dora Kamau shares, “As human beings, we all have needs. We all have things that are truly important to us and create a sense of safety. When we don’t have our needs met, this can bring us to a place of frustration, anger, and distress.” The time we dedicate to self-care is just as important as everyone else’s time. When we make a point to nurture ourselves, we can care for others in a more meaningful and compassionate way, too.