Self-care is one of the latest buzz-words in the beauty and wellness industry, and it’s a lot more than just taking a bath. Self-care helps you rest and recharge. Self-care is essential to our well being.

Taking care of yourself seems a fundamental part of life, yet for many of us, it is our biggest challenge.

The events in our lives are constantly changing—and we are tossed around with them.

Our emotional state is almost completely dependent on our external circumstances. We’re happy when things are going well—but because everything is temporary and our circumstances are always changing, our happiness is rarely lasts for long. That is, until we stop perceiving everything that happens as good or bad, and learn how to better accept what we cannot control or change.

In our fast-paced, technology-driven lives, it’s go-go-go until you can’t go anymore. We may find it difficult to know our needs and have them met. We may rush through our days without taking time to understand ourselves and our changing needs. Resting and recharging is essential to being a human, but it also feels really good, and feeling good is essential.

The goal of self-care isn’t just putting on a face mask and staring at your phone for 10 minutes while it dries (raise your hand if you’re guilty of doing that 🙋🏻‍♀️)… it’s about doing what feels good for you.

Dimensions of Self-Care

Physical
Our physical health is the foundation from which our health is built upon. Physical self-care involves activities that support your basic physical need, which can include exercise, pampering your body, embracing your sexuality, and doing what makes your body feel good.

Emotional
Emotional self-care involves processing emotions in a healthy way. Feeling your feelings and using healthy coping mechanisms can support emotional self-care. Our emotions guide us, help us interact with ourselves, others and our environment. When we pay attention our feelings, we can determine what we need to do to improve or manage our emotional state.

Intellectual
Challenging your beliefs and exploring other dimensions of knowledge can help you find a self of purpose. This aspect of self-care is address your inner ‘thinker’; a healthy mind is the foundation of a healthy self.

Social
Social interaction is extremely important for self-care. Humans need interaction to develop a sense of self and community. Social support are the people in your life that you count on in times of stress, celebration, and day-to-day living like your family, spouse or partner, friends, co-workers, members of a social group, organization or congregation.  It’s important to note quality > quantity when it comes to social support.

Spiritual
Identifying your own spiritual beliefs can help you develop a sense of perspective beyond the day-to-day of life. Spirituality is a general term referring to the non-physical part of our being, like our soul or spirit–the things within us that makes us unique. Spirituality isn’t just religion– it’s a broader concept than that: it’s the connection we feel to other people, nature, all living beings and the world.

How to take care of yourself: a self-care guide

The most important thing: do what makes you feel good.

At Home Spa & Bath

• Take an Epsom salt bath—the more Epsom salt, the better. Start the bath. When you plug the bath drain, pour in the whole bag of Epsom salt and let it dissolve.  Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) soothes muscles, relaxes and rejuvenates the body, and reduces stress.
• Drop a few drops of essential oils in (I like lavender).
• Light a candle.
• Apply a face mask (the sheet kind or a clay mask variety—my favorite is by Origins).
• Apply a hair mask (my favorite is the Morrocan Oil Mask).
• Find an audiobook, a podcast, or open and begin a meditation app.
• Get in the bath. Relax for at least 10 minutes. No phone time.

Get Outside

• Change your clothes. Put on shoes.
• Walk outside (bonus of you can get in nature / by the water)
• Keep walking.
• No headphones, no phone, just enjoy the outdoors.

More self- care ideas

• Meditate. Download the Calm app or the Headspace app.
• Move your body (dance, walk, run, whatever)
• Snuggle with your pet
• Eat your favorite snacks
• Mindful attention, aka ‘body scanning’, to mentally check-in with your body and how it’s feeling
• Do something creative like set up a mini photoshoot, learn calligraphy, paint or make a collage
• Go to the spa, get your nails done, get a facial, get your hair done
• Turn on your favorite band or a song you like
• Bake cookies
• Stretch
• Pour yourself a glass of wine
• Make tea (chamomile is especially relaxing)
• Sit by the water
• Write or journal
• Watch a comedy. Laughing is one of the best things for you.
• Watch a nature show
• Shop online!
• Say nice things to yourself like, “I am awesome. I am successful. I am smart.”
• Smile. Check your posture.
• Eat more vegetables
• Get more sleep
• Go outside in the sunshine

Take at least 10 minutes to yourself a day to relax and just be. Focus on activities that make you feel really good—whether it’s a walk in the park or a bowl of ice cream.

Also, put your fucking phone down.

In summary:

Take care of your body, your feelings, your thoughts, your relationships, your spirituality, and most importantly, yourself.