How to Work on all 7 Pillars of Self Care
When it comes to self care, we typically think of cleaning the house, lighting candles, and wearing spa masks before bed.
There have been arguments all over social media stating this actually isn’t self care, but in fact, it is; it’s just not all of what self care entails. With that being said, the hardest parts of self care sometimes force us to face areas of our life that we may oftentimes avoid.
The problem is, if we don’t tend to all seven pillars of self care with balance, we oftentimes see our anxiety, depression, and mental health fall south. These are the seven pillars of self care and what is involved in each pillar.
Some of the same activities may fit several boxes for you. For example, you may go for a walk to benefit your physical health alone, but for many going for walks can also help with environmental, mental, and emotional well-being!
Pay attention to where you personally feel the benefits of each activity.
Mental Self Care
Mental self care entails activities that you do to help organize your thoughts and are mentally stimulating. These are the things that you allow to fill the space in your mind and can positively impact how you think. This is important because how you think plays one of the biggest roles in the actions you take in your life to grow, build, and create.
Some activities that can help improve your “mental” pillar of self care:
Meditation
Reading
Journaling
Social media breaks
Practicing self love and compassion
Emotional Self Care
Emotional self care entails utilizing healthy coping mechanisms and your response to stress. When we’re focused on our emotional self care, we tend to handle stress, anxiety, anger, and emotional pain in healthy ways.
Some activities that can help improve your “emotional” pillar of self care:
Going to therapy
Talking with a friend in a safe space about how you’re feeling
Setting boundaries in relationships
Taking time to process your emotions
Giving yourself time to recharge and show up as the person you want to be
Going for walks to think things over or emotionally recharge
Meditation
Listening to music that heightens your mood
Physical Self Care
Physical self care entails activities that enhance your overall physical health and hygiene. There is an incredibly strong connection between the mind and the body; when the physical health suffers, we often see the mental health follow lead and vice versa. Physical self care includes activities that concern your physical body.
Some activities that can help improve your “physical” pillar of self care:
Getting enough sleep
Working out or some form of physical exercise
Taking rest days and listening to your body
Drinking enough water
Eating a well-balanced diet
Going to scheduled doctors appointments
Taking care of your hygiene
Environmental Self Care
Environmental self care involves creating and be a part of safe spaces. This includes within your own home, work spaces, social spaces, and even internet spaces. These spaces should feel safe and comfortable for you to remain within. We know that our environment plays a role in who we are (nature vs. nurture) and our environment, even as adults, can continue to impact who we are and how we feel about ourselves.
Some activities that can help improve your “environmental” pillar of self care:
Monthly deep cleans for your home
Organizing you work space
Separating your sleep and work space (if you work remotely)
Lighting candles or incense
Opening windows to create more light
Buying house plants
Going for walks to get more sun and nature
Decorating your home with items that inspire you
Gardening
Spiritual Self Care
Spiritual self care involves tending to the things that involve a deeper meaning or purpose in your life. Common examples of this are found within religion or the universe, but they do not have to be in relation to this at all; it can be anything that feels of a bigger purpose to you, beyond yourself; such as community.
Some activities that can help improve your “spiritual” pillar of self care:
Going to church
Tarot readings
Praying
Manifesting
Volunteer or community work
Donating to a cause that’s important to you
Recreational Self Care
Recreational self care involves incorporating hobbies and activities that heighten and improve our experiences. it is oftentimes forgotten that making time for fun, light-hearted hobbies is one of the major roles of self care. Having fun is self care!
Some activities that can help improve your “recreational” pillar of self care:
Weekly game nights with friends or family
Trying new local coffeeshops
Going on weekend adventures
Playing guitar (or any instrument)
Painting or drawing
Getting your nails done
Dressing in a way that makes you feel confident
Wearing make-up that makes you feel confident
Social Self Care
Social well-being involves building and maintaining healthy relationships with people in our lives. Being a part of a community and having core people that we connect with is important in our overall well-being, especially considering we are social creatures!
Some activities that can help improve your “social” pillar of self care:
Taking a vacation with your friends or family
Joining a local social club
Going to support groups
Participating in community events
Checking up on your friends and family
Are there any areas in your life that you tend to neglect?
Naturally, its easy to guilt ourselves for doing things that make us feel happy or more relaxed in a world of hustle culture, but its important to remember that these are the things that contribute to our overall well-being.
Start paying attention to which pillars of self care you can give a little more love and recognize that each of these pillars, in balance, is incredibly important for each of us to not only survive, but thrive.
