In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to neglect our emotional wellbeing. We may be so focused on our responsibilities and obligations that we forget to take care of ourselves. However, practising emotional self-care is essential for our overall health and happiness.
Examples of simple self-care you can try today
Emotional self-care is the practise of taking care of our mental and emotional health. It involves doing things that help us feel calm, centered, and fulfilled. Here are some emotional self-care strategies that you can incorporate into your daily routine:
- Connect with yourself: One of the most important emotional self-care strategies is to connect with yourself. This means taking the time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, and to check in with yourself regularly. You can do this by journaling, meditating, or simply taking a few moments to breathe deeply and focus on your body.
- Practise self-compassion: Many of us are our own harshest critics. However, practising self-compassion is an important part of emotional self-care. This means treating yourself with kindness, empathy, and understanding. Whenever you’re feeling down, try talking to yourself the way you would talk to a friend in the same situation.
- Set boundaries: Setting boundaries is essential for our emotional wellbeing. This means saying no when we need to and being clear about our limits and expectations. Setting boundaries can help us avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
- Practise gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can help shift our perspective and improve our mood. Try taking a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for. This could be anything from a warm cup of tea to a supportive friend. Focusing on the positive can help us feel more content and fulfilled.
- Connect with others: Social connection is important for our emotional wellbeing. Connecting with others can help us feel supported, understood, and valued. Try to spend time with people who uplift you and make you feel good about yourself.
- Engage in activities you enjoy: Doing things you enjoy is an important part of emotional self-care. Whether it’s reading, expressive art, watching movies, or gardening, find activities that bring you joy and make time for them in your schedule.
- Seek support when you need it: Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we may struggle with our emotional health. In these cases, it’s important to seek support. This could mean talking to a friend or family member, talking to a counsellor, or joining a support group.
Science-backed benefits of self-care for our mental health
While a lot of these examples may just seem like common sense, there is significant evidence to back it up. Many studies have been conducted in the last decade to explore the scientific impacts of practising self-care and the results are clear – it works. One study in 2018 found that practising self-care can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. While another study in the same year found it can help reduce job burnout and improve job satisfaction.
Self-care can also improve our overall mood and wellbeing. When we prioritise our emotional needs and take care of ourselves, we are more likely to feel fulfilled and content. Research has found that self-care activities, such as spending time with loved ones and engaging in hobbies, can increase feelings of happiness and life satisfaction.
These emotional self-care strategies are just a few examples of how you can prioritise your emotional wellbeing. Remember that emotional self-care is a journey, and it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you. However, by trying to prioritise it you can improve your overall health and happiness.
Our CAREinMIND counsellors are available 24/7 on 1300 096 269 or click the floating chat button on the right. The service is free for people in north, western and central Melbourne and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.