A bubble bath can be relaxing but is this enough to sustain our wellbeing? Self-care is a phrase coined by many of us, but do we understand what self-care really is and how important it is to our wellbeing? It feels increasingly important that we invest in our wellbeing, in the new Covid world we live in, yet I feel unsure whether we are looking at self-care in a holistic way. It feels key that we educate ourselves as to how we can support ourselves consistently across all areas of our wellbeing and that we meet our needs. So how do we do that?
I have begun to realise that creating regular space to meet our own needs is key to our wellbeing. Without giving ourselves consistent self-care, it is harder to be there for others. It is difficult when we have conflicting demands from work, family, friends and life to make that time for us. Putting our own oxygen mask on first springs to mind, but it is not an easy thing to do! It can be helpful to diary time for self-care, just like any other task.
So how do we make sure we are looking at self-care holistically?
Ryhff's (2014) research can be used to create a blueprint for self-care that we can personalise and adopt as part of our way of life. Ryhff's research broke our wellbeing down into six key areas :- autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life and self acceptance. If these key areas are nurtured consistently then we are really thinking about our holistic self-care.
I have taken autonomy as an example :-
1.Autonomy“self-determining and independent; able to resist social pressures to think and act in certain ways; regulates behaviour from within; evaluates self by personal standards”
Self-care ideas to feed this part of our psychological wellbeing
· Taking some time out for you and listening to how you are feeling e.g., going for a walk with nature, taking some deep breaths, mindfulness
· Doing something that you really want to do on your own e.g. going shopping, watching a favourite TV programme, staying in when others want you to go out.
· Listening to your gut and being true to yourself – what do I want to do? What makes me feel like “me” and feel independent? For example, baking? dancing? drawing?
· Working out your values and referring to them when making decisions – am I doing this for myself or to please others?
· Living life for you, not to always please others or to post on social media
If you would like more information on this blue print, please contact me at ihearyoucounselling@gmail.com
Bibliography
Ryhff, C.D. (2014) Psychological Well-Being Revisited: Advances in the Science and Practice of Eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 83 pp. 10-28.
