by Brian Warriner
Ever
since the pandemic, self-care has become a trendy thing to do and to talk about.
We have to start taking care of ourselves, but what if you found out that studies
have shown self-care benefits? It is not a trend but a necessity. When we are
in the middle of the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes we do not have time
to catch our breath. I understand this. I am the caretaker for my parents, a
student, and busy with household chores and errands. I understand what everyone
goes through. I am trying to figure out life, just like everyone. I am doing my
best and giving my all to what I do. Self-care is important for us to stop and
take a pause.
I can
admit that the only self-care activity that I employ is journaling. However,
self-care is taking care of yourself to enhance your mental health (Vermani,
2023). I know it can be difficult for people, especially parents, to make
themselves a priority. However, when you take care of yourself, you can improve
your self-esteem and self-worth, and you can teach your children to take care
of themselves (Vermani, 2023). It is a necessity in life to be mindful that we
matter too, and to take a moment to recharge our batteries.
We
need those moments when we can unplug from technology, the news, and the hell
that has crippled our nation and the world. Self-care is meant to maximize the
energy sources we intake to power our bodies. These include food, sleep,
breath, and state of mind. What that means is that the food we ingest provides
the fuel for our bodies, and sleep helps us recharge and relax. When we breathe,
we inhale, and when we exercise, we breathe in air, which creates energy; even
the thoughts we have can create energy. These sources are important for the
energy our bodies use to function.
I
have discussed this in past posts, and in the next post, I will go into it in
depth. When I was a massage therapist, I would encourage my clients to take
care of themselves. Booking a massage is part of your healthcare and not a
luxury. I often encouraged them to put themselves first so they could be
present with their families and in their careers. I developed quite a book of
clients who come to see me every week. They were the ones I bent over backwards
for and took care of. When I left, I made sure they went to someone who would
have been a great fit.
What Self-Care Activity Suits You Best?
There
are many self-care activities you can practice to boost your mental health and
physical well-being—for example, getting enough sleep, limiting screen time,
and creating a calming nighttime routine (McDonough, 2025). Believe me, it can
be as simple as that, even if you give yourself a relaxing bubble bath and soak
in the quiet time. There is nothing wrong with that. Allow yourself to relax
and recharge. You can dilute lavender essential oil with rubbing alcohol and
create a sleepy-time pillow spray. Lavender has relaxing properties and, when
sprayed on your pillows, acts as aromatherapy for a good night's sleep. If you
can sit outside, turn off all your screens and put them on chargers. Grab a cup
of tea, sit outside, and enjoy the fresh air, the quiet, or the nighttime
sounds. Creating a routine to retreat and relax.
Emotional
activities you can practice include journaling, therapy, meditation (day or
night), breathing techniques, and setting boundaries with others (McDonough,
2025). You can have a creative expression. I might be biased, but creative
expression is my favorite. Any time I am allowed to be creative, I am happy
about that. I can paint, draw, color, knit, craft, and do anything that lets me
be creative. I remember one year, I was depressed and did not have any money
for Christmas presents. So, I made yarn wreaths with the wire hangers I had
around the house. I was given beads and pipe cleaners and made candy cane
ornaments. A couple of years ago, I started knitting more scarves. It was
something I could do, and I could do one scarf in a day or two. It depends on
how often I knit. I ended up donating my scarves to the less fortunate. My
self-care brought joy and purpose to people.
However,
if you are feeling down, get up and move. There were days when I was deep in
depression, upset, and feeling down. Especially when a guy I was in love with
ended our relationship. He was someone that I talked to, met up with, and had
such an amazing connection with. To this day, I do not know what happened or
what caused the disconnect that led him to end things. When I found out he was
seeing someone, it hurt like an arrow in my heart. I cried. I got up, went for
a walk, and just listened to music. I would cry and feel better.
Movement
is important to keep your energy flowing and avoid getting stuck or stagnant.
Dancing, exercise, yoga, stretching, walking, and working out. Helps you feel
better through endorphins and the feeling of well-being (McDonough, 2025). You
do not have to go hard with he physical activities. You can do gentle yoga or
stretching. It is something that you can do for yourself. My walks, when I was
able to go on them, were something that I enjoyed. I would grab my CD player
when I was a teenager and a young adult. Then, when I was given an iPod, I
loaded it with music and went for a walk. I was able to get out and clear my
head. Being able to release the thoughts and emotions I was going through. My
physical limitations prevent me from walking distances greater than 25 feet.
However, I am trying to get better so I can resume my walks. I need a self-care
activity.
Now,
the thing is, self-care is not a one-time thing, and you are all better. It is
a constant process. This process is different for you and everyone. Create
self-care and healthy habits that help you boost your mental health and
well-being. Nutrition is very important to your self-care routine. There is
evidence that shows the connection between mental illness and inflammation.
Including foods that have anti-inflammatory properties can help improve your
mood (Brown, 2022). Some diets focus on anti-inflammatory foods and beverages
to help you live a pain-free life. However, I would recommend that you talk to
a nutritionist about any diet you might try. It is always good to have actual
medical and professional advice to help you improve your nutritional health.
The Importance of Self-Care
The
importance of self-care is that it gives us the space and time to step back
from the chaos of our daily lives and recharge. Especially if work, home,
school, children, family, and the stresses of life can set you off. I
understand the chaos because I take care of my parents, I am a student, and I
have house chores. If I go out, it is to the store, doctors' appointments, and
the occasional emergency trip. I have my journaling, my therapy sessions, and
going to sleep when I need it. Because of my tremors, I cannot knit as much as
I would like, and I wanted to make baby blankets for the babies born into my
family this year. However, I made myself promise to take some time off and
relax, then get to work on those baby blankets. I want to make some baby
blankets and donate them to hospitals for children born asleep. My therapy
makes a difference to someone and has a purpose and meaning.
When
you are just starting to practice self-care, create a routine that becomes
second nature. According to Mental Health First Aid, you want to create a
self-care routine. One needs to set self-care goals, consider the dimensions of
wellness, choose their strategies, and define their No List —the list of things
they say no to. This list is to keep you from getting sidetracked. Turn your
self-care practices into a routine and encourage others to practice self-care
(Mental Health First Aid USA, 2022).
As
you get into your self-care practice, focus on your physical and mental health.
The point of self-care is to focus on what you need and stay goal-oriented.
This means setting a goal — like when I knit, I set a goal of a certain number
of scarves I make — and staying committed, keeping going with your practice. Do
not give up on your routine. If you are not feeling under the weather, then
take a break. Remember, you matter as well. Moreover, do not hesitate to ask for help (Bottaro,
2025).
We
are all stressed out and have chaos in our lives, which is why you, too, need
to practice self-care. It is like human touch; it has become essential to our existence.
We cannot keep going forward, guns blazing at both barrels. It is no longer
healthy to ignore that your body needs to recharge—those who put everyone ahead
of themselves and do not take time for themselves. They have become bitter,
judgmental, and critical of others. This is why it is important to practice
self-care.
In
conclusion, take the time to unplug, recharge, and enjoy your alone time. It is
important for your well-being, and your mental health will improve when you
start caring for yourself and making yourself a priority.
References
Vermani, M. (2023, February 22). The Connection
Between Self-Care and Mental Health.
Psychology
Today. www.psychologytoday.com
McDonaugh,
M. E. (2025, October 15). Self-care. Mentalhealth.com
https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/self-care
Brown,
G.S. (2022, February 5). How Self-Care May Improve Your Mental Health.
Psychology Today.
Mental Health First Aid USA. (2022, March 14). How and
Why to Practice Self-care.
Mental
Health First Aid. https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/03/how-and-why-to-practice-self-care/
Bottaro, A. (2025, October 10). What is Self-care and
Why is it Important?
Very
Well Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-self-care-5212781
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