Feeling Confused About How To Best Care For Yourself? Here’s How

As human beings, I believe that we are constantly learning how to better take care of ourselves. Your needs today might be different than they were a year ago and they will likely change again in the future.

Because of that, self-care is not a static practice. Your self-care routine must evolve depending on your needs and your schedule.

Even if you feel you have mastered taking care of yourself in the past, it’s a good idea to continuously evaluate your self-care needs in light of changing demands in work and personal commitments.

You might find that the way you are taking care of yourself today is lacking, even if it left you feeling fulfilled and refreshed in the past.

What do you think of when I say self-care? The concept of self-care is discussed so frequently these days, however the concept is often misconstrued.

The reality is that self-care is not always pleasant or enjoyable. It’s not always bubble baths, manicures, or vacations.

Self-care can be difficult… such as setting boundaries in a relationship that has grown unhealthy, working through deep, painful trauma wounds in therapy, or holding yourself accountable for the ways that you could improve.

Today, I invite you to take a closer look at all dimensions of self-care. Assess the dimensions below to see which areas of self-care you are implementing and identify which areas are lacking.

Oftentimes we can be imbalanced in our self-care. Maybe we do a great job caring for ourselves physically through regular exercise, but are neglecting the emotional dimension of self-care. Or maybe our professional self-care is strong, but we feel spiritually disconnected.

Take a minute and evaluate your practices in each dimension. Are you engaging in self-care practices in all dimensions? Or are some areas lacking?

In the dimensions that are lacking, ask yourself what you are needing in those areas to better care for yourself. What are some activities that you could do to implement increased self-care practices in these dimensions?

Maybe you are needing increased self-awareness and reflection through journaling and therapy. Maybe you are needing increased movement in your routine or stricter boundaries between your work and home life. Maybe you need to be spending more time by yourself in solitude or taking the time to connect with close friends. Maybe you have lost sight of your goals and are needing to hold yourself accountable to start taking the steps towards reaching those goals.

Whatever it is that you find yourself needing, do your best to honor that need. Make a plan as to how you will incorporate these practices into your regular routine.

Even when we think we are doing a decent job taking care of ourselves, it is usually the case that we are falling short somewhere. Self-care needs are always changing depending on our season of life, yet we don’t stop to evaluate these needs often enough.

Make it a regular practice to ask yourself what you are needing every once in a while. Tune in and evaluate how you are meeting your needs in all dimensions. Adjust as needed.

Your overall mental, emotional, and physical well-being will be better for it.

If you think you would benefit from professional guidance and support to deeply evaluate your self-care practice, heal from previous wounds, or learn to better flourish, reach out today. We would be happy to walk alongside you in this journey of learning to be your best self.

Jenna Gentry is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Virginia who provides therapy for Flourish Counseling Services. Read more about her practice, the services she provides, her experience, and contact information to schedule a free 15 minute consultation. Start your journey towards flourishing today!