The Importance of Self-Care
“In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel “burnout” setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective.” ~ Dalai Lama
Self-care is a phrase ever so prevalent within today’s society. Whether you see it mentioned in a tweet or hear the words ring from across the street, it is hard to argue about how often people remark on the importance of self-care. Yet, self-care is poorly understood by many and some are even convinced that it is not something that needs to be practiced regularly. The fact of the matter is, self-care is not all about eight-dollar Lush bath bombs or splurging $100 at your local Sephora; it’s about actively and purposefully taking time for yourself. Self-care is about replenishing your mental, emotional, and physical health. Furthermore, everyone’s self-care is not the same; it is a highly personalized experience. You must find what works for you. Discovering your self-care routine may not be a particularly easy experience, but trust me when I say it is worth it.
What is self-care? Self-care is recognizing when your energy is low and taking the steps needed to re-energize yourself. Self-care, at its core, is an act of self-compassion, the goal of which is to prevent total emotional, physical and mental exhaustion.
Before I began practicing self-care, I used to pile on the stress. After a while, I realized that taking the time to care for myself was important to maintaining my academic and personal well-being. But I am a full-time student, who also works full-time and actively participates in extracurricular activities. When could I find the time to incorporate self-care into my life? When I took the time to research self-care routines, I discovered that self-care is extremely personalized and catered to one’s lifestyle. It took a while for me to figure out what type of self-care worked for me. Once I did, I had better productivity, enhanced self-esteem, and better moods.
So how can you find what works for you? According to Barbara Markway Ph.D., an experienced psychologist, there are five types of self-care – sensory, emotional, spiritual, physical, and social. Sensory self-care is clearing the mind by focusing on the sensations around you in the present, whether that be touch, smell, sound, or sight. Emotional self-care is facing, accepting, and dealing with your feelings head-on instead of ignoring them. You are not responsible for how you feel: You are only responsible for how you behave in response to them. Spiritual self-care does not necessarily indicate a religious belief, but rather focuses on getting in touch with your personal values and what matters in life through practice. Physical self-care is not simply going to the gym every day. Rather, it is the time and resources you give to your body to replenish what it needs. Lastly, social self-care is important whether you are an introvert or an extrovert; connecting to other people is essential for long-term happiness.
After exploring the five forms of self-care, I discovered that I gravitated towards physical, social, and spiritual types of self-care. Now, I practice physical self-care by attending dance classes, I practice social self-care by creating time to reach out to my friends, and I practice spiritual self-care by participating in active mindful meditation. I did not come to this routine easily, however.
When I first started incorporating physical self-care, I tried going to the gym every day. I found that this excessively tired me out and created additional stress. As a result, I originally thought that physical self-care would not work for me, and I quit. However, when a friend asked me to attend a dance class, this reminded me of all the dance classes I went to as a child and how much I enjoyed them. I said yes to my friend and I still continue to dance regularly.
As an extrovert, I wanted to incorporate high amounts of social self-care into my routine. Before I started self-care, I would often choose to spend time alone, while studying, believing that I did not have time to hang out with my friends. Realizing I wanted to be social, I sought out study groups for all my classes. Now, I could socialize without feeling as if I was neglecting my studies.
I initially thought that spiritual self-care would not work for me because my mind often wanders to my ever-present to-do list. However, guided meditation helped me understand how to meditate at home and what thoughts should be running through my head prior to my session. Now, I meditate for a few minutes every morning using guided meditation apps, and I find myself starting my day off on the right foot. By incorporating all three of these self-care routines, I have reduced the amount of stress I feel, and I find myself being much more productive than before. Self-care has drastically changed my life.
“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” ~Deborah Day
Aika Dietz is a junior at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas pursuing a BA degree in International Business. She has been in the Interactive Measurement Group for three semesters now and has developed skills in leadership, mentoring, and computers. In the future, Aika is hoping to pursue dual degrees, a JD and a MBA, to become a civil rights lawyer. Afterwards, Aika hopes to pursue a career related to diplomacy. Being a first-generation college student, Aika hopes to give back to the community that has supported her throughout these years.