Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. It’s also key to a good relationship with oneself and others.
It’s so important to make sure you take good care of your body, mind, and soul every day, not just when you get sick. Learning how to eat right, reduce stress , exercise regularly, and take a time-out when you need it are touchstones of self-care and can help you stay healthy, happy, and resilient. Positive self care would be getting enough sleep at night, keeping you space organized and clean. Eating healthy food, spending time in nature, reading a book can be selfcare.
Toxic selfcare is anything that may seem good in this moment but only momentarily “fixes” your stress levels but does have any benefits or fixes your problems in the long run. Examples of this are going out drinking, going on shopping sprees, ignoring your problems, hanging out with toxic people etc..
Toxic selfcare will leave you more drained than anything and it can even exacerbate the negative effects of stress, anxiety, and depression. This is known as self-destruction, the polar opposite of the goal of self care. This ends up overworking you to a point where you might not be able to handle even the simplest of issues.
Your mood will stabilize, you will feel more rested, it promotes a more positive mindset and it can give you a sense of relaxation and help create new passions and hobbies as well as increasing your physical health. Once you implement a more healthy lifestyle and listen to what your body is telling you, you will be able to be happier and healthier and most importantly you will have good mental health to live your best life!
Written By: Zachary Ericksen
https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-self-care-is-and-what-it-isnt-2/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/moving-self-destruct-self-care
