6 Ways to Approach “Self- Care”
“Self care.” We’ve all heard this buzz worthy phrase non-stop since the pandemic, but what does taking care of yourself, in what feels like apocalyptic times, actually look like day to day?
It can feel overwhelming to just survive these days, avoiding the toxic chemicals in our air, food, water, clothing, cleaning products, and beauty supplies. Not to mention blue light, radiation, microwaves, headphones, cell phones. We are told to take care of ourselves, but it feels like a full time job to just avoid all the things in our environment trying to destroy our health and hormones. So, where do we even start?
Deep Health Approach to Self-Care:
Physical Self-Care
Sleep
Rest
Exercise
Taking an epsom salt bath
Dry brushing before taking a warm shower or bath
Use hot/cold therapy such as saunas and/or cold plunges
Use natural, organic, essential oils in an air purifier in your home or directly on your skin* (make sure to avoid endocrine disruptor oils for female hormones such as tea tree or lavender oil)
Rose, peppermint, eucalyptus, Vitamin E, avocado, castor, extra virgin coconut, and extra virgin olive oils or shea butter are all good natural alternatives
Massage (book an appointment or massage yourself)
Walk as much as you can, when you can. Be present while you walk. Breathe, look up, slow down, do not walk and look at your phone at the same time. If you need to check your phone, step to the side wherever you are and focus on one task at a time.
2. Mental Self-Care
Meditate
Practice Deep Breathing
Book an appointment with a therapist or counselor
Journal
Talk things out with loved ones
3. Emotional Self-Care
Cry! Crying is literally your body’s way of calming and soothing itself. Emotions have to leave through the body in one form or another, and we can even develop autoimmune issues by repeatedly suppressing our feelings and not expressing them.
Watch your favorite funny movies/shows
Journal free write dump everything you’re feeling no filter
Talk out problems you have with other people. The longer you wait to address an issue, usually the bigger the issues grows. You take care of yourself by addressing things kindly and calmly, from a place of compassion and understanding
4. Environmental
Make whatever space you call yours, a sanctuary you love being in.
Clear space, clear mind Clean up your space at least once a week. Get the dust out of your room, clean the floors, mirror, windows if you have them. Even if you have a corner to your own, make it a special corner to be. Create an alter, put up pictures of loved ones or images that make you happy
Replace your cleaning and beauty products with organic, natural options without harsh chemicals. Read the ingredients before buying.
Consider a more drastic change if you are living in an environment that stresses you out, overstimulates your nervous system, makes you anxious, or has high levels of pollution
Reflect on the environments in which you dwell the most- home, work, hobbies- are any of these environments having a negative effect on your health and wellbeing? Maybe it’s time to start applying to other jobs, or consider your personal relationships and how they feel to your nervous system.
5. Relational
Surround yourself with compassionate, considerate people who make you feel good to talk to or be around
Who are the top 1-5 people you are in contact with the most? If you’re not sure, check your most recent text messages or recent calls. Are these people filling you up or draining you?
Consider distancing yourself from “energy vultures” who leave you feeling drained, exhausted, frustrated, or anything but uplifted and refreshed
Take into account the people you interact with the most at your place of work or in your family. Are any of these people having a negative effect on your health? Make necessary changes that are in your control: have a 1:1 meeting with this person, maybe with supervisor or additional family member you trust, or talk to a licensed therapist about how to handle these people you have to interact with on a regular basis
6. Existential
This branch of deep health is all about the alignment between you and your purpose, or you and your higher self/spirituality. What are you in touch with beyond yourself? If you don’t know the answer to this question, observe what you do the most in your free time. What kinds of things do you look up on Google? What catches your ear or makes you pay attention? What activities are you curious about or look forward to? Which activities make you feel most fulfilled or happy? Is there a way to turn this activity into a form of service, so that more people can benefit from your purpose and natural gifts?
Figure out what you are good at or most interested in
Put in the hours to learn about this craft, and have patience and consistency to show up on a regular basis to continue learning and mastering this skill
How can this skill serve humanity or the world? Many people did this whole life thing as they were told- go to school, get good grades, get a degree(s), get a good job, make good money, get married, have kids, get the house, two car garage, etc. And yet, they are still not happy because they are not living in alignment with their true purpose. I see this in my clients all the time. And I get it, not all of our special talents or gifts can earn us a living or be enough to cover all our bills. Or maybe you prefer keeping it as a hobby and don’t want to earn money or take it public. The question to ask yourself is, is it serving you, and can it have the potential to grow to serve others or improve life as we know it? Even if you practicing this craft is a form of resistance itself, that can inspire someone who may be observing you that you’re not even aware of.
Take your time to discover this about yourself. Talk it out with people close to you, journal it out
