Self-Care Is Not Selfish Many times in life, we put ourselves second to the things or the people they love. Be it the job or responsibilities at home like cooking, cleaning or taking care of the household, we often tend to forget that they have another person to take care of. The person that usually falls short of being taken care of is their own self, a strong force that is still standing on her two feet, walking with the world on her shoulders but slowly fading into hindsight and allowing their own personal needs to be neglected. But how are you supposed to take care of others; children, significant others, family, friends, etc. when you’re not first taken care of yourself first? When we talk about self-care, there are five primal types of self-care: a. Physical- taking care of your body b. Emotional- taking care of your feelings c. Mental- taking care of your mind d. Social- taking care of your relationships with people, family, and friends e. Practical- taking care of things that monetarily support you in life Most of us have heard the famous Greek quote, “A sound mind is in a sound body” which means that there needs to be an equilibrium between your mental and physical health. So, with self-care, it is important to first recognize where you lack. Is it mental, emotional, physical, social or practical? Pinpoint the things that lack. Self-Care Is Not Selfish Self-care is you taking responsibility for your own needs and taking the time out to invest in yourself. It is not selfish, it is a necessity. When self-care isn’t a priority, it will build up negative feelings inside you that if not taken care of right away can lead to depression. Mental Self-Care Start with your mental health and self-care. Be your own best friend. Indulge yourself in things you love, be it a good book, making food or just driving alone in the rain with a nice cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Paint, watch your favorite movies, meditate, set goals for yourself each day and achieve them. Put up small notes on your walls with motivational messages. Tell yourself that you are beautiful. Remind yourself of at least 5 good things about you, every day. Help an animal or the needy. Let yourself feel good spiritually. Physical Care Everything from exercise, sleep, sexual life to getting regular checkups at the doctor and dentist, is physical care. When you don’t take care of your body, your mind starts deteriorating too. People who don’t exercise, tend to be more depressed than those who do exercise. Movement produces endorphins in your body that keep your mood happy. Take care of your skin, drink plenty of water, and use organic products when you can. All in all, self-care really is about taking a break or some time off to cool down and recharge. Heading over to the spa or grabbing a nice lunch with your friends, spending quality time with your significant other and your family. All of these are simply ways to take care of yourself because if you don’t not, not only will your body become weak physically, but your mind will too and you won’t be able to enjoy all the wonderful aspects of your life!