Why is taking care of myself important? – Part 2 (and how to do it)
This blog will explore reasons and methods for incorporating short self-care practices into daily routines. Additionally, it will highlight practical strategies for making self-care an achievable and consistent part of everyday life.
Learning & Practising Self-Care Skills
It is important to understand that self-care and wellbeing improve through consistent practice over time. Moreover, this growth occurs because we develop skills using two distinct learning processes. Declarative learning involves understanding concepts and their importance, such as prioritising personal wellbeing daily. Additionally, procedural learning focuses on acquiring skills through repetition, making both methods essential for lasting self-care habits.
Dr CJ Dahl’s Thoughts
Dr. CJ Dahl’s speaks about idea of the four pillars of wellbeing that exhibit plasticity. The four pillars are:
Emotional Self-Care Tips for Building Awareness
Awareness is the quality of recognising and understanding events, situations, or emotions as they occur. Moreover, being aware of personal beliefs and thoughts provides a sense of control. Additionally, this awareness makes actions intentional, meaningful, and aligned with personal values and goals. Consequently, individuals who practise awareness often feel more present, balanced, and emotionally grounded overall. Furthermore, mindfulness and meditation are effective techniques for developing and maintaining daily awareness skills. For example, starting with just five minutes of meditation can produce noticeable emotional benefits. Likewise, choosing a comfortable position supports focus and reduces physical distractions during practice. Meanwhile, consistency is key to sustaining and deepening awareness through mindful activities. Still, even small daily practices can significantly impact emotional wellbeing and resilience. Ultimately, awareness empowers individuals to live with purpose, intention, and inner calm.
Emotional Self-Care Tips for Strengthening Connection
This refers to the personal qualities essential for creating and maintaining healthy, meaningful social connections with others. Moreover, qualities like kindness, gratitude, compassion, and empathy greatly contribute to stronger relationships and emotional wellbeing overall. Furthermore, research shows that regular connection benefits both mental and physical health, even improving longevity in measurable ways. Additionally, practising such qualities for just a few minutes daily can create noticeable changes within two weeks. However, these positive changes will only endure when we consistently maintain and prioritise the practice in everyday life. Likewise, support gained through close relationships and casual interactions plays a vital role in health and resilience. Ultimately, nurturing social connections fosters lasting benefits for both our emotional state and overall wellbeing throughout life.
Developing Personal Insight for Better Wellbeing
This concept is closely related to awareness and involves deep, curiosity-driven understanding of personal self-narratives and experiences. Moreover, these narratives shape how we perceive the world and influence our emotional resilience in challenging situations. Furthermore, research shows that negative self-beliefs reduce resilience and increase vulnerability to developing depressive symptoms over time. Additionally, the goal is not to immediately change our narratives but to understand them more fully and objectively. Therefore, the first step involves recognising these beliefs and observing their influence without harsh self-judgement or avoidance. Ultimately, loosening our grip on these narratives creates space for healthier perspectives and improved emotional wellbeing overall.
Finding Purpose and Direction in Life
Finding a purpose in life involves identifying what truly matters and aligning daily activities with those values. Therefore, engaging in actions that reflect your core purpose fosters fulfilment, meaning, and long-term personal growth. Moreover, a strong sense of purpose is a powerful predictor of longevity and overall life satisfaction. Ultimately, even small tasks like cleaning or helping others can become meaningful when connected to your broader life purpose.
Final Thoughts
One of the most important aspects of self-care is maintaining consistent self-awareness and reflection. Moreover, recognising our emotional state helps prevent mental health issues from worsening over time. Furthermore, addressing challenges early fosters resilience and supports long-term emotional stability in daily life. Additionally, building healthy connections encourages openness, empathy, and mutual support among friends and loved ones. Therefore, nurturing autonomy and control contributes to a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle overall. Ultimately, committing to self-care empowers us to create positive changes and sustain healthy relationships.
Emotional self-care Tips: Written by Branka Mlinar
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Branka Mlinar is a psychologist and Gestalt therapist offering psychotherapy and counselling to adolescent and adult individuals. She’s mostly worked with problems of anxiety, interpersonal and relationship issues, procrastination, work-related stress, trauma, and grief.
References
Dahl, C. J., Wilson-Mendenhall, C. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2020). The plasticity of well-being: A training-based framework for the cultivation of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(51), 32197-32206.
Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, S. F., … & Sheridan, J. F. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic medicine, 65(4), 564-570.
Slatcher, R. B., & Selcuk, E. (2017). A social psychological perspective on the links between close relationships and health. Current directions in psychological science, 26(1), 16-21.
