{"id":14618,"date":"2021-12-22T15:45:58","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T21:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=14618"},"modified":"2022-11-01T07:54:07","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T12:54:07","slug":"self-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/self-care\/","title":{"rendered":"What is self-care?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Need some stress-busting tools?
\nTry OSF SilverCloud<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When you think of \u201cself-care,\u201d what do you see in your mind? Is it a bubble bath by candlelight, relaxing music playing gently? Perhaps you picture a soothing massage or spa day?<\/p>\n

Those kinds of things are useful stress reducers, if you have access to them, but they barely scratch the surface of proper self-care.<\/p>\n

Self-care is not something that requires access to expensive services, either. It is not a luxury. It\u2019s an important practice for maintaining psychological and physical health, and it needs daily attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cSelf-care requires paying attention to your emotional and physical needs,\u201d said Cheryl Crowe, vice president of Behavioral Health<\/a>, OSF HealthCare. \u201cYou have to look at all components of your health for self-care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Self-care involves your diet, your activity, your sleep and your social life. It\u2019s comprehensive. So, what do you need to know to start your self-care journey? Here are some of the basics to help you understand how comprehensive self-care is.<\/p>\n

Eat well<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Start practicing self-care today.
Download<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Are you eating correctly<\/a>? You need to take care of your body.<\/p>\n

A well-balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruit and lean proteins provides the fuel your body needs to operate at its most effective. You want to have enough energy to lead an active lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Be active<\/h2>\n

\u201cKeep a healthy routine, get exercise and walk outside \u2013 nature is good for the soul,\u201d Cheryl said.<\/p>\n

The trick to making this work, and to getting the biggest benefit, is to find activities you like. Don\u2019t force yourself to go to the gym if you dislike going to the gym.<\/p>\n

Get healthy sleep<\/h2>\n

Your body and brain need rest to recover and reset after each day. Get a healthy amount of sleep to give yourself energy for the day \u2013 not too little and not too much, generally 7-9 hours.<\/p>\n

Reduce your stress<\/h2>\n

Is your stress level manageable?<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where things like a bubble bath come in. That is one tool in the toolbox for relieving stress,\u201d Cheryl said. \u201cOur society forges forward at all costs, but we need to take a moment to relax<\/a> and assess our stress level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being active and being productive can be very positive for your emotional health, but it\u2019s also important how you spend that time.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake time to do things that bring you joy,\u201d Cheryl said. \u201cLife can\u2019t be just about checking boxes like sleeping and eating enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reach out<\/h2>\n

Reach out to friends and family regularly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSocial isolation is one of the worst things for us from a mental health perspective,\u201d Cheryl said.<\/p>\n

And if you need any help, there are professionals you can reach out to.<\/p>\n

\u201cPay attention to you. What does your body need? What do you need emotionally? If you\u2019re getting to the point that your stress is at a level you can\u2019t manage, or you\u2019re experiencing some depression, it\u2019s time to reach out to a professional for some assistance,\u201d Cheryl said. \u201cReach out to your primary care provider or a counselor to begin a conversation and make a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can also use OSF SilverCloud<\/a> for online programs to help improve your emotional well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Need some stress-busting tools? Try OSF SilverCloud When you think of \u201cself-care,\u201d what do you see in your mind? Is it a bubble bath by candlelight, relaxing music playing gently? Perhaps you picture a soothing massage or spa day? Those kinds of things are useful stress reducers, if you have access to them, but they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":16177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[734],"tags":[829,2,816,831],"coauthors":[692],"class_list":["post-14618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health","tag-anxiety","tag-health-tips","tag-silvercloud","tag-stress"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is self-care?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Self-care is not a luxury. 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