The Seven Types of Self-Care And How To Practice Each Type

Self-care can be transformational when it is done correctly and it must be comprehensive

Consciously and consistently taking the time to nurture and care for yourself is important for your wellbeing. Self-care when coupled with self-awareness on an emotional, social, physical, and psychological level, self-care is elevated into a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. There are different types of self-care and all are important to help understand your needs and to support your mental health. Let’s have a look at the seven types of self-care that can enhance your wellness.

1. Emotional Self-Care

Emotional self-care is all about stabilizing your emotional energy and caring for your emotions. Understanding and respecting your emotions will enable you to express your emotions fully, so they are not repressed within you. Remember it is okay to feel your feelings! Once you start to listen to and feel your emotions, you will find you can regulate them better and respond to them better.

Ways To Practice

1. Listening to and monitoring your inner dialogue

2. Journaling and honoring your emotions

3. Forgiving yourself for mistakes

4. Controlling your inner critic

5. Replacing worst-case scenario thinking with best-care scenario

2. Practical Self-Care

Practical self-care relates to those practical tasks you undertake that can enhance your wellbeing and reduce the stress in your life. Practical self-care activities may seem mundane, but they are great for saving your sanity and making you feel calmer and more in control of your life.

Ways To Practice

1. Tidying your living space

2. Learning a new skill

3. Trying out a new recipe

4. Reading a book

3. Physical Self-Care

Physical self-care is the more traditional form of self-care. It is what we all read about daily – the importance of exercise, walking, dancing, and maintaining our physical health. However, physical self-care requires more than just the release of endorphins from activity. Any activities that enhance your physical wellbeing are considered physical self-care.

Ways To Practice

1. Getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep

2. Maintaining a balanced diet

3. Taking a nap/Relaxing

4. Staying hydrated

5. Performing a physical activity

6. Attending regular doctor check-ups

4. Mental Self-Care

Mental self-care relates to activities we do to stimulate our minds and build a healthy psyche. Mental self-care is the pillar of self-care and when practiced can help you develop mental resilience and strength to overcome life's daily challenges.

Ways To Practice

1. Practicing daily affirmations

2. Maintaining a health work/life balance

3. Going to therapy or talking to a mental health specialist

4. Using a gratitude journal

5. Setting boundaries for your mental wellbeing

5. Social Self-Care

As humans, we need social contact and connections. Social self-care is essential because it helps us focus on our relationships with others and nourish our need for human interaction. In addition, maintaining social self-care can help alleviate loneliness and stress and provide you with a support network when you need it.

Ways To Practice

1. Phone calls with friends

2. Meeting loved ones for a coffee

3. Joining an online support group

4. Reconnecting with an old friend

5. Setting healthy boundaries with people in your life

6. Spiritual Self-Care

Any activities you engage in that help you connect with and nurture your soul are spiritual self-care. Spirituality is not about religion (although it can be if you want it to). Spiritual self-care is all about connecting with our inner spiritual self to help you find comfort and clarity through introspection, supporting your overall wellbeing.

Ways To Practice

1. Meditation

2. Pausing/Practicing mindfulness

3. Reflection time

4. Praying

5. Writing in a gratitude journal

7. Financial Self-Care

Financial self-care focuses on improving your relationship with money and addressing financial issues before they become a bigger problem. Some do not consider financial a type of self-care. However, I've added this to my roster since starting on my journey to financial freedom in 2019. After meeting with a financial planner, I noticed that when I was stressed, I would blow through my budgets to focus on self-care and then feel more stressed because I had less money. Financial self-care is not about becoming wealthier but focuses on prioritizing and planning your finances to have peace of mind.

Ways To Practice

1. Create a self-care budget

2. Reduce your credit card debt

3. Track and analyze your spending habits

4. Commit to a budget and savings goals

5. Identify your money story

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Self-care can be transformational when it is done correctly and it must be comprehensive. How do you practice each self-care type?