Building your well-being house: the power of self-care.

So, I’ve been reflecting a lot lately, and one thing I notice in my own and my client’s life, is that self-care often gets pushed to the back burner, especially with our fast-paced, demanding lives.

However, I wanted to talk

today about how self-care is essential part prioritising our mental and physical health.

You all know by now, I love a good analogy, so think of link this; you and your wellbeing are like a house. Your self-care is the foundations. When you invest in yourself, you're building a strong and resilient structure that can weather life's storms.

I have put together a quick list of why self-care is important for us.

The impact of self-care on mental health: Self-care can significantly improve your mental health in several ways:

• Reduces cortisol levels: Chronic stress can elevate cortisol levels, leading to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Engaging in self-care activities can help reduce cortisol and promote relaxation.

• Boosts mood: Activities like exercise, spending time in nature, and practicing gratitude can elevate your mood, increase your ‘happy chemicals and combat feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

• Enhances self-esteem: When you prioritise your needs and take care of yourself, you're sending a positive message to your mind and body; “I am worthy”. Overtime, this can boost your self-esteem and confidence.

• Improves sleep: Poor sleep quality can contribute to mental health problems. Self-care practices like creating a relaxing bedtime routine and managing stress can help improve sleep.

  
  

Building your wellbeing house: A foundation of self-care skills Here's a breakdown of key self-care skills that can form the foundation of your wellbeing house:

Mind

• Meditation: mindfulness meditation or any practice to help you slow down, like a mindful walk, or shower, can help reduce stress, improve focus, support re-connection and enhance emotional well-being.

• Creativity: engaging in creative activities or hobbies can be a great way to relax, express yourself, and boost your mood. I personally feel this is vital for creating or enhancing an identity, which will help concrete those foundations.

• Rest: prioritising rest and sufficient sleep are crucial for mental and physical health. This one is a kicker! A lot of us think rest is a luxury, but actually its essential. Remember the tortoise and the hare!

• Goal setting: Setting achievable goals can provide a sense of purpose, drive and motivation. Don’t overcomplicate this, set one small goal to go for a walk this week, or but one item for your hobby. These don’t need to be big, grand gestures. Small and steady.

  
  

Body

• Exercise: regular physical activity can improve mood, reduce stress, and boost energy levels. Exercise is really important to not only boost our ‘happy chemicals’, but your mind and body are connected. If we neglect one, we impact both!

• Nutrition: eating a healthy and balanced diet provides your body with the nutrients it needs to function optimally. Again, think of the mind and body as one machine, if we neglect one, we impact both!

• Hydration: staying hydrated is essential for overall health and can help prevent fatigue and irritability. I’m not going to say it again at the risk of being patronising, but see above 😊 

  
  

Soul

• Boundaries: setting healthy boundaries can help protect your mental and emotional well-being. Boundaries are not only great to create healthy relationships with others, but also ourselves. Setting healthy boundaries, gives your brain the message “you are important”.

• Connections: building strong relationships with loved ones can provide support and a sense of belonging. How often do you stroke your pet, bump into someone on the street, or meet up for a simple coffee and feel a sense of mood-boost? That’s your oxytocin right there! Another of your ‘happy chemicals’.

• Hobbies: engaging in activities you enjoy can be a great way to relax and have fun. As I’ve said before this is crucial for building a relationship with yourself and enhancing an identity.

• Digital detox: taking breaks from technology can help reduce stress and improve focus. Chasing the Dopamine from social media scrolling is not good for our brains. We all know how addictive this can be. I often think spending several hours on social media a day, is like eating 3 takeaways a day. Nothing but junk food, would you do that?

  
  

Self-care is not selfishness; it's a survival strategy. The most important thing here, is finding activities that work for you and make them a consistent part of your routine. It’s harder to form habits, if we’re not driven by interest. So don’t let societies expectations dictate your hobbies. By building meaningful, strong foundation of self-care, you're investing in your mental health.

If building these foundational skills or establishing a solid sense of identity feels like a constant uphill battle, please know that you do not have to carry that weight alone. Support is available. If these core struggles are overwhelming you, reach out to a therapist or a mental health professional who can walk alongside you as you build your resilient foundation. Your well-being matters, and seeking help is a profound act of self-care.