Library: Self-Care: About

Self-care refers to anything that you do to keep yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually healthy. Self-care isn’t as simple as taking bubble baths and forgetting about your problems. It refers to all actions or activities that improve areas of your wellness. “The term ‘self-care’ has been misused in our world,” said Dr. Caroline Perjessy, president of the Association for Humanistic Counseling and a faculty member at SNHU who has been practicing as a counselor for more than 20 years. “When people hear that word, they think of spa days — and an extensive amount of time to implement.”

There are small ways you can practice self-care throughout the day, Perjessy said, like noticing your breathing and practicing mindful awareness, which can assist with emotional regulation and highlight how you’re engaging with the world. “Given this information, we can make intentional decisions about ways to use our attention and energy,” she said. For your self-care to be holistic, you need to address every area of your wellbeing, not just your mental health. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are a total of eight dimensions of wellness (continue reading at Southern New Hampshire University)