Self-care
Also known as looking after yourself, self-nurturing
The need to attend to your own wellbeing with kindness and attention. Taking actions that support your physical, emotional, and mental health.
When met or unmet
When met
- Attending to your own needs with kindness
- Nurturing yourself
- Healthy boundaries
When unmet
- Neglecting yourself
- Running on empty
- Everyone else comes first
Common expressions
I need to take care of myself I keep putting everyone else first I deserve some self-care
Strategies
- Treating your body with care: sleep, food, movement
- Setting boundaries that protect your energy
- Doing things that nourish rather than deplete you
- Speaking to yourself with kindness
Recognition questions
- → Am I taking care of myself?
- → Do I prioritise my own wellbeing?
- → Am I depleted from neglecting self-care?
Somatic markers
When met
- Feeling nurtured and tended to
- Body feeling cared for
- Energy replenished
When unmet
- Depletion and exhaustion
- Body suffering from neglect
- Running on empty
Shadow side
- Self-care as avoidance of responsibility
- Selfishness disguised as self-care
- Obsessive self-focus
Cultural considerations
Self-care concepts vary from individual responsibility to communal care. Some cultures emphasise caring for self to serve others better.
Related needs
Often confused with
Health
Health is a state; self-care is the ongoing practice of nurturing oneself.
Sustenance
Sustenance is basic life requirements; self-care includes emotional and psychological nurturing.