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Self-Care: Definition, Benefits, & Ideas to Try

Published: June 25, 2021 Updated: November 25, 2022
Published: 06/25/2021 Updated: 11/25/2022
Headshot of Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Written by:

Silvi Saxena

MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Reviewed by:

Dena Westphalen

PharmD
  • What Is Self Care?Definition
  • Why Is Self Care Important?Importance
  • Types of Self CareTypes
  • How to Make a Self Care PlanMake a Plan
  • Self Care Activities to Consider25 Ideas
  • Final Thoughts on Self CareConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Self-Care InfographicsInfographics
Headshot of Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Written by:

Silvi Saxena

MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Reviewed by:

Dena Westphalen

PharmD

We all hear the phrase “self care” often and may think of spa days or ways to treat ourselves. While these can be great ways of taking care of ourselves, self care is much more than that. Self care is taking care of yourself emotionally, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually so that you are at peace and in total alignment with yourself.

Self care means attending to your own needs so you are bringing your best self to your relationships, commitments, work, and anywhere else you spend time.

Mental health is a key component of self care. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

What Is Self Care?

Self care is a daily practice we must incorporate into our routines. When we are dealing with day to day stressors or larger stressors such as a pandemic and everything in between, practicing self care is part of the solution to the problems thrown our way. Self care includes taking into account our whole health in a holistic view to include emotional and spiritual health. Self care validates that you are a priority and your needs matter.

By placing yourself as a priority, you are telling your inner self that you matter and your needs are valid. By honoring your own self first, you are healing the parts of you that need the most love and attention.

Some ways to care for your whole self include:

  • Exercise
  • Taking time to appreciate and be in nature
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Having nutritious meals
  • Taking a break from social media
  • Spending time with meaningful relationships
  • Engaging in something creative

When you take the time to focus on ways you can truly care for yourself, you are taking real steps in managing your own stress levels and overall well-being.1

Why Is Self Care Important?

Self care is critical in your overall wellness. Practicing self care requires you to do routine check-ins with yourself like you do with friends and family. It asks you to consider where you are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and helps you to unwind and deal with stressful situations. What you do for self care is unique for you and there is no wrong way to practice self care as long as you are benefitting from your actions.

Practicing self care can help you maintain homeostasis. It can help reduce anxiety without resorting to medication, as well as stress or depression symptoms. When you are attuned to your needs and taking time to care for your overall wellness, you are better equipped to be there for others as well. It also helps to take time to recognize the good, and pausing to calibrate and take inventory of your life can be eye-opening.

There are many benefits of practicing self care, including:2

  • Lower cortisol levels
  • Happier relationships
  • Better sleep
  • Improved immune response
  • Increase in self-esteem
  • Improved productivity
  • Positive health outcomes
  • More positive thinking
  • Lower likelihood of depression and anxiety

Types of Self Care

The key three types of self care are:3

1. Physical Self Care

This type of self care focuses on taking care of your physical health and wellbeing. This means making sure you get enough sleep, eat enough nutritious meals and get enough exercise. We hold a lot of tension and stress in our bodies even if we don’t realize it, so it’s important to implement ways in which you can relax your body and release that stress.

2. Mental & Emotional Self Care

This type of self care puts your mind and feelings at the forefront. This means taking time to pay attention to how you feel, making sure you are caring for your emotional health, taking a break from draining situations and giving yourself permission to end a commitment or say no.

It’s important that you understand what your boundaries are and calibrate them if you need to in order to properly care for your mental and emotional health.

3. Spiritual Self Care

This type of self care centers on faith, whatever it is you believe in. If you practice a religious faith, this includes reconnecting with what you believe and spending time cultivating your spiritual connections and values. If this is outside of religion, it means taking time to meditate, journal, or participate in any other type of practice that helps you align your mind, body, and spirit.

Great Self-Care Gift Ideas For Yourself 

Mindfulness.com (mindfulness and meditation app) – Learn the art of mindful living with over 2,000 mindful practices to train your brain. Stress less, sleep better, and deal with anxiety. Free Trial


BetterHelp (online therapy) – Before you burn out, talk with a therapist. BetterHelp offers convenient and affordable online therapy. Try BetterHelp

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Mindfulness.com and BetterHelp.

How to Make a Self Care Plan

Starting out on a self care journey can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never taken the time to think about your own needs and wants. The first way to plan self care is by doing just that–sitting with the new feeling and learning what it’s like to think of yourself first. It can feel confusing or uncomfortable, but take a moment to acknowledge how you’re feeling and it will help you learn how to listen to your inner voice.

When creating a plan, you should first think about why self care is important and learn about the different types of self care, considering where you might be lacking (are you getting enough sleep? Are you feeling disconnected to yourself or others spiritually?). Next, you want to think about what your goals are for yourself. Once you have some goals established, you can work on a plan to reach those goals.

Ways to establish this plan include identifying your stressors and triggers:

  • What is adding stress or conflict to your life right now?
  • How long have you been feeling like this?
  • How have you managed this in the past?
  • Did it help?

Taking time to ask yourself some important questions can help guide you in your self care plans. If you know something hasn’t worked in the past, taking a moment to recognize that and consider another way of stress management is an example of practicing self care.

Once you have all your triggers written out and you’ve asked yourself these tough questions, you can now think about what you want to change to help you manage those stressors. This can be done with journaling, speaking with a trusted loved one, or with the guidance of a therapist.

It’s important that when planning for self care, you take into account what you may need, such as time, quiet space, clean space, energy, or sleep, and consider these to ensure your self care experience is the best that it can be. Ensure you can clear enough room to properly take care of those needs, guilt free.4

25 Self Care Activities to Consider

There are numerous ways to practice self care, including:

  1. Spending time with friends and family
  2. Spending time alone
  3. Taking a walk
  4. Getting enough sleep
  5. Setting up an exercise routine that you enjoy
  6. Joining a fitness club
  7. Going to yoga
  8. Cooking a healthy meal
  9. Enjoying quiet time
  10. Reading a book
  11. Sitting in nature
  12. Gardening
  13. Attending a religious service
  14. Volunteering
  15. Practicing mindfulness
  16. Indulging in something you enjoy
  17. Journaling
  18. Taking social media breaks
  19. Painting or drawing
  20. Community service
  21. Getting a massage
  22. Cleaning your space
  23. Trying something new
  24. Traveling to a new place
  25. Guided meditation

Final Thoughts on Self Care

There are many ways to define what self care is for you and there is no wrong way to practice self care as long as you feel good about what you are doing. Self care may involve seeking help for mental health from a therapist to truly take care of yourself. It can take time to incorporate self care activities in your day-to-day schedule, but with baby steps, you can set yourself up for success, balance, and fulfillment.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Online Therapy 

BetterHelp Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy.  Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Online Psychiatry

Hims / Hers If you’re living with anxiety or depression, finding the right medication match may make all the difference. Get FDA approved medication prescribed by your dedicated Hims / Hers Healthcare Provider and delivered right to your door. Plans start at $25 per month (first month). Get Started

Reduce Drinking

Sunnyside Want to drink less? Sunnyside helps you ease into mindful drinking at your own pace. Think lifestyle change, not a fad diet. Develop new daily routines, so you maintain your new habits for life. Take a 3 Minute Quiz.

Mental Health Newsletter

A free newsletter from Choosing Therapy for those interested in mental health issues and fighting the stigma. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up

Choosing Therapy Directory 

You can search for therapists by specialty,  experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Hims / Hers, and Sunnyside.

For Further Reading

  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Health
  • MentalHealth.gov

Self-Care Infographics

Self-Care: Definition, Benefits, & Ideas to Try Self-Care Defined Types of Self-Care

Benefits of Self-Care How to Practice Self-Care Making a Self-Care Plan

Some Self-Care Activities to Consider Self-Care and Seeking Mental Health

4 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • DeMarchis, J., Friedman, L., & Garg, K.E. (2020). An Ethical Responsibility to Instill, Cultivate, and Reinforce Self-Care Skills. Journal of Social Work Education.

  • Narasimhan, M. (2019). Self care interventions to advance health and wellbeing: a conceptual framework to inform normative guidance. Self Care Interventions for Sexual and Reproductive Health, 1-3.

  • Heo, S., Moser, D.K., & Lennie, T.A. (2021). Varied Factors were Associated with Different Types of Self-Care in Heart Failure. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 43(4), 298–306.

  • Adams, M., Chase, J., Doyle, C., & Mills, J. (2020). Self-care planning supports clinical care: Putting total care into practice. Progress in Palliative Care, 28(5), 305-307.

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Headshot of Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Written by:

Silvi Saxena

MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Reviewed by:

Dena Westphalen

PharmD
  • What Is Self Care?Definition
  • Why Is Self Care Important?Importance
  • Types of Self CareTypes
  • How to Make a Self Care PlanMake a Plan
  • Self Care Activities to Consider25 Ideas
  • Final Thoughts on Self CareConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Self-Care InfographicsInfographics
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