What is self-care really? Learn simple, beginner-friendly self-care ideas that improve well-being, reduce stress, and support a healthier life.
When people hear the word self-care,
they often think of spa days, vacations, or expensive treats. But self-care is
much more than that—and it doesn’t have to cost money.
What
Does Self-Care Really Mean?
Self-care can be hard to define because it means different
things to different people. According to Martinez et al. (2021), self-care is
the ability to take care of yourself through awareness, self-control, and
self-reliance to maintain good health and well-being.
In simple words, self-care means
taking care of yourself in ways that support your physical, mental, and
emotional health.
Self-CareIs Not Always Fun or Fancy
Self-care is not always relaxing or
enjoyable in the moment. Sometimes, self-care looks like:
- Scheduling a doctor’s appointment
- Going to bed earlier
- Taking a short walk to clear your mind
- Finishing tasks that are causing stress
- Learning better time management
- Eating proper meals
- Saying “no” when you feel overwhelmed
These actions may not feel exciting,
but they help reduce stress and improve long-term well-being.
Self-Care
and Overall Well-Being
Self-care supports well-being,
which includes many areas of life. According to the 8 Dimensions of Wellness
(Stoewen, 2015), self-care can improve:
- Emotional wellness
– managing feelings and stress
- Physical wellness
– sleep, movement, and nutrition
- Social wellness
– maintaining healthy relationships
- Occupational wellness
– work-life balance
- Spiritual wellness
– finding meaning and purpose
- Intellectual wellness
– learning and growth
- Environmental wellness – healthy surroundings
- Financial wellness
– managing money wisely
Improving even one area of wellness
can be a powerful form of self-care.
Final
Thought
Self-care is not selfish—it is necessary.
It’s about making small, consistent choices that help you feel healthier,
calmer, and more balanced. You don’t need perfection. You just need to start
with one small step.