The Importance of Self Care

Self care incorporates the practice of activities that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining a healthy life and overall well-being. Failure to practice appropriate self care can result in a host of health problems and can affect your family, friends and work-life balance. The importance of self care is further supported by the following:

  • Seventy-seven percent of Americans experience physical symptoms of stress, while 73 percent experience psychological symptoms
  • Forty percent of job turnover is due to unmanaged stress
  • Caregivers who provide 36 or more hours of care to others each week but who don’t take time to care for themselves are more likely to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety
  • Over 10 percent of American adults develop depressive symptoms

The following are four tips to help you keep self care top of mind and a priority in your everyday life:

  1. Effectively manage stress. Manage stress levels in a healthy way by administering a self care approach:
    • Recognize warning signs early
    • Identify sources of stress
    • Recognize things you can and cannot change and accept it
    • Take action by being proactive to reduce stress
  2. Maintain an active lifestyle. Regular physical activity or exercise can help reduce the risks of many diseases and medical conditions. The key is to find something that you enjoy so that you will remain active. According to the American Heart Association, regular daily physical activity helps to reduce or eliminate the following:
    • High blood pressure
    • Tobacco use
    • Diabetes
    • Obesity
    • High levels of triglycerides
    • Low levels of HDL
    • Stress
    • Feelings of depression
  3. Practice good hygiene. Basic hygiene measures have been designed to promote and maintain good health while at the same time helping to reduce the risks of illness and disease. Below are some helpful tips for good hygiene:
    • Keep your hands clean. As often as possible, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
    • Maintain good dental health. Proper dental habits, such as brushing and flossing your teeth, help to prevent plaque buildup that can affect blood flow in the arteries while preventing tooth decay and infections such as gingivitis
  4. Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep is important because it can have dramatic effects on your daily life. Sleep helps promote cell growth and production while assisting the body in the repair of muscle and damaged tissue. Adequate sleep also offers the following benefits:
    • Improved memory
    • Stress relief
    • Control over emotions
    • Aid in decision-making processes