Self-care is extremely important, especially as we enter the stressful holiday season. You can practice self-care in many ways: exercise, eat well, meditate, seek therapy, and more. Each method of self-care fits into one of the seven pillars: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social. A well-balanced self-care routine involves each of these, so avoid restricting yourself to just one or two pillars. The seven pillars are broken down below with examples on how to practice each one.
- Mental
Mental Self-Care involves creating a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity. You can do this through journaling, meditation, thinking outside of the box, creating a brain dump list at the start of each day, and taking an intentional break from screen time (TV, internet, and phone usage).
- Emotional
To practice emotional self-care, you want to create healthy coping strategies for any stresses that might occur in your daily life. You can do this by watching your favorite movie, listening to music, writing positive affirmations for yourself, asking others for help when you need it, and setting boundaries to protect yourself and your heart.
- Physical
Physical self-care involves taking care of your body with rest, nutrition, and movement. Some examples of physical self-care include eating meals at regular times, drinking plenty of water each day, taking a daily multivitamin, getting a good night’s sleep, and trying a new group fitness class.
- Environmental
Taking care of the places around you and the places you love, you’ll need to practice environmental self-care. To do this, rearrange your workspace with a peaceful arrangement, explore new places, declutter your living space, go for walks outdoors, and appeal to your five senses.
- Spiritual
Activities or practice that give you a sense of meaning provide you with spiritual self-care. Some of these activities or practices could be spending time in nature, finding a community, identifying the values that are most important to you and volunteering.
- Recreational
It’s important to make time for hobbies and activities that interest you. Doing so will result in practicing recreational self-care. Some activities include taking time for hobbies, going on an adventure, taking time to relax and do nothing, playing board games or video games, and switching up your daily routine.
- Social
Building relationships and making connections with healthy boundaries is the best way to practice social self-care. Some examples of social self-care are connecting with friends, calling your relatives, writing a letter to a friend, talking to a support group, and chatting with an online community.
When you’re feeling down or stressed, listen to your body and the type of self-care it needs. Taking time for you is crucial to maintain overall health and wellness.
Source: “The 7 Pillars of Self-Care (And How To Use Them)“ by The Blissful Mind
FAQs
Each method of self-care fits into one of the seven pillars: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social. A well-balanced self-care routine involves each of these, so avoid restricting yourself to just one or two pillars.
Who created the 7 pillars of self-care? ›
The International Self Care Foundation created the 'Seven Pillars of Self Care' to recognise that self-care is a multi-faceted and multi-level phenomenon. Self care includes a wide range of behaviours. There are the basic considerations: healthy eating, physical activity and good hygiene.
What are the 7 pillars of life explained? ›
These seven pillars of life—P(rogram), I(mprovisation), C(ompartmentalization), E(nergy), R(egeneration), A(daptability), S(eclusion), PICERAS, for short—are the fundamental principles on which a living system is based. Further examination makes it clear how life on Earth has implemented these principles.
What is the seven pillars theory? ›
These include: (1) defenses function outside of awareness; (2) there is a chronology of defense development; (3) defenses are present in the normal personality; (4) defense use increases under conditions of stress; (5) defense use reduces the conscious experience of negative emotions; (6) defense function is connected ...
What are the 7 steps of self-care? ›
You can practice self-care in many ways: exercise, eat well, meditate, seek therapy, and more. Each method of self-care fits into one of the seven pillars: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social.
What are the seven pillars? ›
A life of wisdom is a life founded on the bedrock fear of the LORD with supporting pillars of purity, peacefulness, gentleness, reasonableness, helpfulness, humility, and sincerity.
What are the 3 C's of self-care? ›
To remind ourselves of what's important when times get tough. For me, this looks like remembering these 3 C's: Compassion, Care, and Consistency. Each one holds a fundamental truth that will benefit you on your personal growth journey and when taken together, provide the optimum conditions for you to thrive.
What are the 3 rules of self-care? ›
What Are The Four Golden Rules of Self Care?
- Self-care is a lifestyle.
- Self-care is not static.
- Self-care sometimes involves elimination.
- Don't compare your self-care.
- Self-awareness. Getting to know yourself, your needs and values, as well as what you want to work on, can be a rejuvenating experience. ...
- Self-expression. This is all about tuning-in to your thoughts and emotions, and finding an outlet for them. ...
- Self-care. ...
- Self-trust. ...
- Self-compassion. ...
- Self-respect. ...
- Self-acceptance.
James 3:17 describes the seven pillars of wisdom that God gives generously to those who ask him: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” In the Bible, the number seven often symbolizes fullness and ...
Self-love to me is the inclusion of three pillars: self-reliance, self-determination, and self-compassion.
What are the 7 pillars of joy? ›
Tutu and the Dalai Lama outline eight core values (called the “Eight Pillars of Joy”) that offer a pathway to a more joyful life. Practicing these eight values (perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity) will help you detach your happiness from your circ*mstances.
What is the Seven Pillars of Wisdom about? ›
Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922) is an epic memoir that chronicles T.E. Lawrence's unique experiences during the Arab Revolt. Here's why this book is worth reading: It offers a fascinating firsthand account of Lawrence's involvement in a pivotal historical event, shedding light on a little-known chapter of World War I.
Is Seven Pillars of Wisdom true? ›
As a result, historians have questioned the accuracy of Seven Pillars. Is it fact or fiction? Wilson, a past president of the T. E. Lawrence Society, told NPR the book is "true in essence, perhaps wrong on a few details".
What are the seven pillars of influence? ›
The seven areas that the movement believe influence society and that they seek to influence are family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government.
Who developed the self-care theory? ›
Background: The self-care deficit nursing theory (SCDNT) advocated by Dorothea E. Orem is widely known and used in nursing practice worldwide.
Who introduced the concept of self-care? ›
The term self-care was originally used in the medical field by doctors who wanted patients to be active participants in their own care by eating healthy, exercising, and maintaining healthy habits in general.
Who created the health triangle? ›
Originally created as a class project for an Alaskan middle school in 1997, the health triangle has been adapted by the World Health Organization (WHO), which defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Maintaining balance in all ...
Who created the 6 dimensions of health? ›
The Six Dimensions of Wellness Model was created by Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI). This popular model is utilized by many wellness organizations to derive resources and services.
