Self-Care as a Proactive Approach

Self-Care as a Proactive Approach

Why people don’t implement self-care, why people should and how to do it!

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-care as the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability.

The Global Self-Care Federation states that self-care involves: 

• Making healthy lifestyle choices – being physically active and eating healthily
• Avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits – avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Making responsible use of prescription and non-prescription medicines
• Self-recognition of symptoms – assessing and addressing symptoms, in partnership with a healthcare professional where necessary
• Self-monitoring – checking for signs of deterioration or improvement
• Self-management – managing symptoms of disease, either alone, in partnership with healthcare professionals, or alongside other people with the same health condition

We all need to assume responsibility for our health and be actively involved in self-care. There is evidence and growing awareness among healthcare professionals that supporting and empowering people to perform self-care can improve well-being, decrease morbidity and mortality, and reduce healthcare costs. 

‍Why people don’t do it: 

While many people may view self-care as a form of selfish indulgence, the act of caring for oneself is actually an important part of a person's overall well-being. These are some of the reasons people struggle with implementing self-care: 

• Belief that they do not deserve it, guilt when they do it 
• Lack of time and energy after all other parts of life 
• Attachment to unhealthy behaviors
• Lack of motivation to change
• Difficulty deciding when in the lifespan to adopt a healthy lifestyle
• Difficulty in maintaining healthy behavior over time

Why people should do it:

In the short term, people who practice self-care can see positive changes such as:

• Reduced stress levels: Putting your health and needs first along with giving yourself a bit of rest can significantly reduce stress levels.
• Increasing self-worth: The more you take care of yourself, the better you will feel about who you are as a person. This is because more of your core needs will be met on a regular basis.
• Feelings of belonging: In the example of good relationships, a short-term benefit of spending time with loved ones will provide you with feelings of belonging and love, which is good for your overall mental health.

While the short-term benefits of self-care are good, the long-term benefits are what self-care is more focused on. Some long-term benefits include:

• Better management of disease and chronic illness (both physical and mental)
• Prevention of disease in the future
• Can reduce chronic stress that can lead to chronic disease
• Healthier relationships because of an increase in self-esteem and self-worth
• An improvement in job satisfaction
• A reduction in burnout caused by the busyness of life
• Overall improved quality of life and well-being

How to do it: 

The WHO states that self-care is a broad term and there are many facets of a person’s life that come into play, including:

• Hygiene (general and personal)
• Nutrition
• Lifestyle factors such as exercise level and leisure activities
• Environmental factors such as a person’s living conditions or social habits
• Socioeconomic factors such as a person’s income level or cultural beliefs
• Self-medication and following treatment plans for current illnesses

What you can do to improve your self-care: 

• Prioritizing one's physical and mental health
• Adopting healthy lifestyle habits that can be maintained long-term
• Eating a healthy diet
• Finding exercise activities that you enjoy and participating in them regularly
• Getting an adequate amount of good-quality sleep
• Following treatment plans for existing conditions accordingly
• Taking time out for yourself to participate in healthy activities you enjoy
• Talk to a mental health professional 

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References:

What Is Self-Care and Why Is It Important? By Angelica Bottaro Published on January 04, 2022

https://www.verywellhealth.com/self-care-definition-and-examples-5212781

Self-care research: Where are we now? Where are we going?, International Journal of Nursing Studies, Volume 116, 2021, ISSN 0020-7489, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103402.

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