WHAT IS SELF-CARE?

Do you feel related to the lyrics "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me " from the song Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift? If you ever did, what do you think is the reason why a lot of people felt this way? Is it because of the burden or pressure to be perfect and not commit mistakes? Or maybe because they were too focused on other things, they weren't able to do or apply self-care?

A common misconception about self-care is that it is often mistaken for being selfish or self-indulgent, which is certainly not true because they are different from each other According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is the capability of an individual, a family, or a community to promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid diseases, and know how to deal with an illness or disability, with or without the help of a healthcare professional. It is focused on the self-improvement of an individual and keeping the self at peace because they are able to protect and take care of it from the danger that surrounds them. Taking care of yourself and keeping your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves healthy is part of self-care. Self-care can be demonstrated in numerous circumstances, for example, by exercising, having a healthy lifestyle, or even just getting enough sleep every night As long as you can see improvements within yourself, it can be considered self-care.

As mentioned by Dr Manuel Dayrit, former health secretary, Filipinos do understand the concept of selfcare. However, most Filipinos have a hard time applying and practicing it due to limited literacy He further argued that most of the literary work that he discovered regarding self-care in the Philippines talks about either herbal medications or traditional practices Which shows that most Filipinos think and believe that self-care is mainly about relying on certain medications when they get sick and practicing their beliefs in order to stay healthy and be able to take care of themselves

Self-care is essential to sustaining physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. It includes taking deliberate steps to care for oneself, such as eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising on a regular basis, managing stress, and engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation.

Here are some of the reasons why self-care is important: 1.

Enhances overall well-being: When you take care of yourself, you ' re better equipped to handle life's challenges and stressors. Self-care helps you feel more energized, focused, and productive.

Self-care activities such as meditation, deep breathing, and spending time in nature can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Boosts immune function: Regular exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep all support a strong immune system, which is crucial for overall health.

Improves mood and emotional health: Engaging in activities that bring you joy or spending time with loved ones can boost your mood and emotional well-being.

Prevents burnout: Taking time to care for yourself can avoid burnout and help you maintain a better work-life balance

Have you ever had that sense of refreshment after a relaxing and enjoyable activity? It's similar to getting into bed with freshly laundered sheets or imagining yourself in a new outfit. If so, you have likely indulged in self-care!

Additionally, here are some of the benefits of self-care that we might not know according to Sarah Turino (2021) a holistic wellness instructor:

Self-care increases the feeling of worthiness -

According to her, the most profound aspect of self-care is that it serves as a powerful reminder of our own significance in our own life. It serves as a reminder that we are valuable individual who deserves to take care of ourselves.

Self-care increases self-confidence - This is also related to worthiness. Basically, you face the world with greater confidence when you are nourished and feeling better You'll feel better about yourself if you ' re less worn out. Self-care encourages us to concentrate solely on our own growth and development.

Self-care benefits everyone around you - She pointed out that when we take care of ourselves, we also take care of those around us because we do it from a place of fulfillment and replenishment. Everybody seems to be able to tell that we ' ve been taking care of yourselves because of our aura!