Written by: Sarah Alysse Rosner, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
You may have heard that this month is Self-Care awareness month, but what does that mean? It honestly looks different for everyone, but there are seven types I want you to be aware of so that you can utilize them the best way for you: Emotional, Mental, Physical, Practical, Professional, Social, and Spiritual self-care.
Emotional self-care is one of the easiest ways to practice self-love. It’s a great way to check in with your mind and body to see if they are connecting with one another. When we were children, we were never afraid to express how we felt and wore our hearts on our sleeves. As adults, we stifle creativity and emotions, which can have long-term effects on our health.
Here are some ways you can practice emotional self-care:
Journaling
Saying out loud affirmations
Expressing Gratitude to loved ones and yourself
Drawing, painting, and/or playing music
Talking to a health professional
Mental self-care needs to be practiced a lot more! There are some similarities to emotional self-care. However, I want to emphasize that the focus of mental self-care is stimulating the brain. With our eyes constantly being glued to our screens, we can feel like our brains are turning to mush.
To cultivate curiosity in the brain again, try these activities:
Take on a new skill or language
Go to an art or history museum
Read a book
Listen to a podcast
Do a puzzle or play a memory game
Physical self-care is primarily focusing on your body’s nourishment. Any time we are being active, our body releases endorphins which leave a lingering happy sensation. This is another type that may seem easy to do but can be very difficult for those that have limited amounts of time in their day. Try shifting your mindset from “I have no time” to “I have time for my health.”
When you make the time take on these activities:
Going for a long walk
Dancing to your favorite singer or band
Give your brain a break and take a nap
Enjoy a cold or hot bath
Workout
Practical self-care is great for all of you who are business owners and entrepreneurs. How often do you feel behind on tasks or that your space is a mess? The best way to improve the clutter is to make time to sort through all of it. This will be challenging if you hate organizing, but systems really do help.
Look at these areas to declutter your home and brain:
Office a. Buy art that will bring warmth to your room b. Find a desk and chair that are comfortable c. Words of encouragement written on a post-it to assist you with productivity
Reorganize your calendar
Start meal prepping
Schedule a call with a financial advisor
Feng Shei your closet each season
Professional self-care might be one you have never heard of, but it should be at the top of your list. This can be difficult because we want our co-workers and collaborators to like us. There are two ways that you can take care of yourself while being a fabulous employee: be supportive and set boundaries. By doing both, you will see a significant increase in your mental and emotional well-being.
Ways you can set boundaries:
After work hours, shut off notifications
Take vacation time and mental health days off… this means no checking emails!
Set up office hours and schedule weekly meetings
How you can be a more supportive employee:
Ask the difficult questions that should be easy a. How can I support you? b. How are you feeling on ___?
Schedule an outing ‒ get to know your co-workers outside of the work
Attend a conference or take a course that will benefit your career
Social self-care may be another one you haven’t thought much about yet it’s a wonderful way to spend time with friends and family. With our crazy work culture, we don’t always prioritize this area however it is extremely fulfilling for our souls. How much better would your life be if you spent more quality time with loved ones?
Here are a few fun ideas to socialize more:
Host a murder mystery party
Surprise your friend or significant other with concert tickets
Schedule a weekly phone date with a family member
Create a monthly book or movie club
Organize a walk for a charity
Spiritual self-care is the last area we will concentrate on today. When you see spiritual, there’s a chance you may automatically think it means connecting to your religious self. This is one path someone could choose, but it could also mean connecting to a higher belief/power or your inner spirit.
To ignite your spiritual self, I challenge you to nurture your soul with the following:
Breathwork
Grounding yourself in nature
Volunteering for a charity
Mind/Body (Yoga and/or Pilates)
Join a community that resonates with your beliefs
I hope understanding these seven areas will benefit your health and wellness.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!
Sarah Alysse Rosner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Sarah Alysse is a corporate stress management coach that helps companies cultivate a low stress environment so that their employees can be happier and more productive. She’s the creator and CEO of Live Well Enhance You which formed out of a need for her Pilates clients to find balance in their lives. She branched into the corporate market to assist employees in creating out of the box wellness solutions. She utilizes her BFA Musical Theater Performance background to coach others how to be confident and understand the connection between the brain and body. Spanning over a decade, Sarah has collected an abundance of certifications from Integrative Institute of Nutrition, STOTT Pilates, to National Academy of Sports Medicine. She’s been featured on WGN's Living Healthy and WGN Around Town’s segment as a Stress Management Expert. Also, she has been promoted on Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Authority, Kivo Daily, LA Wire, The Chicago Journal, NY Wire, NY Weekly, IdeaMensch, and US Reporter. In addition, she’s the host of the Stress Free SOULutions podcast.
