Self-care is the “ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider,” according to the World Health Organization.
It involves making healthy lifestyle choices, avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits, using prescription and nonprescription drugs responsibly, identifying symptoms of diseases on your own, checking for signs of deterioration or improvement, and managing these symptoms.
The Benefits of Self-Care
Here are the top five benefits of self-care you should know:
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Stress can have adverse effects on your body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. If left unchecked, it can increase your risk of chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, self-care can help you reduce some of the effects of stress and anxiety on your body by regularly engaging in activities as simple as taking a few breaths of fresh air and going for a walk to help you calm your neurological system.
Improves Feelings of Well-Being
Self-care improves your feelings of well-being. It makes you feel comfortable, healthy, and happy. It also makes you feel good and see life positively generally. So, as a system, your body, mind, and spirit benefit in one way or another when you do things for the system.
Aids Sleep and Digestion
Self-care improves the quality of your sleep, and aids digestion. You enter into a sympathetic response when your body is on high alert. This slows digestion down, and the system activates in response to stress. However, you activate the parasympathetic response when you practice self-care, thus reducing your stress level and leading to better rest, sleep, and digestion.
Boosts the Immune System
Stress can negatively impact your immune system. Nonetheless, self-care can boost your immune system and make it function better by bringing some calm and ease to your whole system and benefiting the immune system as well.
Increases Productivity
Poor or inadequate maintenance of your health can get in the way of your daily routine and rob you of the needed enthusiasm and energy. Self-care will do just the opposite: it’ll give you more organizational skills and mental focus and make you more productive.
So, what are you still waiting for? Start practicing self-care today for its overall benefits: it reduces stress and anxiety, improves feelings of well-being, aids sleep and digestion, boosts the immune system, and increases productivity.
How CCHC Can Help
The Center for Connection, Healing, and Change is always there for you to help you practice self-care so you can enjoy a healthier, longer, and happier life.
Our therapists are skilled and experienced in self-care. Schedule a free consultation with us today or call us at (703) 878-3290. You can also visit our offices at 12751 Marblestone Drive, Suite 200, Woodbridge, VA 22192 or at 10640 Page Avenue, Suite 230, Fairfax, VA 22030 if you’re in Virginia and need help with starting a workable self-care routine.