Self-care is a major trend in the wellness world right now — and for good reason. It’s something we all need to stay happy and healthy, yet it’s easy to ignore.
When life gets busy, making time for yourself can feel impossible. Slowing down and enjoying things you love often becomes the last priority. A hectic lifestyle fuels this “always busy” culture, and we’re all guilty of it. Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive; sometimes we do tasks that feel necessary but aren’t urgent or important.
We need to let go more often, relax, and enjoy the moment. Stop stressing — things usually work out. Do what makes you happy, and do it more often. That’s the heart of self-care, though there’s more to it than that.
Self-care has many sides: physical, emotional, and even spiritual. You don’t need to know them all to start. The first step is simple: slow down and be present. Notice your thoughts, emotions, and how your body feels. Listen to what your mind and body need.
Why is self-care important?
Self-care matters for more than just stress relief — it also supports your immune system. Taking time to rest, enjoy activities, and be mindful activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which puts your body in “rest and digest” mode. That response lowers heart rate and blood pressure, easing stress and anxiety, boosting immunity, and increasing your energy. It can help reduce issues like poor digestion, headaches, and insomnia. In short, self-care helps you stay well and can prevent certain health problems.
Ignoring self-care won’t serve you. Constant stress and nonstop activity can harm your health and lead to burnout. Your body needs rest — honor that.
Ways to practice self-care
There are endless ways to care for yourself. Lately I’ve been thinking about how to improve my own self-care — what matters to me, what I enjoy, and what truly relaxes me. I realized I don’t do the things I love often enough and I don’t spend enough time on self-care. So I’m taking small steps toward better habits and better health.
My current self-care activities
I don’t have many daily self-care rituals yet. The things I do regularly include walking, reading, learning new things, some meditation, listening to uplifting music, sleeping enough, and eating healthy foods.
Activities I enjoy but don’t do often are watching a funny movie, reading favorite blogs, cycling, reading health magazines, and trying new recipes. I don’t always find time for these, but I could make more of an effort. I’ve also started following inspirational Instagram accounts to help inspire my spiritual growth.
Emotional self-care
For me, self-care isn’t just physical — it’s emotional too. I’m trying to be more aware of how I feel and what triggers those feelings. I’m learning to process emotions in a healthy way: notice them, experience them, and then let them go.
Bottling up emotions, especially anger, can harm your health. Mary Beth Janssen, author of The Book of Self-Care, talks about how unprocessed emotions can get stuck in the body and cause stress and discomfort. Learning to change how you see stressful situations and how you respond emotionally can reduce their negative effect on you. It’s not easy, but it is possible — there are many helpful books on the topic.
Self-care goals I’m working toward
I’m still early in my self-care journey and assessing where I am is the first step. Here are a few things I plan to add soon:
– Attend a meditation class
I meditate at home but don’t have a set routine. I’d like to join a class to focus more deeply and learn new techniques, ideally on a weekly basis to build consistency.
– Read fiction again
I loved reading as a child and still do, but most of my current reading is non-fiction about health, business, and personal growth. I want to read fiction again — it’s a great way to relax and escape, and it helps release stress.
– Get massages more often
A good massage is deeply relaxing and eases tension. I enjoyed a facial massage years ago and want another. I do my own facial massage sometimes, but it’s not the same as a professional touch. I’ll look for deals near me and see if my partner and I can give each other massages more often.
– Take baths
I usually prefer showers because they’re quick, but baths with Epsom salts or sea salt can help with recovery, circulation, and detox. I enjoy baths, but preparing one feels like effort — so I’ll try to make time for them more often.
– Spend more time in nature
Nature refreshes and calms me, but I don’t get out as often as I should. With shorter, darker days, I need to change my routine and do walks in the morning before it gets dark. It won’t be easy, but nature walks really lift my mood, so I’ll work on fitting them in.
This is my approach: look at what I’m already doing, and find ways to do more of what helps. Do you pay attention to self-care? What are your favorite ways to care for yourself?