VN June 2020

Vetnuus | Junie 2020 22 This month, I hope this article finds you and your families well and safe!!! Self-care is defined as, “a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being.” Self-care is vital for building resilience toward those stressors in life that you cannot eliminate. When you have taken steps to care for your mind and body, you will be better equipped to live your best life regardless of the situation around you. Unfortunately, however, many people view and treat self-care as a luxury, rather than a priority. The consequence of that outlook means they are left feeling overwhelmed, tired and ill-equipped to handle life’s challenges. Physical Self-Care You need to take care of your body if you want it to run efficiently. Remember, there is a strong connection between your body and your mind. When you are caring for your body, you will think and feel better too. Physical self-care includes how you are fuelling your body, how much sleep you are getting, how much physical activity you are doing, and how well you are caring for your physical needs. Attending appointments, taking medication as prescribed, and managing your health are all part of good physical self-care. Social Self-Care Socialisation is key to self-care. But, often, it is hard to make time for friends and it is easy to neglect your relationships when life gets busy. Close connections are important to your well-being. The best way to cultivate and maintain close relationships is to put time and energy into building your relationships with others. There is no certain number of hours you should devote to your friends or work on your relationships. Everyone has slightly different social needs. The key is to figure out what your social needs are and to build enough time in your schedule to create an optimal social life – schedule appointments for yourself daily to be social (send messages, make phone calls, share some jokes, comment on social media pages/groups, etc.). Mental Self-Care The way you think and the things that you are filling your mind with greatly influence your psychological and physical well-being. Mental self-care includes doing things that keep your mind sharp, like puzzles/hobbies, or learning about a subject that fascinates you. You might find reading books or watching movies that inspire you fuels/challenges your mind in a pleasant and unpredictable manner. Mental self-care also involves doing things that help you stay mentally healthy. Practicing self-compassion and acceptance, for example, helps you maintain a healthier inner dialogue. Spiritual Self-Care Research shows that a lifestyle including religion or spirituality (some people think of this as a general awareness of not only the things, people and events around them, but also themselves) is generally a healthier lifestyle. Nurturing your spirit, however, does not have to involve religion. It can involve anything that helps you develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the universe. Whether you enjoy meditation, attending a religious service, or praying, spiritual self-care is important. Sometimes plain time in silence or in nature may be what is needed. Emotional Self-Care It is important to have healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness. Influential Life Coaching SELF-CARE IS MOST IMPORTANT Dr Mats Abatzidis B.Sc. B.V.Sc. New Insights Certified VIP Life Coach mats.abatzidis@yahoo.co.za Founder of Influential Life Coaching http://www.matsaba.wix.com/drmatscoach Author of the published book“Life outside your comfort zone. Better and beyond all expectations”. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref =nb_sb_noss?url=search- alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Abatzidis Blog: https://drmatslifecoaching.wordpress.com/ http://www.life-coach-directory.co.za/mats-abatzidis Vet's Health I Life coaching >>> 23 Created by freepik