The 7 Dimensions Of Self-Care

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.

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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:

1. Journaling

2. Saying out loud affirmations

3. Expressing Gratitude to loved ones and yourself

4. Drawing, painting, and/or playing music

5. 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:

1. Take on a new skill or language

2. Go to an art or history museum

3. Read a book

4. Listen to a podcast

5. 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:

1. Going for a long walk

2. Dancing to your favorite singer or band

3. Give your brain a break and take a nap

4. Enjoy a cold or hot bath

5. 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:

1. 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

2. Reorganize your calendar

3. Start meal prepping

4. Schedule a call with a financial advisor

5. 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:

1. After work hours, shut off notifications

2. Take vacation time and mental health days off… this means no checking emails!

3. Set up office hours and schedule weekly meetings

How you can be a more supportive employee:

1. Ask the difficult questions that should be easy a. How can I support you? b. How are you feeling on ___?

2. Schedule an outing ‒ get to know your co-workers outside of the work

3. 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:

1. Host a murder mystery party

2. Surprise your friend or significant other with concert tickets

3. Schedule a weekly phone date with a family member

4. Create a monthly book or movie club

5. 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:

1. Breathwork

2. Grounding yourself in nature

3. Volunteering for a charity

4. Mind/Body (Yoga and/or Pilates)

5. 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!

Read more from Sarah Alysse!

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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.