self care is not selfish…the many options available and what i incorporate

Written By Noel Manikham

Self-care is essential for maintaining your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and well-being. It is a highly personal and dynamic practice that evolves with your needs and involves taking proactive steps to care for yourself in all areas of life. While the list below are just a few ideas for you to get started, the options of what can be considered self care are endless and I encourage you to get creative and add as many into your day- EVERYDAY- as you can. By committing to nurturing your mind, body, and soul, you reduce stress and create the necessary balance in your life…the key is to explore and find which ones resonate most with your needs and preferences at any given time.

1. Physical Self Care

Care of your physical body helps you feel energized, healthy, and vibrant. You will see many of these in a number of categories

  • Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity, such as walking, yoga, strength training, swimming, or dancing.

  • Nutrition: Eating a balanced diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Hydration is also essential.

  • Sleep: Prioritizing quality sleep at night to allow the body to rest, recover, and rejuvenate.

  • Body Care: Regular skincare and personal hygiene routines. This can include massages, baths, skincare, and haircare.

  • Stretching: Incorporating stretching or mobility exercises to improve flexibility and prevent stiffness in the muscles, tendons, and joints.

  • Rest and Relaxation: Taking time to relax, whether through napping, lying down, or simply taking breaks throughout the day.

2. Emotional Self Care

Emotional self-care involves acknowledging and managing your feelings, while helping you to maintain a healthy emotional balance.

  • Journaling/Gratitude Journaling: For writing down thoughts, processing emotions, and practicing gratitude.

  • Setting Boundaries: Learning to say no and establishing healthy boundaries to protect your emotional energy.

  • Mindfulness Coloring Books: For stress relief and to calm the mind by creative expression

  • Positive Affirmations/Mantras: Practicing self-compassion while shifting negative thoughts into positivity.

  • Spending Quality Time with Loved Ones: Engaging in meaningful conversations or activities with friends, family, or a supportive community.

  • Music Playlists: For altering or boosting your mood through music

  • Essential Oils (ie: Rose, Chamomile): For emotional balance and calming effects.

3. Mental Self-Care

Mental self-care focuses on stimulating and maintaining a healthy mind through learning, relaxation, and mindfulness.

  • Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises to calm the mind and stay present.

  • Learning New Skills: Engaging in activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading, puzzles, learning a new language, or taking a course.

  • Digital Detox: Taking breaks from social media, emails, and technology to reduce stress and mental clutter.

  • Brain Training Games: For improving focus and stimulating cognitive function.

  • Puzzles (ie: sudoku, crosswords, word find, jigsaw): To exercise the brain.

  • Time Management: Organizing your time effectively, breaking tasks into manageable parts, and reducing overwhelm.

  • Decluttering: Creating a clean and organized environment to reduce stress and improve overall mental clarity.

4. Spiritual Self-Care

Spiritual self-care nurtures the soul and helps create a sense of purpose, connection, and meaning in life.

  • Meditation or Prayer: Engaging in meditation, prayer, or contemplative practices to connect with a higher power or inner self.

  • Nature Walks: Spending time in nature to feel grounded, connected, and rejuvenated.

  • Spiritual Studies and Development: Reading spiritual texts, participating in spiritual discussions or taking development classes to increase your spiritual awareness and cultivate a relationship with your supreme being and creator.

  • Gratitude Practice: Reflecting on things you’re grateful for to shift focus from lack to abundance.

  • Acts of Kindness: Doing something compassionate or kind for others, which can be fulfilling spiritually.

  • Energy Work: Exploring practices like intuitive energy healing, crystal healing, or chakra balancing to maintain energetic alignment.

5. Environmental Self-Care

Creating a space that supports your well-being can be a significant part of self-care.

  • Clean and Organized Space: Keeping your living or working space clean and organized to reduce stress and foster calm.

  • Creating a Sanctuary: Designing a personal space that feels comforting and inviting with elements like candles, plants, or calming colors.

  • Feng Shui: For creating harmony and balance in your living space

  • House Plants:To enhance a peaceful atmosphere, improve air quality, and connect with nature.

  • Air Purifier: For improving air quality and creating a healthier living environment.

  • Spending Time Outdoors: Reconnecting with nature and grounding.

6. Sensory Self-Care

Engage your senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—and help yourself to relax and unwind.

  • Aromatherapy: Using essential oils, scented candles, or incense to create a calming environment.

  • Soothing Sounds: Listening to calming music, nature sounds, or white noise to soothe your mind and body.

  • Textures: Wrapping yourself in soft blankets, wearing comfortable clothing, or using sensory objects like stress balls.

  • Mindful Eating: Savoring the flavors and textures of food, eating slowly, and appreciating the sensory experience of a meal.

  • Weighted Blanket: Provides calming pressure that relieves stress and anxiety.

  • Soft Lighting/Mood Lamps: Creates a calm, relaxing atmosphere

7. Nutritional Self-Care

  • Meal Planning : For organizing healthy meals that align with your dietary needs and goals.

  • Blender, Food Processor, and other Kitchen Tools: For easy preparation of nutrient-dense foods to support health, energy and wellness.

  • Herbal Teas (Chamomile, Green Tea, Peppermint): For hydration and relaxation.

  • Supplements (Multivitamins, Adaptogens): To support overall health, energy, and vitality.

  • Water Filter : For promoting proper hydration, removing harmful pollutants and then adding nutrients to your water.

LOVE YOURSELF BACK TO LIFE AND CONNECT WITH YOU INNER SELF AND WISDOM

Following are some of my own personal self care tools and strategies. Keep in mind that these have evolved over the years and I decide which to use and when based on the current circumstances and events in my life. There are many different companies that offer all of these products so please do your own research and decide which resonates with you. If you want to know which ones I use specifically, please email me and I’ll be happy to share.

  • Red Light Therapy

  • Yoga Mat

  • Chirp Wheel (helps with back adjustments)

  • Rebounder (mini indoor trampoline)

  • Inversion Table

  • Color Therapy Glasses

  • Sound Therapy (binaural beats/solfeggio frequencies)

  • Acupressure Mat

  • Trigger Point Therapy

  • Acoustic Vibration ie: OPUS bed

  • Healy

  • Magnesium bath/spray (magnesium FLAKES)

  • Float or Sensory Depravation Tank

  • Meditation

  • Grounding/Earthing Mat

  • Outside Grounding

  • Forest Bathing

  • Breath Work

  • Tens Unit

  • Affirmations/Mantras

  • Crystal Healing

  • Neck Restructure (reverses tech neck)

  • Posture Plate

  • Ionic Foot Bath

  • Visualization

  • Weighted Vest

  • Ceremonial Cacao

  • Natural/Organic Foods (not processed)

  • Herbs/Supplements

  • Heavy Metal/Parasite Detoxing

Noel Manikham
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