What is Self Care?
How do I care for myself?
Vitamin D
Natural sunlight and vitamin d supplements are important for maintaining a stable mood.
Stay Social
Create connections with friends and family. Keep in touch regularly with your support network.
Good Sleep
Maintain a sleep routine and good sleep hygiene. Sleep impacts physical and mental health.
Exercise
Stay active. Whether it's walking, team sports or solo activities. It releases the chemical serotonin in your brain.
Tidy Environment
Your surroundings impact your mental health. Keep your home clean and tidy.
Praise Yourself
Recognise your achievements and praise yourself for them as you would a friend.
Entertainment
Do things that you enjoy, for example reading, watching films, playing games or engaging with hobbies.
Grounding
A therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that ground and reconnect you to the earth.
Slow Down
Get out of Auto Pilot Mode. Don't rush through your to-do list. Take things at a steady pace to reduce stress.
Be Productive
Mental health impacts productivity. Don't let your to-do list spiral out of control. Cross off one thing per day.
Personal Development
Never stop bettering yourself. Whether it's studies, career choices, hobbies or health, always strive to develop.
Limit Technology
Too much screen time can cause fatigue, mood swings and disrupt sleep.
Be in Nature
Research shows getting outside around nature can improve our mental health and mood.
Balance
Keep a good balance of responsibilities, such as work, socialising, studies and home life.
Mindfulness
Can be practised in multiple ways, check out our post on how to live mindfully to find out more.
Meditation
A form of mindfulness and breathing techniques to use as coping strategies.
Recharge
Allow yourself time to rest.
Track Progress
Keep a record of your moods, use a journal for experiences and life landmarks.
Thought Challenging
When negative thinking comes to mind, challenge those thoughts and reframe them.
Limit Alcohol
Alcohol and drugs can adversely effect your mental health, worsening symptoms. Try to limit use of substances.
Make Goals
Small achievable goals are better than big unachievable goals. Have things to look forward to.
Manage Emotions
Emotion dysregulation is a common problem across mental health conditions. Try radical acceptence and self soothing.
Spend Time with Animals
Research shows interacting with animals can improve our mood.
Practice Strategic Thinking
Problem solving is important to help contain stress by thinking first of solutions and not reactive emotions.
Look After Finances
Money is a source of stress. If we manage our budgets effectively it can reduce day-to-day anxiety.
Focus on The Now
Live in the present moment. We have a habit of focusing on the past or worrying
Treat Yourself
Do not restrict yourself from all cravings. Remember to treat yourself every now and again as a reward.
Healthcare
Manage your physical and mental health problems by staying in touch with your GP regularly.
Practice Gratitude
Noticing things we are grateful for every day helps to boost mood and positivity.
Good Diet
You are what you eat. Food affects feelings. Keep your diet nutritional and healthy.
Travel
Explore your local community, adventure across your country or see places abroad. New experiences offer good memories and improves mood.
Take Opportunities
Try new things and take risks. Often the best things for us seem difficult. Always accept opportunities regardless of outcome.
Have Faith
This can be religious, spirital or personal. Have faith in yourself and the belief that things can change. Emotions come and go.
Be Creative
Creativity brings us happiness. Try anything: creative writing, arts and crafts, gardening, decorating, playing an instrument or singing.
Practice Empathy
Towards others and yourself. Building this compassion helps us treat ourselves more kindly and improves relationships.
Build Your Identity
An independent sense of who we are is important. Do some soul searching, find yourself and define yourself.
Declutter
The world is a very materialistic place. Things do not equal happiness. If you haven't used it in the last year, throw it out.
Visual Surroundings
Keep your surroudings visual: bright colours, photographs and artwork that makes you smile.
Build Relationships
Human connection is essential to our well-being. Build strong relationships with family, friends and co-workers.
Love Yourself
We talk to ourselves and treat ourselves more harshly than anyone else. Give yourself a break and talk yourself up.
Keep a Routine
Solid routines helps us feel secure, maximise productivity and improves mood. Keep a regular routine to maintain calmness
Personal Hygiene
Periods of mental health difficulty can cause hygiene to decline. Always remember to shower and brush your teeth.
Cut Out Negatives
This includes bad habits like smoking or binge eating, but also places, people and things that do not serve you.
Practice Forgiveness
Holding grudges, resentment or anger does us damage at no expense to the other person. Forgiveness fixes that.
Challenge Yourself
It could be to learn something new, do something difficult or take the next step toward a goal. It helps build confience.
Tend To What Grows
Whether it's children, plants or pets. Tending to something alive gives us a sense of purpose and motivates us.
Open Up
Talk about emotions and experiences. Don't bottle everything up. Use healthcare professionals, charities, and friends.
Avoid Toxic people/triggers
Whatever triggers your mental health should be avoided if possible or you can self-soothe.
Take Chances
Sometimes we avoid things in case we fail. This means we miss the chance to learn something new. Take those risks.
Practice Awareness
Self-awareness is a form of stepping back and observing your thoughts and feelings as they unfold.
Ask For and Accept Help
We can't always get better aby ourselves. Put fear of judgement aside. Ask for help. Accept it when it is offered.
Be Organised and Prepared
Disorganisation and preparation can cause stress and anxiety. Try making lunches the day before work, or laying out your clothes.
Law of Attraction
You get out what you put in. We attract whatever we choose to give our attention to–whether wanted or unwanted. Focus on what matters.
Support Groups
Join support groups that are relevant to your struggles. Likeminded people will help us feel accepted.
