Why is Self-Care So Important?

During my time in graduate school it was pounded into my head that I needed to be practicing self-care. It used to drive me nuts. I was working full-time, going to school full-time, and had a part-time internship squeezed into my busy little life. I thought if I heard one more person talk about self-care I was going to lose it. Isn’t that ironic?

What it is

Self-care is a lot of different things for many types of people. Self-care is defined as taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health by the National Institute of Mental Health. Whether that be temporarily sitting in a dark room with a candle lit watching the flames, guilty as charged, or popping your favorite bath bomb into the tub for a relaxing bath, you’re practicing self-care. At its core, self-care is making sure you have simple needs met consistently; good food to eat, restful sleep to get, exercise if you make the time, and connection with others.

Why We Need it

Us humans are weird creatures. We have lots to attend to on a daily basis: work, school, friends, family, hobbies, partners, eating, showering the list goes on and on. Our bodies need rest to reset our brains for the next day and prepare us for the many things we will encounter. Did you know that according to HealthyBrains.org the average brain is a three pound universe that processes 70,000 thoughts each day using 100 billion neurons that connect at more than 500 trillion points through synapses that travel 300 miles/hour. If that doesn’t convince you your brain needs a break every now and then, I don’t know what will.

Finding What Works

If candles and bath bombs aren’t your thing, don’t fret! Like I said before, there’s so many ways to practice self-care. Go ahead and crank some tunes, let yourself have a good cry, play ball with your friends, sit in silence, book a vacation! The possibilities are endless. You can even challenge yourself to assert a boundary with someone as an act of self-care. Explore what works for you, because no two people are alike. No go forth and self-care!