Today, July 24, is International Self-Care Day, a great opportunity to take care of ourselves. There is a lot of advertising around self-care that involves fancy bath products or face masks but self-care is more than bubbles and beauty bars, and it can often be free! Here is how you can practice self-care today and every day:
First, what is self-care?
The dictionary defines self-care as “care for oneself. Specifically: health care provided by oneself often without the consultation of a medical professional.” The World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.” These definitions are broad for a reason! There is a lot we do every day to take care of ourselves from supporting our mental health to working to prevent disease!
NOTE: While we’re focused on taking care of ourselves, sometimes we still need to see a doctor. You can always find a clinic near you.
What can I do today?
There are a multitude of ways to take care of ourselves! Get started with these ideas:
- Nourish your body with a healthy meal
- Get a good night’s sleep – nine hours if possible
- Support your mental health with affirmations or gratitude
- Take a walk
- Smile
- Meditate or take a few slow, deep breaths
- Write in a journal
- Play a sport
- Laugh with friends
- Wash your hands
- Enjoy nature
- Protect yourself – Find free condoms near you
How can I take care of my community?
Taking care of yourself can also mean taking care of those around you! Think about ways you can take care of your community by doing some of these things or coming up with your own:
- Be an ally
- Stand up for causes that are important to you
- Share health information (like TeenSource) with your friends
- Volunteer for causes you care about
- Give someone (even a stranger) a compliment
- Get others to join you when you take care of yourself!
Say No!
Sometimes self-care means saying no. Either because you need time to do something for yourself or because you don’t want to put yourself in a negative situation. Saying no can be hard, but it’s an important part of self-care! Learning to say no is helpful in many parts of life.
Follow TeenSource on Instagram and tell us what you did to take care of yourself today. (@teensourceorg)