September is officially Self-Care Month and what better time to take a closer look at how you can take better care of your whole self. It’s not just about going to the spa and unplugging but looking at the many dimensions that make up your most wonderful self.

Here are 7 Areas of Self-Care and How You Can Care for Each:

Physical

How we move, fuel and treat our body

Involves moving your body (exercise)
Eating well balanced meals (nutrition)
Sleeping
Flossing
Drinking Water
Managing Stress
Going to the doctor for preventative care
Going to the dentist

Social

How we connect with others

Having a strong social network of support
Asking for support
Reaching out for check ins or a laugh
Carving out time to get together
Letting go of relationships that don’t serve you

Environmental

How you care for your external environment

Organizing and cleaning up your bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom
Recycling
Donating clothes you don’t use
Weeding, cleaning up the back yard
Letting go of things that don’t serve you

Financial

How you invest and care for your present and future money

Living within your financial means
Planning for financial health
Determining wants v. needs
Contributing to savings
Keeping your word with your budget

Emotional

How we express and channel our feelings

Sharing how we feel with trusted network of friends
Journaling
Asking for what we need
Requesting and receiving help
Allowing feelings to be felt

Intellectual

How we engage our mental curiosity

Explore new ideas
Learn a new skill
Try a new approach
Read for pleasure
Research a new concept
Ask curious questions

Spiritual

How we process and understand our beliefs, values and ethics

Meditation
Quiet time spent writing and questioning

Self-Care doesn’t need to be time-consuming or expensive. It is a choice that puts your care at the forefront, so that you can show up at your best for others and yourself. The act of the choice in itself is self-care, so feel free to create your own list of activities and most importantly HAVE FUN!