I pride myself in the fact that I rarely get sick. I get the
“sniffles” here and there, but usually nothing too extreme. That was until last
spring when I got the flu…twice within 6 weeks! It was dreadful. I had never
experienced such discomfort in my adult life. This made me think of different
levels of self-care.
Physical self-care has to do with your body. How do you
feel, are you eating right, are you exercising, how are your sleeping habits,
are you going to annual check-ups, dentists and optometrist appointments, in my
case…did you get the flu shot? If you take care of yourself physically, it will
help with other dimensions of your life.
Intellectual self-care involves personal growth, continually
learning new things and being open to new experiences. This also includes
practicing mindfulness and having a positive mindset. Starting off every
morning with a positive attitude will set the tone for the rest of the day.
Social self-care involves having a supportive network of
people around you that you can turn to when you need cheering up or motivation.
Having positive, supportive family and friends in your corner has a tremendous
effect your overall health.
Emotional self-care involves awareness of your feelings and
emotions and dealing with them in a healthy way. There are various sources of
help if you are having trouble with your emotional health. If you’re in high
school, you can talk to your school counselor; if you’re in college you can
also seek help from the student wellness center.
Lupe - ICAN Coralville and Davenport Centers