What Is Self-Care and Why Is it Important?

Key Takeaways

• Self-care is the act of engaging in activities and making choices that prioritize and improve your physical and mental health.
• The main benefits of investing in self-care include reduced stress and anxiety, lower risk of illness or disease, and increased satisfaction in daily life.
• What self-care looks and feels like varies by person and can change throughout your lifetime.
• The main types of self-care are physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and financial.

Prioritizing well-being and investing in health and wellness belong on everyone’s day-to-day schedule because doing so can promote longevity and be used as a preventive health tool. Haley Stricker, a licensed professional counselor in Atlanta, said, “Self-care is the most fundamental tool that we have for living a quality life. When we are not taking care of ourselves, it’s very difficult to care well for anything or anyone else in our lives.” 

Our Reviews Team researched and wrote this article to help you learn what self-care is and how you can integrate it into your daily life.

What is self-care? 

Self-care is engaging in actions and making choices that prioritize and improve your physical and mental health. Physical self-care can be any activity that improves the state of your bodily health, from getting a full night of sleep to going for a walk. Mental self-care includes any act that decreases stress, promotes positivity, or generally contributes to your overall happiness. 

What self-care looks and feels like varies by person and can change over time. Something that can feel mentally rejuvenating for one person can bring stress or anxiety to another person. For example, some people would consider decluttering their home a cleansing experience that helps promote mental clarity; for others, it might be a trigger for stress. 

“Self-care is not always the easy or fun choice. It can look like setting boundaries with someone, having a hard conversation, recognizing our limits, putting down a habit that doesn’t serve us. It often requires more energy from us than ignoring our needs, but it leads to greater health, energy, and joy in the long run.”

– Haley Stricker, LPC

The most important part of self-care is balance and giving yourself what your mind and body are telling you is needed. The main goal of self-care: to live a happier and healthier life.

Why is self-care important?

Taking time each day to invest in your physical and mental health can help lower your risk of illness, promote mind-body recovery, and encourage you to lead a happier life. Studies show that significant amounts of physical and mental stress over your lifetime are linked to an increased risk of many disorders like anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease ^[1] Shields, Grant S., Slavich, George, M. Lifetime Stress Exposure and Health: A Review of Contemporary Assessment Methods and Biological Mechanisms. Aug. 3, 2017. Found on the internet at https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spc3.12335 . 

Practicing self-care on a daily basis can benefit your overall well-being in the short term and the long term. For example, going outside and working in your garden for an afternoon can give you short-term benefits by helping you feel peace and productivity while engaging in that activity. In the long term, it can give you increased strength and stamina, reduced fatigue, and something to look forward to in the future, which can bring you feelings of joy throughout the week ^[2] Oaster, Kayla. The Many Mental Health Benefits of Gardening. Jan. 2024. Found on the internet at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/adams/news/the-many-mental-health-benefits-of-gardening .

Types of self-care

Self-care comes in different forms. Each is important for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. In some cases, a single activity can help you practice multiple forms of self-care. For example, getting a full night of sleep helps your physical body recover from the day before ^[3] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. July 19, 2023. Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. Found on the internet at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep . It can also help your brain retain information learned and create neural connections for cognitive functioning. Another example is attending a group exercise class—this would be considered physical, mental, and social self-care. Self-care should also include annual physical exams, preventive health care as recommended by your doctor (for things like mammograms and colonoscopies), and adhering to treatment strategies prescribed by your doctors. 

Physical self-care

Physical self-care is engaging in any activity that improves the well-being of your physical body, including activities that: 

• Get your body moving
• Increase your heart rate
• Activate your muscles
• Fuel and hydrate your body

Engaging in physical activity can help you maintain your weight, reduce your health risks, strengthen your muscles and bones, and increase the quality and length of your life ^[4] Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. Benefits of Physical Activity. Aug. 1, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/benefits/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm . But physical fitness is only part of physical self-care. Keeping your body hydrated and properly nourished is equally important. 

Some examples of physical self-care activities include:

• Swimming or water aerobics
• Walking
• Gardening 
• Group exercise 
• Staying hydrated by drinking enough water each day
• Eating healthy every day
• Playing outside with grandchildren
• A game of pickleball
• Volunteering to pick up trash in the community
• Going to checkups with your doctor

Mental and emotional self-care

Mental and emotional self-care is seeking out activities and making choices that help promote relaxation and positivity while reducing stress, depression, negativity, and anxiety. For many people, therapy is a great way to practice this type of self-care. 

In-person or online therapy can help you sort through emotions that cause negative feelings and help you learn how to deal with those feelings and improve your well-being. One of the best ways to take care of your mental and emotional health is to do things that just make you feel good. Even something simple  like spending some time outside under the sun can improve your mood and help you sleep better ^[5] Tri-City Medical Center. 5 Ways the Sun Impacts Your Mental and Physical Health. Found on the internet at https://www.tricitymed.org/2018/08/5-ways-the-sun-impacts-your-mental-and-physical-health/ .

Some examples of mental and emotional self-care are:

• Engaging in therapy
• Writing in a journal
• Reading a book
• Practicing meditation or yoga
• Completing a puzzle or playing games that challenge your mind and bring satisfaction upon completion
• Avoiding things that increase your stress, depression, negativity, or anxiety
• Taking a class to learn something new
• Expressing gratitude

Social self-care

Social self-care is mindfully building and maintaining relationships with the people around you. This is an important way to ensure you have a support group and have people to talk to on a daily basis. Whether you live independently and maintain relationships through phone or video calls, or if you live in a community where you see friends or family on a daily basis, keeping connections with other people is vital to well-being and overall health.

Feelings of isolation or loneliness can have major impacts on a person’s mental and physical health and up your risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline ^[6] Berg, Sara. What doctors wish patients knew about loneliness and health. American Medical Association. July 14, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-loneliness-and . 

“Social connection is one of the most important protective factors we have against emotional and physical distress,” said Stricker.

If you don’t have anyone around to talk to, consider using an online support group. Andwhile pets can’t have a conversation, they are excellent companions that can bring you happiness and a sense of purpose. 

Some examples of practicing social self-care are:

• Calling friends or family members
• Going on a walk with a friend
• Joining an online support group
• Attending group fitness classes
• Volunteering with a group
• Getting to know your neighbors
• Joining a book club
• Cutting back on social media

Spiritual self-care

Spiritual self-care is about tending to your spirit ^[7] Mental Health America. Take Care of Your Spirit. Found on the internet at https://www.mhanational.org/take-care-your-spirit . This type of self-care can (but isn’t required to) have a religious context behind it. For many people, the act of prayer, meditation, volunteering, or reading religious texts can be calming and help instill a sense of purpose.

Like many other types of self-care on this list, spirituality is woven through other forms of self-care. For example, those who practice a religion might find they engage in spiritual, mental, and social self-care whenever they go to their place of worship. They can nourish relationships with others, engage in positive thinking, and focus on their connection with their faith all in one action. 

Some examples of spiritual self-care include:

• Praying or meditating
• Reading religious text
• Going to a place of worship
• Volunteering 
• Talkingwith other spiritual individuals

Financial self-care

Financial self-care is practicing good money management, which includes organizing and being in control of your finances. One easy way you can do this is by setting goals for yourself, like reducing your spending or increasing your savings. When you set an attainable money-related goal and meet it, it can help you feel more in control of your finances and provide a feeling of satisfaction.

Some examples of financial self-care are:

• Meeting with a financial planner
• Increasing financial literacy
• Estate planning
• Tracking your spending
• Setting a goal to reach for decreased spending for increased savings
• Using your money to make life easier for others, like setting up recurring donations to charities

Benefits of self-care for older adults

When you engage in self-care, you’re investing in your own health and well-being. Taking time each day to better yourself can help you live a happier and healthier life. 

Some benefits of self-care include:

• Improved physical health: Daily physical activity decreases your risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and stroke, along with bone and muscle degeneration ^[8] National Institutes of Health. Physical Wellness Toolkit. Found on the internet at https://www.nih.gov/health-information/physical-wellness-toolkit . Physical exercise can also decrease anxiety and depression ^[9] Mandolesi, Laura, et al. Frontiers in Psychology. April 27, 2018. Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Functioning and Wellbeing: Biological and Psychological Benefits. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC593499 .

• Enhanced mental well-being: Taking care of your emotional and mental health can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy levels ^[10] National Institute of Mental Health. Caring for Your Mental Health. Feb. 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health . Focusing on positivity and activities that make you happy helps increase your feelings of self-worth and improves your outlook on life, which can help you live longer and cope with difficult times when they arise ^[11] Mayo Clinic. Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress. Nov. 21, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950 . 

• Better relationships: When you take time each day to focus on relationships with others, the bonds you have with people will get stronger, which will build more durable and long-lasting relationships. Studies show that relationships actually get better with age, so the more you contribute to friendships and family bonds, the more satisfaction and happiness you’ll get out of them ^[12] Luong, Gloria, et. al. Better With Age: Social Relationships Across Adulthood. Dec. 29, 2010. Found on the internet at https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407510391362 .

How to practice self-care

First, you should make a list of things you already do each day that are considered self-care. Next, work on identifying activities and exercises that can not only improve your physical and mental health but are also realistic to your lifestyle and abilities. Let’s say you are looking to spend more time in nature each day. Gardening might be a great way to do this, but what if you live in an apartment and don’t have a yard? Instead of looking for a new place to live, which might not be realistic, the first step might be to find a community garden where you can volunteer or rent a plot of land.

One of the best ways to practice self-care is by incorporating it, little by little, into your daily life. You can do this by building a self-care plan. Your plan can look like a checklist or it can look like a set of goals that you want to accomplish each day or week. 

“Self-care is not meant to be stressful. If at any point on your self-care journey you become overwhelmed, take a step back and re-evaluate. Self-care, for you, might look like taking something off of your plate instead of trying something new.”

– Haley Stricker, LPC

You can either start with a broad goal like being active three days of each week or start with a specific goal of walking 15 minutes twice per day. Make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine. The important thing is that you’re setting aside time to practice self-care and holding yourself accountable for those goals.

Bottom line

Self-care is engaging in actions and making choices that prioritize and improve your physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and financial health. In some cases, a single activity can help you practice multiple forms of self-care. Each is important for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. 

One of the best ways to practice self-care is by incorporating it little by little into your daily life. Self-care isn’t a luxury or something that only some people can afford to engage in—it’s for anyone and can help you live a healthier and happier life.

Have questions about this article? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

Sources

1. Shields, Grant S., Slavich, George M. Lifetime Stress Exposure and Health: A Review of Contemporary Assessment Methods and Biological Mechanisms. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. Aug. 3, 2017. Found on the internet at https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spc3.12335

2. Oaster, Kayla. The Many Mental Health Benefits of Gardening. January 2024. Found on the internet at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/adams/news/the-many-mental-health-benefits-of-gardening

3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. July 19, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep

4. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. Benefits of Physical Activity. Aug. 1, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/benefits/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm

5. Tri-City Medical Center. 5 Ways the Sun Impacts Your Mental and Physical Health.

Found on the internet at https://www.tricitymed.org/2018/08/5-ways-the-sun-impacts-your-mental-and-physical-health/

6. Berg, Sara. What doctors wish patients knew about loneliness and health. American Medical Association. July 14, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-loneliness-and-health

7. Mental Health America. Take Care of Your Spirit. Found on the internet at https://www.mhanational.org/take-care-your-spirit

8. National Institutes of Health. Physical Wellness Toolkit.

Found on the internet at https://www.nih.gov/health-information/physical-wellness-toolkit

9. Mandolesi, Laura, et al. Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Functioning and Wellbeing: Biological and Psychological Benefits. Frontiers in Psychology. April 27, 2018. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5934999

10. National Institute of Mental Health. Caring for Your Mental Health. February 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

11. Mayo Clinic. Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress. Nov. 21, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950

12. Luong, Gloria, et al. Better With Age: Social Relationships Across Adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Dec. 29, 2010. Found on the internet at https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407510391362