Self-Care! Self-care! Self-Care!

We know self-care is important, but what IS self-care?

Put simply, it means doing the ‘things’ you need to do to take care of you. That’s right – YOU!  You are important. You are valuable. You are worth taking care of. Good self-care practices are crucial in maintaining your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.

BUT, how do we do that? Well … that will be different for everyone – we are all unique. There are some principles however, that are the same for each of us.

MAKE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES

Take care of the basics!

  • plan for good (quality) and adequate (quantity) sleep in your day
  • eat a balanced diet
  • keep moving by engaging in regular exercise.

STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED

Make time to connect with the people who are good for you!

  • call someone for a chat
  • link into a video call
  • send an email
  • write a letter.

MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

Have a little ‘me’ time!

  • go for a walk
  • enjoy your hobby
  • relax.

With so many competing demands on your time and energy, it is important to prioritise some time to withdraw, recharge and refresh.

DO THINGS YOU ENJOY

  • exercise
  • craft activities
  • read
  • cook
  • listen to music
  • draw or paint

Be intentional about doing things that make you feel good.

EXERCISE SELF-COMPASSION

Be!

  • be kind to yourself
  • be realistic.

Let go of perfectionism, listen to your thoughts and practice talking to yourself as though you are your own best friend.

TAKE BREAKS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

Unplug!

  • turn off the news
  • turn off your phone
  • turn off notifications.

Give your brain and emotions a break for periods of time.

BE GRATEFUL

Consider!

  • 1 thing you are thankful for
  • 1 person who has made a difference to you today
  • 1 thing you are looking forward to tomorrow.

Share these around the dinner table, with your family or write them in a journal each night.

NURTURE YOUR FAITH

A heart for Jesus!

  • read the bible
  • chat to Jesus
  • play worship music and sing along
  • watch great teaching online
  • read good faith-based books.

GET SUPPORT

You are not alone!

If you need support, talk to someone you trust. Talk to someone in our school community who can support you or connect you with our wellbeing team. Use the links on HILLCREST ConneX for information, phone numbers and websites to link you in with support systems. We value you and we care!