Think of holistic self–care as the physical and the emotional aspects of wellbeing. 

There is no one way to take care of yourself and control your stress levels; self-care doesn’t look the same for everyone. However, we have gathered a list of practices that can help you identify your go-to self-care system:

01 Physical wellness

Exercise offers amazing benefits that can enhance nearly every aspect of your health from the inside out. It includes a balanced diet of choosing foods with high nourish benefits, regularly exercising for at least 2.5 hours a week, adequate sleep of 7 to 9 hours, and physical intimacy which comes in the forms of hugging a loved one, getting a massage, getting a pet and more.

02 Mental health

You may go to the doctor to get regular checkups of your body, but what about your mind? 264 million people are affected by depression globally. It is the most common mental illness, alerting us to the importance of mental health. Being aware of your mental health and working on improving it is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Reducing stress levels by managing your issues and questioning whether you can completely get rid of them or not, setting up firm boundaries and limits where saying no is not selfish and understanding how to communicate your needs clearly to others, enhancing your cognitive skills by reading and learning new information, going to therapy and working with a professional can make a significant improvement on your mental health, developing your personal growth and strengthening your sense of self can all have tremendous benefits for your overall wellness.

03 Emotional wellbeing

Having good emotional health is a vital aspect of encouraging resilience, self-awareness, and overall contentment. It’s about managing the ups and downs of daily life, getting in touch with your emotions, learning to understand them, and using this information to better preserve your emotional health.

Your self-care plan is a living document, one that evolves with you. When you struggle in certain circumstances, explore the barriers keeping you from meeting your best self, then revisit your self-care plan regularly to identify what is best working for you and what is not. It might be a 5-minute break with your favorite soothing essential oil during office hours, a long warm bath, letting it all out in the gym and/or having a drink with some friends. Just remember that at the end of the day, you know what best suits you.