Last Updated on September 9, 2024 by Saskia Friedrich
Have you been wondering what the 8 areas of self care are? It’s important to know about the different types so you can maintain a balance when taking care of yourself.
The 8 areas of self care range from physical to psychological and financial self care.
Some areas might even be a surprise to you and you would have never considered them to fall under self care.
What Are The Main Areas of Self Care?
The 8 areas of self care not only take your physical health and feelings into consideration, but they also consist of your professional development, finances, and safety.
If you chose to do a couple of activities out of those 8 areas every day, you can make sure to not let anything fall behind. It’s all about finding a balance when it comes to self care.
What Is Self Care?
Self care means taking care of yourself in a way that makes you feel happy, fulfilled, and comfortable.
You chose to take time for yourself and do an activity that you truly want to do at that moment. Self care is putting yourself first and tending to your needs. You show yourself love and that you are worthy of being taken care of.
As explained in this article by Forbes, self care is not about enjoying a spa treatment every now and then, it’s more about getting the priorities in your life right.
It’s hard work figuring out what and who you spend your valuable time on and where to set your boundaries.
If you consider the 8 domains of self care and maintain a healthy and realistic balance, self care will contribute to your overall well-being and change your life for the better.
Even just taking 5 minutes to yourself greatly affects your mood and health. Need inspiration? Check out these self care activities that take 5 minutes or less for the days you struggle to find time for yourself.
Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.
8 Areas of Self Care: Explained in Detail
Let’s have a closer look at the 8 types of self care and some examples of self-care you could do during your nightly routine if you like!
Physical Self Care
Physical self care consists of activities to maintain your physical health such as:
- Doing a workout at home or the gym
- Going for a walk or a bike ride
- Swimming
- Going to the dentist
- Taking a bath
- Going to the GP for a routine check-up
- Sleeping or having a rest
- Having a relaxing shower
- Taking a break (try out these 5 minute self care activities)
- Cooking yourself a decent meal
- Having a shower or bath
- Going for a massage or to the chiropractor
- Setting up a morning and evening routine
More Self-Care Ideas:
Emotional Self Care
Emotional Self Care has to do with acknowledging your emotions and finding a way to deal with them.
- Being aware of your feelings (try out monthly reflection)
- Reflecting on how certain people and situations make you feel
- Talking to a friend or a psychologist
- Journaling (check out this cute notebook!)
- Setting boundaries with friends, family, and work
- Learning to say ‘no’
- Writing a gratitude list or a love letter to yourself
- Having a break from social media
- Reading affirmations
- Writing yourself a love letter
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Psychological Self Care
Psychological self care keeps your mind and brain engaged by learning new things or doing something creative:
- Learning a new language or a new skill
- Drawing, painting, or DIY-ing
- Playing an instrument
- Reading a book
- Writing / Blogging
- Stepping out of your comfort zone every now and then
Social Self Care
Building and maintaining connections and relationships with family, friends, and others around you.
- Meeting up with family or friends over lunch, dinner, or doing a day trip somewhere
- Staying in contact with friends and family regularly
- Remembering people’s birthdays and maybe even getting them a small gift (a little gesture goes a long way!)
- Asking your support group for help when you need it
- Offering help and always have an open ear to your friend’s concerns
- Greeting your neighbor
- Volunteering & caring for others (good for your karma!)
Spiritual Self Care
Spiritual self care is all about grounding your beliefs and finding your purpose in life.
- Praying
- Meditating
- Going on a retreat
- Practicing mindfulness
- Setting your values
- Seeing the bigger picture
Financial Self Care
Taking care of your finances will help you feel secure and prevent you from suffering from financial hardship.
- Setting up a monthly budget (what comes in, what goes out) – check out this cute and helpful budget planner! It makes it so easy for you to stay on top of your finances with stickers, colors, and organized charts.
- Living and spending within your limits
- Putting money aside at the start of the month, not at the end (that way you end up saving more)
- Investing in shares or ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
- Paying invoices on time
- Keeping your tax in order
- Planning your future
Related: Positive Goal Reaching Affirmations
Environmental Self Care
Maintaining a secure environment around you will help you stay safe and prevents you from health issues later on in life.
- Keeping your house clean and tidy
- Decluttering
- Living in a place where you feel safe and stable
- Setting up smoke detectors at home
- Servicing your car
- Walking away from an abusive relationship
Professional Self Care
Never stop learning! Your knowledge and skillset are something no one can take away from you.
- Staying up to date with the latest practices in your industry so you don’t fall behind
- Taking a course to upskill
- Asking for a promotion
- Being productive (try out Sunday planning)
- Working efficiently
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FAQs on 8 Areas of Self Care
Is Self-Care The Same As Self-Love?
No, self-care and self-love are not the same thing. Self-care is about taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Self-love is about accepting yourself for who you are, being kind and compassionate towards yourself and your values and beliefs.
Intellectual Self-Care Examples
Intellectual self-care are activities such as reading a book, a biography, or the newspaper, as well as listening to a podcast, watching a documentary, or learning a new language.
These activities help you to broaden your knowledge and make you think for yourself instead of absorbing things that are irrelevant to your intellect.
What Are The 5 Benefits of Self-Care?
- 1. Self-care improves your physical health and makes your body stronger to fight illnesses.
- 2. Self-care reduces your stress levels and you feel more comfortable within yourself.
- 3. Self-care improves the relationship with yourself and your loved ones.
- 4. Self-care makes you stay on top of financial aspects of your life.
- 5. Self-care boots your mental and emotional health.
Final Thoughts on 8 Areas of Self Care
I hope you now have a clear overview of the different types of self care.
Self care is so much more than just one thing. It takes into consideration every aspect of your life.
Listen to your body and honor yourself. Show yourself the love and respect you deserve! What’s the first self-care activity you want to try out? Let me know!
8 Areas of Self Care
About The Author
Saskia is a mom, blogger, and freelance writer. She loves sharing tips on self-care, personal growth, and productivity & organization. Find out more about her or get in touch with her here.