7 Dimensions of Self-Care

Katarina Williams, Advanced Clinical Fellow

At its core, self care is the practice of slowing down and taking the time to care for ourselves. It is self-respect, self-love, and self-worth wrapped all in one. 

While “self-care” has become a buzzword in our society, it's a deeply necessary and fundamental aspect of wellness and one’s life journey. There is more to self-care than just bubble-baths, facials, and treating yo’self. 

There are seven dimensions of self-care and wellness each representing an integral element of self-restoration.

Physical Self-Care

Physical self-care means taking care of your body in a way that feels energizing and healthy to you. It's important to realize that like the other dimensions of self-care, physical self care looks different for everyone, and often looks different each day when you truly tune in with your body. Taking care of your body could mean taking a morning walk through your neighborhood. Maybe you need an hour of self-reflection in nature, and on other days you take a walk on the west-side-highway with loved ones. Another type of physical self care is joyful movement, which is about embodiment. Maybe try a dance cardio, yoga, or barre class to connect with your body and have fun through movement.

Psychological Self-Care

Psychological self-care is also a vital piece of the wellness puzzle; this involves learning, thinking, reflecting, and growing. Whether you decide to invest in individual psychotherapy, or participate in a support group, this type of self-care can be transformational. 

Emotional Self-Care

Emotional self-care is attending to your feelings and listening to what you need at any given moment. Practicing gentle self compassion or journaling affirmations can be a part of your emotional self-care routine. For example, becoming mindfully aware of your self-talk, can be a way to check your emotional state and ask yourself what you need.

Social Self-Care

Social self-care is all about relationships: making time for connection with loved ones. If you are on your recovery journey, having a support system is essential. It may seem difficult to rally a group of individuals who understand your journey, but this is an essential part of the therapeutic process. Think about the people in your life who have been with you, perhaps through the hard times or through the various circumstances around working towards a healthier relationship with yourself. Who can you consistently rely on as a confidant, a person to share your struggles and victories through a cup of tea or going out for dinner?

Professional Self-Care

Professional self-care and wellness may be one of the trickier elements to prioritize. You may have a demanding career where setting boundaries to protect yourself is against the workplace culture. This looks like taking your full lunch break, leaving work at work, using your vacation days to completely unplug, and staying home to take care of yourself when sick. 

Financial Self-Care
Practicing financial self-care means focusing your time and energy on your money situation, making concrete plans to save, or setting goals to cultivate a healthy financial future. This may not sound fun, but worrying about debt, paying bills, and falling short of savings goals can lead to distress. 

Spiritual Self-Care

Spiritual self-care is a set of practices that promote your connection to your higher self. Whether it’s aligning your life with your values, making time for prayer, practicing mindfulness and meditation, using oracle cards, or becoming a part of a spiritual community, spiritual self-care can silence the mind and encourage deep self-reflection. 

As a reminder, it's often when it seems there is no time for self-care when it is the most vital to our well-being.