Self-care is a very popular topic these days, and it’s an important topic. It is how we focus on our emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. I’m pretty sure “self-care” was not discussed in my early years. I think back to when I had rheumatic fever at age seven. I had to do some things, controlled mainly by my mother, I’ll admit. I was on bed rest, and that had to be maintained, and a healthy diet was essential. When I was in nursing school years later, my obstetrics instructor taught us relaxation exercises. These were exercises that mothers in labour used. She suggested we try to use those exercises to help us get to sleep at night, too. Maybe it might have been called a concept of a plan?
The idea of self-care started in the 1950s and was focused on the medical model. The focus of care switched to being “person or patient-centered care.” Weight loss and diet were important components in some diseases. Patients became more involved in their own care. In mental health, the emphasis grew stronger on self-care, exercising, grooming, etc., so people would regain a sense of self-worth.
During the civil rights movement in the United States, self-care became very important for those fighting for change. The Black Panther Party realized the importance of self-care. They understood they needed to take care of themselves to continue fighting for change. They realized that their communities needed to have access to opportunities that would help with their physical and mental health. Audre Lorde, a Black woman, wrote in 1988,” Caring for myself is not self-indulgent. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare”.
After the events of 9/11, the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City marked a shift. Self-care became more about dealing with trauma. Self-care became a way to cope with the aftermath. Those dealing with PTSD, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and those who felt their world had been turned upside down. People changed how they were taking care of themselves. During the COVID pandemic, self-care changed again. Many deeply felt the loss of community connections, and self-care had to change again. After Mr. Trump was elected in 2016, there was a big spike in searches for articles on self-care online. I imagine that presently, in 2025, there is considerable interest again.
The Bible tells us to “Love the Lord your God above all and your neighbour as yourself”. But what does it mean to love oneself? Loving yourself is not the same as selflessness. If you only give to others, you may begin to resent others. You may be easily angered with people. You could also be filled with chronic anxiety. If your coping habits involve perfection, pleasing people, shutting down emotionally, or constantly being busy, your nervous system is overloaded. It’s essential to make a change. You need to put on your own oxygen mask before you can help others with theirs. Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s how we partner with God in caring for ourselves. Jesus didn’t come because he wants us to be useful, He came because He wants us to be whole–whole in mind, body and emotions
Many factors can cause a lack of self-care. These include depression, anxiety, feeling unworthy, trauma, and lack of motivation. When you don’t care for yourself, you might feel drained of energy. You may lack patience and become irritated by those who make demands on your time. You may find it difficult to focus on tasks and your productivity decreases. It takes some introspection to become aware of one’s goals, physical /mental needs, and accomplishments. Regular quality self-care improves mental health, self-esteem and self-worth and decreases anxiety and depression.
Taking care of yourself is a very individual thing. The Canadian Mental Health Association has a list of some ideas that may be helpful. Some of these suggestions may be more important for you than others.
- Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your mood and improve your health
- Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated
- Make sleep a priority
- Try a relaxing activity
- Set goals and priorities
- Practice gratitude
- Focus on positivity
- Stay connected.
Self-care is a way we prioritize our emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
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