Short-Term vs. Long-Term Self-Care
Self-care has been defined as, "a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being." Self-care is essential for strengthening your inner resources when dealing with stressful circumstances.
In this post, we explore two types of self-care: short-term, and long-term.
Short-Term Self Care
Short-term self-care makes us feel good instantly, and works great as a time out or a break for a quick recharge. However, self-care is not just limited to face masks or Netflix. Below are more examples of how we can practice short-term self-care:
Taking naps
Eating good food
Watching our favourite shows
Saying no to plans
Buying a gift for yourself
Skipping a workout
Doing a beauty routine
Long-term Self Care
Long-term self-care involves investing our energy in bettering our wellbeing for the long run. Although long-term self-care may not be instantly gratifying and can be challenging, it is necessary for working at the root causes of our problems. However, it may be hard for some of us because of some underlying reasons such as childhood trauma from toxic family dynamics that leads to deep-seated, negative beliefs about our world, self and others. Below are some examples of long-term self-care practices:
Acknowledging and understanding our past and how it shapes us
Embracing vulnerability and taking risks
Learning to accept difficult feelings
Being kind to ourselves
Practicing mindfulness in day-to-day activities
Cultivating healthy and meaningful relationships
Being consistent with sleep routine
Ensuring we get enough nutrition
Having sustainable, achievable fitness goals
Challenging our minds to learn and grow
Knowing where to prioritise our yes-es, and learning to say no
Seeking professional help to improve our mental health
Both types of self-care are needed for our mental health and happiness, and it's important to make sure one doesn't replace the other. Having short-term self-care but avoiding long-term self-care can lead to low perseverance when managing the inevitable stresses in life. Investing in long-term self-care but not taking breaks with short-term self-care can eventually lead to fatigue and burn out. Short-term self-care recharges our energy, but long-term self-care improves our overall resilience and self-worth. Read our other post on Why Long-Term Self Care is Hard to find out about the challenges as you embark on long-term self care.
Because seeking to balance short-term with long-term self-care can be challenging, here at Resting Tree, we are able to offer you support in your personal growth. Find out more by contacting us at info@restingtree.ca or book your free consultation today