What exactly is self-care for mental health?
Written by
Natalie Hamilton
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.Taking care of your mental health is self-care, which means habits actively performed daily to protect oneself from anything attacking psychological health or the ability to cope. These behaviors allow for necessary maintenance rather than indulgence. These habits help build resistance to stress before it overwhelms individuals. These habits are physical, emotional, and social in nature. Like parts that make a machine run smoothly, they cooperate to take care of the mind.
Think of your mental health as the garden of your mind. Without proper care, the weeds of stress will take over. Self-care is the gardening tools you use each day. These daily habits create a protective fence around you from life's storms. They put nutrients into the soil of your mind. By properly tending to yourself, you will prevent burnout before it starts.
Physical Care
- Sleep hygiene: 7-9 hours nightly regulates cortisol
- Nutrition: Balanced meals stabilize blood sugar and mood
- Movement: Daily activity boosts serotonin naturally
Emotional Care
- Journaling: Processing feelings prevents emotional backlog
- Boundaries: Saying no preserves mental energy
- Self-compassion: Kind self-talk reduces shame cycles
Social Care
- Connection: Meaningful conversations release oxytocin
- Community: Group activities combat isolation
- Support systems: Trusted relationships provide safety nets
These pillars form the foundation of your psychological protection system. Caring for the body regulates biological stress responses. Processing the emotions helps to clear the bottleneck of bottled feelings. Connecting socially provides external affirmation. Offering a sacred context for facing challenges offers purpose. Mental practice builds cognitive resilience. These things combined form your total mental armor forfeit.
Implementing these practices yields measurable results. Consistent sleep helps us regulate our emotions more effectively. Daily movement decreases our emotional anxiety symptoms. Setting boundaries mitigates our tendency to build resentment. I experienced this kind of transformation personally after implementing micro-habits during my recovery from burning out. It became clear that small and consistent efforts lead to successive benefits for our mental health.
The personalized approach is what matters most. Watch the energy patterns for the next two weeks. Write down what depletes you and what renews you. Define routines around activities that authentically renew you. Understand that maintenance beats repair every time. Start your mental health protection plan today with one small habit.
Read the full article: 7 Essential Self Care Steps for Mental Health
