Self-Care: Taking Care of Your Body

Self-Care: Taking Care of Your Body

Self-care is doing activities to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Practicing self-care helps us reduce stress and manage our emotions better. Lack of self-care can lead to increased stress and illness overtime. While taking care of our physical health is only one part of effective self-care it directly impacts our mental and emotional health. This makes taking care of our body important!

Perhaps you’re interested in doing more self-care but you’re not sure where to begin. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches a skill called Taking care of your mind by taking care of your body and can be remembered as the PLEASE skills. This skill has 5 steps that when followed help you become less receptible to stress and improve your well-being!

  1. Treat PhysicaL illness
    If you’re sick, go to the doctor. Take your medication as prescribed. Stay up to date with yearly check-ups.
  2. Balance Eating
    Eat food that nourishes your body and gives you energy. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full.
  3. Avoid mood-Altering substances
    Stay away from illegal drugs and limit/be mindful of drinking intake (if at all).
  4. Balance Sleep
    Try and stay on a consistent sleep schedule where you get about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night or where you’re getting the amount of sleep that helps you feel your best.
  1. Get Exercise
    Try to engage in some type of exercise every day! 20 minutes of daily exercise can help with stress levels and mood.

 

If you or a loved one are struggling please consider scheduling an appointment with a therapist at the Summit Counseling Center by calling 678-893-5300 or contacting us via our website www.summitcounseling.org.