Practicing Self-Care-Part 1- Physical Needs

It is important to view ourselves as whole beings comprised of a body, mind, and soul.  All of these elements are essential to our well-being and, as such, need to be nurtured.  Let’s look at the first element on this list. 

In order to take care of our own physical needs, we need to pay attention to the following:

Physical Foundation-  Our body is a structure built upon a foundation of blood, bone, and muscle.  It is important to keep our foundation as strong as possible through regular exercise and weight-bearing exercises, which strengthen bones and aid in the prevention of osteoporosis as we age.  The benefits of regular exercise are numerous and the good thing is we do not have to commit to a rigid schedule of ‘working out’ in order to experience these benefits.  Make it a habit to:

• Park in a space farthest from your destination and get some walking in that way.

• Bag your own groceries and take the longest route to carry them into the house.

• Take a walk to the library or post office instead of driving.

• Take the stairs rather than the elevator.

Doctor Visits- Regular check-ups and appropriate screenings are essential to our health.  It is important to schedule a full physical once each year.  If we are prescribed medications, we need to be sure we are taking them as directed.  Dental hygiene is often overlooked and not viewed as an integral part of our medical needs, however, plaque and gum health affects our heart functioning.  Regular cleanings and exams help to ensure oral health.  If financial constraints interfere with obtaining dental insurance (many employers do not offer it), it may be helpful to check out the EDP plan for discounted services in New York State - www.edpdentalplan.com

Diet/Eating Habits- It is important, not to mention empowering, to become educated about the food we consume.  We need to be mindful of staying hydrated throughout the day, especially if we engage in any type of physical exercise.  Mindfulness (our state of self-awareness) is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship with food. We can increase our mindfulness by considering the following:

• environment in which we consume our meals

• amount of time we allot to meals

• degree of distraction during mealtimes

Repair time- Adequate sleep gives our minds the opportunity to process the experiences of the previous day and our bodies time to repair themselves.  Many of us believe that sleep wastes precious hours that could be utilized to accomplish tasks/responsibilities, however, we are actually ‘doing’ a great deal while we are sleeping.  Click on the following link to learn more about the importance of sleep- http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/video/sleep07_matters/wm-hi.

In the next chapter, we will look at ways to take care of our emotional needs.