One way to think about what is involved in self-care is to think of it as a continuum. The choices we make every day can make a significant impact on our overall health. And it is often small things like sleep, drinking water, eating healthy, and getting enough exercise that add up. Ignoring the basics can contribute to poor mental and physical health.

During our lifetime, we have a set of activities for self-care that is part of our daily routine. These might include brushing teeth, showering, drinking water, eating healthy food, exercising, and perhaps mindful practices. These daily activities add up to what we might describe as our lifestyle. However, when we experience challenges in our lives, such as extra stress, we may find that what we do for self-care is not enough to bring ourselves to a healthy state. We may then engage in self-managed triage. This might include exploring activities to help us during these times, such as taking a vacation, treating ourselves to a spa day, or doing something that isn’t part of our routine.

However, when these triage activities aren’t enough, we may need more to take care of ourselves. In these situations, we can seek even more help by exploring new resources, including short-term or long-term professional assistance. Take a look at what a self-care continuum might encompass.

Your self-care activities are personal. They are anything that allows you to feel healthy and happy and manage your life's stressors. It may include long walks, tidying up your space, playing sports, engaging in a hobby, caring for pets, or enjoying time with friends and family.

The challenge for all of us is to make our self-care plans intentional. This means that we take time to assess if our daily routine is appropriate to our current challenges. This is critical because a healthy daily routine is our best protection for handling whatever life throws our way.