Self-care month began on June 24 and concludes on July 24, which has been declared National Self-Care Day. Self-care is a buzz word and sometimes loses its meaning and therefore its value; however, caring for oneself is one of the most important tasks we have as human beings. As the saying goes, we need to put our oxygen masks on first before we can help anyone else! Maybe this article will spur you on to starting or restarting your self-care routine. I forget sometimes to schedule appointments or to just pause and have some time to relax and enjoy myself and not be a human “doing” all the time. We tend to base our self-esteem on what we produce instead of what we enjoy, and what makes us feel serene, fulfilled, and grounded in ourselves.

“Self-care is important because it helps reestablish balance and avoid burnout. It is often the mechanism of recalibrating and getting in touch with our ability to play, have fun, relax, and connect.”    — SABRINA ROMANOFF, PSYD

Self-care needs to be purposeful and a conscious effort to put energy into our well-being. Sometimes with all the life stuff we have, caring for ourselves goes by the wayside. It may seem like a luxury and not a priority or necessity to us. However, there are a number of health benefits that come with caring for ourselves according to a Verywell Mind article including:

• Reduced anxiety and depression
• Reduction in stress and an increase in resilience
• More happiness
• Increased energy
• Reduction in burnout
• Stronger interpersonal relationships

I try to ask myself the question “what do I need right now?” and look within to get at some self-care action I can take either now or in the near future. I schedule time for self-care activities and put it in my phone calendar to track and keep myself accountable. One of my favorite things to do is to simply connect with friends whether that is a text or phone conversation or meeting at a coffee shop. Social connection is so vital to our ability to let go of stress and increase our well-being.

If you need some support planning your self-care, or even beginning to see how and what that would mean, contact the Ohio State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support. You can call 800-678-6265 or go online here.