Dear College of Education Community,
The ongoing pressures that many have experienced in the last three years can cause a heightened experience of anxiety and interpersonal challenges. It is understandable that under chronic stress we are not always at our best. Now it is more important than ever to engage in self-care to promote balance in multiple areas of our lives. In a recent Psychology Today blog, Dan Bates, a clinical mental health counselor, advocates for the need to engage in multidimensional areas of self-care to maintain harmony and wellbeing. He states, “Below are six dimensions of self-care. Read each one and think of one way you can enhance self-care in that domain of life.”
Physical: Eating right, exercising regularly, being active, receiving proper medical care, and getting enough sleep are important investments in your physical health. Those with poor mental health typically have high morbidity and mortality rates. For many, physical health is something they ignore, but that only hurts them. They may not see the harm immediately, but over time, the negative effects of not taking care of their physical health will show. Ask: What is one way you can practice better self-care as it relates to your physical health?
Spiritual: You may not be religious, and that’s OK, but we all have spiritual needs. We all desire to experience moments of transcendence, peace, and purpose. These are meaningful elements of the human experience and are deeply connected with our overall well-being and emotional health. I suggest spending time in solitude and contemplation, to reflect on the beauty of nature and the human experience, and to understand and live out your purpose.. Ask: What is one way you can practice better self-care as it relates to your spiritual health?
Intellectual: Feeding your mind is just as important as feeding your stomach. Your mind hungers for new information, insight, knowledge, and wisdom. Consider developing your intellectual curiosity by discovering an intellectual mentor from history; someone whose ideas stimulate your thinking. Find as many works as you can from this person and sit under their tutelage. Or consider learning a new skill or a new language. Ask: What is one way you can practice better self-care as it relates to your intellectual health?
Relational: You are a social creature, which means you have an innate need to connect with a community to satisfy needs for friendship, sex, and conversation. Social connectedness is powerfully connected to our well-being. You need other people in your life; people to ask the difficult questions, to introduce new ideas to your consciousness; people who become friends, lovers, or community members. Conversely, other people need you. You fulfill a purpose intrinsic to the human experience when you engage with others in a meaningful way to help, encourage, challenge, support, love, and befriend another human being. Ask: What is one way you can practice better self-care as it relates to your relational health?
Emotional: Satisfying your intellectual needs is important, but you are not a brain in a vat. You are an emotional being. To be a well-rounded person making a balanced investment, you must attend to your emotional needs. Many shy away from taking care of their emotional needs for fear of being vulnerable. However, the discomfort of vulnerability is outweighed by the emotional benefits. When you can open up to a trusted person and share your feelings, you will experience relief and meet a social need. Ask: What is one way you can practice better self-care as it relates to your emotional health?
Occupational: Outside of sleeping, work is most likely one of the activities that consume most of your time over the course of your lifespan. Therefore, what you do for work and your level of enjoyment at work has a big impact on your life. When you can combine your passions, strengths, interests, and mission into one activity that generates an income, you know you’ve hit the jackpot.. Ask: What is one way you can practice better self-care as it relates to your occupational health?
To read more, go to https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-health-nerd/202212/multidimensional-self-care
For a list of other self-care options, please go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
Please take good care of yourselves and each other.
Warmly,
Shari