Self-care is not just about looking out for yourself, but also about maintaining meaningful relationships with others. It is about understanding and respecting your own limits and communicating them clearly to those around you. Physical health is a key component of self-care, as the body and mind are inextricably linked. When you don't feel good about your body, it can be hard to stay in a positive frame of mind.
Research has shown that regular exercise can increase serotonin levels in the body, leading to improved mood and energy. When exercising for self-care, it is important to choose an activity that you enjoy, such as running, walking, swimming, or anything else that makes you feel alive. Doing something you love will bring extra satisfaction and help you stay motivated even when it seems like there is no time for it. If you are unsure which aspect of self-care to focus on first, take a self-care quiz to find out.
It is important to remember that self-care should never come at the expense of your own peace or health. Self-care interventions are especially important for those who do not have access to health-promoting interventions or who have a certain distrust of the health system. The application of self-care in everyday life includes activities such as exercise, meditation, yoga, and complementary and alternative therapies. The concept of self-care was not clearly defined until the late 20th century when the importance of taking care of oneself began to be recognized due to the rise in chronic diseases. An extensive search for the term self-care was conducted in three online databases (National Library of Medicine PubMed, CINAHL and EBSCOhost).
Self-care is an active decision-making process that allows people to participate effectively in their own care. Physical self-care involves taking care of the body through exercise, nutrition, good hygiene and adequate sleep. There is a large body of literature from various disciplines on self-care, an important aspect of nursing intervention through evaluation and education. However, its meaning remains vague due to the difficulty of integrating the various definitions developed over time in all disciplines. The findings suggest a multifaceted definition of self-care that addresses a holistic view of patients with chronic diseases in the present literature.
Therefore, it is important to consider cultural and country specific approaches when understanding self-care and designing effective and specific interventions.
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