(Posted 2025 December)
When we think of self-care, we often think of rewarding ourselves with spa treatments or perhaps going on a retreat. Those activities are good, but they often don’t go far enough and sometimes are rewards for neglecting to take care of ourselves. This is according to Portia Jackson-Preston, founder and CEO of Empowered to Exhale, an organization that helps create a culture of sustainable wellness. Self-care, she says, should be a holistic practice—one where you ask, “how can I best take care of myself?”
The answer: any practice that helps you manage stress and promote well-being. But we should consider these six factors when we design our personal self-care:
- Physical. This can be walking, dancing, or any physical activity you practice at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
- Psychological. Make it a daily practice to write in a journal.
- Emotional. Have compassion for yourself every day.
- Spiritual. Connect regularly with a source of faith and hope—which could be religious but also includes things like spending time in nature.
- Relational. Regularly schedule downtime with your partner, friends, and people you love.
- Professional. Set boundaries in the workplace. Get regular support from peers and mentors
Jackson-Preston also recommends sharing stories and lived experiences. Your transparency and vulnerability encourage others experiencing similar things to participate in critical conversations about self-care.
Your self-care action plan should include what you will do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to facilitate self-care in our own life. But you don’t have to try all these activities and behavior changes immediately. Pick one action to start and work your way up to the six factors.
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