conclusion for self care essay

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Health Care Policy — The Importance of Self-Care: A Personal Reflection

The Importance of Self-care: a Personal Reflection

• Categories: Health Care Policy Health Education Mental Health

About this sample

Words: 453 |

Published: Mar 16, 2024

Words: 453 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Nursing & Health Education

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1098 words

4 pages / 2045 words

1 pages / 558 words

3 pages / 1727 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Health Care Policy

The doctor-patient relationship forms the cornerstone of healthcare, serving as a fundamental component of effective medical care and patient outcomes. This intricate and multifaceted interaction between healthcare providers and [...]

Health care is a crucial aspect of any society, and access to quality health care services is a fundamental right for every citizen. The importance of healthcare cannot be overstated, as it not only ensures that individuals can [...]

The role of government in healthcare provision is a contentious issue with diverse perspectives on the appropriate level of government involvement. Some argue for increased government intervention to ensure universal access to [...]

In this essay, I will discuss the importance of breakfast in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the role of breakfast in academic success, and some easy and nutritious breakfast options for busy college students. Firstly, [...]

R. T. is a 44-year old black female, born in Aba, Abia state in Nigeria. She moved to the United States of America in 1998 and presently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. She’s divorced and has 3 children. R. T. works as a physician [...]

Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of certain diseases without medical supplies seem to be impossible in today’s world. Medical supplies have not only just aided doctors but they have assisted us also. We can now measure blood [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

The Spotlight

Mind, Body, and Soul: The Importance of Self Care

Sarah Jacobson , Editor-in-Chief | January 31, 2019

Sarah Jacobson

Some options for self care include journaling, taking a bath, reading, or exercise.

The busy schedules of many high school students inevitably lead to one thing: stress. We often spend so much of our day completing homework, writing essays, and studying for tests that we forget to spend time on ourselves. One of the best things we can do for our mental health is set aside a little bit of time everyday to assess how we feel mentally, and then address any negative emotions.

Oxford Dictionaries defines self-care as, “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.” Self-care is any activity that helps improve a person’s mental health. This activity is completely up to the individual, and can be anything, from running to reading. In order for the activity to constitute as an act of self-care, it only needs to positively impact your mental state.

“[Self care is] taking care of yourself and making sure… that you’re staying healthy and that you put yourself first sometimes because that’s really important,” sophomore Michelle Li said.

The mental health benefits of self-care are extensive. The whole purpose is to provide yourself with a mental break from your day-to-day stress. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness , stress can cause headaches, low energy, gastrointestinal issues, and insomnia. In addition, chronic stress can lead to mental illness, and is an overall negative component of a person’s life.

Taking regular breaks from stressful situations is important. To reduce the chances that your stress will lead to mental illness, you should plan some breaks throughout the school or work day, so that you can practice meditation, read, or do something that takes your mind off of your troubles.

“I value self care,” senior Alyssa Kovacs said, “because just like you would care of yourself when your body is physically sick, you should take care of your body when you’re not feeling well mentally.”

The physical health benefits of self care are not quite as plentiful, but they do go beyond just reducing the physical symptoms of stress. While self-care doesn’t always directly affect any particular aspect of your body, you benefit from a phenomenon called the relaxation response. Mosby’s Medical Dictionary describes the relaxation response as a protective mechanism against stress that can cause decreased heart rate, lower metabolism, and decreased respiratory rate. This response can be triggered through activities like yoga and meditation.

Self-care can be positive for physical health in more ways than just initiating the relaxation response. For example, if you rarely do stretches for physical therapy, then taking some time out of your day to do those stretches will not only provide a mental break but also some positive physical benefits.

“I practice mindfulness which means to grow an awareness of how our body communicates. I have learned to recognize what anxiety feels like in my body or what anger feels like in my body,” said science teacher Mr. David Dougherty, who advises the “Finding Peace Within” club during Spartan period. “When I recognize the experience, I stop and simply notice my breathing and focus on breathing and relaxing. It is a wonderful practice.”

When life gets stressful, sometimes the things we should be doing, like laundry, gets pushed aside in favor of work. Taking the time to make sure that your personal affairs are in order is just as much an act of self-care as doing a facemask. For some people, doing some chores or taking care of one’s physical health is more relaxing and beneficial.

“I make sure to take a few breaks between studying, and read a book or something to ease my mind, so I don’t have to think so much about everything that I’m stressed about,” Li said. “I make sure that I have specific routines during the evening to make sure that I’m not stressed out.”

Many people are often skeptical of self-care because they view it as selfish. This raises the question of whether or not it is selfish to put yourself first in some situations. In my opinion, it is absolutely not selfish. Sometimes you need a break from the fast-paced world around you, and it’s okay to recognize that and act upon it. In fact, self-care can, in some ways, be seen as a selfless act; if you’re not putting 100 percent into all that you do, then you are doing those around you a disservice.

Self-care is wonderful for everyone’s mental and physical wellbeing. Taking a break and making the time to assess and manage your mental health helps ensure that you are able to put your best foot forward no matter what life brings.

• Alyssa Kovacs
• David Dougherty
• Michelle Li

Senior Sarah Jacobson is a third-year staff reporter, former Our World editor, and current Editor-in-Chief of the Spotlight. She is also the head of social...

• 2013-14 Print Archives
• 2014-15 Print Archives
• 2015-16 Print Archives
• 2016-17 Print Archives
• 2017-18 Print Archives
• 2018-19 Print Archives
• 2019-20 Print Archives
• 2020-21 Print Archives
• 2021-22 Print Archives
• 2022-23 Print Archives
• 2023-24 Print Archives
• 2012-13 Print Archives
• 2011-12 Print Archives
• pollsarchive

Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion Essay

Often, people are too busy to get enough sleep, cook a good meal, or just relax. The life of a modern person is very busy. Taking care of oneself and taking care of health is a serious way to maintain well-being. An attentive attitude to oneself allows one to be more stable before stress. If a person is worried about news, politics, or something else, taking care of oneself will help to cope with a sense of insecurity. Therefore, it is important to know self-care principles and the basic rules.

Self-care is a wide range of actions that people do to improve their well-being and cope with stress. Self-care is important for managing stress and maintaining a reasonable work-life balance. Moreover, many diseases, weakening of the body and other troubles can be prevented (Jiang 126). A person can start taking care of himself at any time. However, it is best to do it all the time. For example, someone is planning changes in life: moving to a new job or place of study. Therefore, one can think in advance about the methods that one will use. They will help to overcome the stresses that may be the consequences of these changes. So, taking care of oneself helps to cope with stress better.

Of course, negative events are inevitable in life. However, taking care is a way to strengthen oneself to find some inner core to be ready for any adversity. Research related to self-care shows that it is an important way to maintain our well-being (Jiang 126). Participants who spent more time on themselves reported that their psychological health improved. They were also happier in their relationships saw good prospects for themselves in the future. Attention to themselves had a positive effect on their appearance and well-being (Jiang 126). The participants who took care of themselves were more attentive. Their awareness was associated with the desire for a higher level of well-being.

Self-care is an important practical habit, but it can be especially necessary when people are under stress or when they hear about the negativity happening to others. When people hear about bad incidents with other people, they can experience stress to the point of exhaustion. This may make us less capable of compassion in the future. Clinical psychologists suggest that people can feel the negative impact of events in the news on their minds (Jiang 126). And therefore, it is more important for one’s well-being not to read the news but to devote time to taking care of oneself. Therefore, a person needs to find a reasonable balance between staying up to date and taking time for oneself.

Everyone, regardless of gender, should know how to take care of themselves properly. This is necessary for many reasons: firstly, well-chosen cosmetics and procedures will contribute to the health of skin and hair. Secondly, a person will become more attractive, which means that one will improve the quality of any communication. Thirdly, it is pleasant to take care of oneself, it significantly improves mood and increases self-esteem; some even consider it a kind of therapy.

Despite modern trends and the development of society, sometimes one can still meet a person who believes in old stereotypes. All these jokes that all parts of the body are washed with the same soap and wiped with the same towel are not always just humor. Until now, most men do not pay due attention to hygiene procedures, their appearance and planned trips to the doctor (Jiang 126). For example, some are ashamed to go for a man’s manicure or choose the right shampoo for their hair type for a long time. Despite the fact that society is changing for the better now, and body positivity is being popularized, there will always be people who can be biased. An unkempt appearance can have a bad effect, for example, on a career or studies. Self–care is not only beauty but also health: a person can take care of oneself in different ways. For example, to eat right, get enough sleep, exercise, relax, spend time with loved ones. However, all this affects the external and internal beauty of a person.

In addition, some types of self-care are associated with well-being. Thus, the level of social support has a direct relationship with well-being (Jiang 126). In addition, there were other types of self-care related to well-being. These are exercise, rest and healthy habits: good food and enough time to sleep (Rupert 343). If a person wants to spend more time taking self-care, one can easily fit it into a schedule. Many of these actions do not take much time: just a few minutes. Therefore, even with a lack of free time, one needs to take a short break from the daily to-do list. It can be beneficial.

The basis of proper self-care is physical exercise. In addition to the benefits for the physical health of the body, gymnastics is also useful for the brain. It has been found that physical activity reduces anxiety the risk of depression and improves cognitive skills. It should be noted that one does not need to become a marathon runner to get the benefits of exercise; even one short lesson can quickly improve mood.

Moreover, good sleep and awareness are important for a person’s physical health. It is known that sufficient sleep duration has many advantages over lack of sleep. When a person does not sleep well, he has problems remembering new information. Research shows that mindfulness can be an important way to take self-care. Psychology graduate students were taught mindfulness. They did various exercises aimed at increasing awareness: such as meditation yoga; which lasted for 8 weeks (Rupert 343). Compared to other students who did not practice these actions, their sense of awareness reduced stress, and anxiety and increased positive emotions. Studies have also shown that mindfulness can treat depression and even lead to beneficial changes in the brain.

In conclusion, one will waste time on maintaining good appearance and well-being. This is useful and can actually allow to survive burnout. Exercise, full sleep, awareness and self-care allow to work on improving health and well-being. One can learn to take self-care, using not only cosmetology but also psychological techniques and principles. A well-groomed appearance is an important part of success. With one’s appearance, a person shows that they knows how to allocate time and keep up with everything: work, family, attend workouts and take self-care. The first step on the way to beauty is the opportunity to see this beauty with one’s own eyes. This is not an easy path; one will have to get to know oneself again. Therefore, it is important to adhere to simple rules of self-care and hygiene in order to feel successful and attract people to oneself.

Works Cited

Jiang, Xu, Allyson K. Topps, and Rebecca Suzuki. “A systematic review of self-care measures for professionals and trainees.” Training and Education in Professional Psychology 15.2 2021: 126.

Rupert, Patricia A. “Self-care, stress, and well-being among practicing psychologists.” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 50.5 2019: 343.

• Pitney Bowes Company's Approach to Employee Health
• Humanity’s Collective Health Impacted by Globalization
• Self-Care Plan
• Mindfulness as a Practice in Therapy and Daily Life
• Evidence on Whether Mindfulness Should Be Practiced in Schools
• The Limitations of Pitney Bowes’ Approach to Employee Health
• Analysis of Obesity as a Public Health Concern
• Aspects of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• The United States Health Care Industry
• The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Workers' Mental Health
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 9). Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-self-care-rhetoric-and-persuasion/

"Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion." IvyPanda , 9 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-self-care-rhetoric-and-persuasion/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion'. 9 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion." February 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-self-care-rhetoric-and-persuasion/.

1. IvyPanda . "Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion." February 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-self-care-rhetoric-and-persuasion/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion." February 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-self-care-rhetoric-and-persuasion/.

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

The Connection Between Self-Care and Mental Health

Taking care of oneself supports mental health and fitness..

Posted February 22, 2023 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

• Find a therapist near me
• Self-care is linked to improved mental health, self-esteem, self-worth, and optimism.
• Self-care involves valuing ourselves enough to make our health, well-being, and happiness a priority.
• We often don't take enough care of ourselves, which can have long-term effects on well-being.

Self-care may seem like nothing more than the latest buzzword or passing trend, but in reality, it is a commitment to ourselves—a promise to factor ourselves into the equation of our lives. When we optimize self-care, we feel better, look better, and have more energy. And quality self-care is linked to improved mental health, with benefits like enhanced self-esteem and self-worth, increased optimism , a positive outlook on life, and lower levels of anxiety and depression .

We’re all we have, and we owe it to ourselves to take care of our physical and mental health. While we don’t set out to do ourselves harm, self-care often ends up last on the list of priorities in our busy lives.

The road to self-sacrifice is paved with good intentions. We sacrifice ourselves to meet deadlines, help others, and show others we love and care for them by going above and beyond to help them. We over-extend, over-promise, and exhaust ourselves so often and so much that we don’t even realize how tired and stressed we are.

When we’re tired, angry, and dissatisfied with ourselves. we reach for a quick fix to feel better. We over-indulge in habits and behaviors that offer temporary relief or distraction, but do not make things better. When the day is done, we’re often too tired to sleep... and we wake up the next day and do it all over again. The solution: bringing in quality self-care that sustains us and ensures that we factor ourselves into the equation of our lives.

Self-care and energy

Self-care revolved around caring for—and maximizing—our four sources of energy: the food we eat, our sleep , our breath (our physical activity levels), and our state of mind . Many experts frame tending to these four aspects of life as the four pillars of quality self-care. Integrating quality self-care into our lives is a powerful way to reconnect and reinvigorate ourselves, mind, body, and soul.

Unlike a shiny new vehicle, we don’t come with an owner’s manual. But if we did, we’d all have the basic knowledge to fuel ourselves with fresh, high-quality, nutrition -rich foods. We would know to keep problematic behaviors and habits in check. We would know how to talk to ourselves with kindness and compassion and challenge our negative beliefs and self-defeating thoughts. We would take the time to move our bodies daily, to breathe deep, nourishing breaths. We would know how to prepare for and prioritize quality sleep. And we would understand the importance of pursuing interests and connections that bring us joy and a sense of connection to ourselves on a daily basis.

The absence of self-care

For people suffering from mental health issues like depression, every day is a challenge. I used to run groups for people suffering from depression. In our sessions, I would take everyone through an exercise of listing things that they enjoyed, things of interest and value to them, and things that made them smile. After everyone had completed their list, I would ask them to take a few minutes to reflect on how many of those activities they had engaged in over the previous week, and share their thoughts. Each week, almost everyone reported that they had not done any of the enjoyable activities on their list.

Connecting to ourselves

This group exercise illustrates a valuable lesson in resilience . Resilience isn’t something we do or don’t have. It is something we build and reinforce every day. Through having compassion for ourselves and purposely engaging in things that make us feel good when we have low self-esteem or are struggling, we connect to our power, our ability to lift and support ourselves through whatever comes our way. Self-care involves valuing ourselves enough to make our health, well-being, and happiness a priority. It means having compassion for ourselves by acknowledging when we are struggling, over-extending ourselves, or feeling unwell.

5 steps for enhancing self-care

We need to understand that we can step back, press pause, and direct our energy on taking care of ourselves. We need to realize that we can choose to live our lives in a way that supports and optimizes both our physical and mental health, fitness, and well-being!

• Make quality a priority in your life. Quality food, rest, and time to connect with friends, family, and ourselves feeds, repairs, and restores the body, mind, and spirit.
• Pay attention to your thoughts. Challenge negative self-talk , fears, and feelings of inadequacy.
• Be as nice to yourself as you are to others. We’re often our harshest critics and most relentless worst enemies.
• Start saying no to requests to help others when you are running on empty or don’t have the time to take care of your own need.
• Stay connected to yourself. Engage in an activity or experience that brings you joy, no matter how briefly. Sit in the sunshine. Listen to a favorite song. Meet a friend. Walk in nature. Simply do something that brings joy and love and keeps you connected to yourself.

Monica Vermani, C. Psych., is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma, stress, mood and anxiety disorders, and the author of A Deeper Wellness .

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience