The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider”.

That sounds really different from what most of us think of when we hear the word self-care, right? I know I used to think of self-care as simply treating myself to a long bath or binging my favorite Netflix show.

But if we take an approach to self-care that is more holistic, to really try to stick with the definition of self-care provided by the WHO, we can see that self-care is really more about caring for ourselves on every level.

By using these 7 pillars as guideposts for practicing self-care in every area of our lives, we can nurture our whole being and ease some of the challenges that we face as we navigate through our lives with chronic illness.

Keep in mind, too, that it’s important to attend to our wellness even when we’re not dealing with a flare, so we can continue to feel as good as we can as often as we can.

Mental Self-Care

• Seek professional help from a coach or therapist when needed to help you cope with your chronic illness
• Learn to set boundaries to honor your physical and mental needs and protect your limited energy
• Practice self-awareness of your mindset and self-talk
• Spend time reading, watching documentaries, playing video or board games, hobbies and doing other activities that stimulate your mind
• Learn something new to expand your knowledge

Emotional Self-Care

• Honor your emotions as they arise – even the tough & uncomfortable ones
• Journal to express your feelings
• Listen to your favorite music to uplift you
• Do some EFT Tapping to help process the tough emotions
• Join a support group for people with chronic illness who will understand your daily challenges

Physical Self-Care

• Prioritize sleep & rest – rest is so important, especially for spoonies
• Eat nourishing foods when you’re able to help maintain your energy and overall wellness
  
• Practice sustainable, loving movement like tai chi, yoga, or dance
  
• Get fresh air & sunlight – simply opening the blinds and windows counts if you’re unable to leave the house/hospital
  
• Sticking to your treatment plan is another important way to maintain your physical wellness

Spiritual Self-Care

• Whether or not you consider yourself a spiritual or religious person, finding ways to connect to something larger than ourselves can help us when we’re feeling low by giving us a way stay grounded in a sense of purpose
  
• Listening to podcasts, reading books, watching documentaries/movies based on personal and/or spiritual growth subjects are amazing & low-energy ways to get in some spiritual self-care, even on hard days
• Being in community with others who have similar personal growth and/or spiritual beliefs and interests not only fulfills our spiritual needs, but it can help meet our mental, social, and recreational needs as well
• Pursuing personal and/or spiritual growth through activities like mindfulness practices, prayer, mind/body practices, and reflecting on your Higher Purpose really helps you remember that you’re more than your body and the struggles you face
• Spending time in (or even around) nature can help to remind you of your place in the Universe and allows you to focus on things outside of your current experience, which can be a big relief when you have a chronic illness

Recreational Self-Care

• While our abilities may change due to chronic illness, it’s still important to find ways to have fun. Having more fun in ways that are accessible to us, we renew our joy and strengthen our resilience so we can show up as our whole selves, no matter what we’re dealing with
• On bad days, I love turning to my favorite Netflix shows to binge, and I also make sure to have my favorite books and games on my tablet, so that even if I can’t leave my bed or couch, I can have a bit of fun
• It’s also great if you have a hobby you enjoy to keep your mind nimble as well as being a source of fun. We can’t spend all of our time consumed with the chronic illness life – only worrying about our illness and never enjoying what we can
• Recreation also means making time to do nothing, which ties back to taking care of our physical need for rest and relaxation. Adopting a slower pace and setting aside specific time to just be can go a long way in strengthening our physical, mental, and emotional reserves for dealing with our flares
• Try new things often. This is another tip that caters to a lot of different areas, but it’s a sure way to add some fun and novelty to your life

Social Self-Care

• Online groups and friendships are often looked down upon as “less than” face-to-face friendships, but as we’ve learned in the current pandemic, these sorts of connections can be just as crucial to helping us feel connected to others
• Spending time with supportive family and friends is another important facet of social self-care because it allows us to be more vulnerable and to feel more supported than when with others who may not know the ins-and-outs of what we’re struggling with
• Reaching out on hard days is challenging, especially when you’re not one who finds asking for help easy. But, in my experience, just having someone other than my spouse know that I’m having a bad day really helps when I feel like it’s me against the world
• Spending time with your pet(s), if you have them, has been shown to help with everything from lowering blood pressure and stress to helping battle depression and cope with chronic pain
• Giving back to your community in ways that are accessible to you can be a great way to create new connections and support others in situations that are similar to yours