Five Pillars of Self-Care
In all the noise of the wellness world, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters to keep your well-being on track. Between dunking yourself in ice water, sleep syncing, and full-day spa visits how can we possibly know what will work for us?
Well yes, being your best self goes beyond these five pillars. I would recommend mastering these and creating a lifestyle that they are the centre of, before adding anything else to your plate.
You will have heard of these before and it may even sound obvious but when we are struggling with stress or low mood it’s the basics we overlook and before we know it that bad day has turned into a bad month. So take this post as a friendly reminder to recenter yourself around these five pillars and feel the magic unfold of prioritising self-care.
Life can be unpredictable so things like family and work might mean you can’t uphold these five pillars all of the time, so I go by the rule that if you let one slip the other four will carry you through.
1. Movement:
We’re not using the E word... What we’re focusing on here is making movement a part of your daily routine. Movement is MAGIC and is a natural mood booster. So whatever it is, commit to moving 20 minutes a day. Whether you love to get sweaty in a class, dance in your kitchen, do yoga, or walk in the park with your dog make sure you move today and every day.
WithEmily tip: For the extra magic mood booster do your 20 minutes of movement outside, don’t let something like a little rain stop you.
2. Nourishment:
This is not about taking anything away or restricting it but rather about fueling your body in the right way. A well-balanced diet supports your physical and emotional well-being. I know there is so much misinformation out there but just focus on balance and eating things that make you feel good.
WithEmily tip: Food is fuel for your body and fuel for joy.
3. Rest
We’ve all seen how horrendous a day can feel after a sleepless night. But what creeps up on us is a continuous lack of sleep which makes us ill-equipped to deal with what life throws at us. As I said before it may not always be possible to uphold all five pillars. You may be a new parent or working nights which makes sleep tricky so when sleep may not be possible but always prioritise it where you can.
WithEmily Tip: Head over to the gram to see my sleep tips.
4. Routine, routine, routine
While it may not sound as sexy as other forms of self-care routine is the bedrock of feeling stable. Despite what movies may have told us as people we crave stability and it centers us. While there's no one-size-fits-all perfect routine, it's essential to find a routine that works for you. Find what works for you and stick to it.
WithEmily Tip: Understand the difference between monotony and routine, and leave room for flexibility when unexpected moments of pleasure crop up.
5. Connections
I know when you're feeling low the last thing you want to do is be social. If you’re not feeling like yourself it can put a strain on your relationships. You don't have to engage in lengthy conversations; simply being around people can work wonders. BUT isolating yourself will only make you feel worse and create a sense of loneliness. Human contact is such a great boost and taking time to nurture your relationships will mean you have people to lean on when you need them.
WithEmily Tip: A problem shared is a problem halved. Lean on people for support. If you can’t find this in your existing circle and not in the headspace to find new connections then speaking to a professional can provide much-needed support.
