Self-care is something many of us just don’t do enough of these days. We live in such a hectic, performance-based world we often focus more on work and others than we do ourselves. Self-care, including spiritual self-care, should be practiced daily to keep us grounded and centered and is closer to you thank you think.
Spiritual self-care is one of the most important aspects of self-care and can be performed through different practices. It involves doing things that fill our soul, recharge our energy, and bring us internal happiness. These are all very important to help one be fulfilled for themselves and for others.
Do you ever find yourself losing steam, losing faith, or losing your passion for life? Did you know there are things you’re already doing every day that with a small tweak or two could help re-ignite your fire?
What Is Spiritual Self-Care?
Spiritual self-care is doing the activities that feed your soul and your spirit. It doesn’t have to be religious in nature, and it doesn’t even have to involve movement. It mainly needs to tap into the individual, on a deep level, that brings them happiness, balance, calmness, fullness, and focus.
Spiritual self care can help ground us, give one perspective, and really help put into perspective life, ones’ needs, the things around us, and the most happy and fulfilling path forward.
What Are Some Spiritual Self-Care Examples?
Spiritual self-care can involve many things, which can differ by the person and their preferences. Here are a few common examples:
- Yoga
- Prayer
- Meditation
- Going for a walk in a forest or on the beach
- Being outside
- Self-reflection
- Deep breathing
- Taking a bath
- Listening to music
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is the practice of nuturing ones needs on a physical and emotional level. It involves providing the space and energy to relax, recharge, and let the body and brain heal from everyday wear and use. Self care can often be felt in the body though genuinely feeling better, and also emotionally in the recognition of taking time to prioritize oneself and knowing that care is always there and available when needed.
What Are Examples of Self-Care?
Self-care includes taking steps to care for yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Eating right, getting regular exercise, sleep, prayer, and spending time alone or with family are all ways of caring for yourself.
Why Is Self-Care So Important?
We can’t take optimal care of others if we don’t take care of ourselves. We are more likely to be at our best when we care for ourselves. Lack of self-care leads to illness, injury, and even mental disturbances.
What Are the Four Areas of Self-Care?
| Area | What it is | |
| Emotional | This includes how you relate to yourself as well as others. It’s about love and care, relationships, and boundaries. | |
| Physical | This is your body and how you care for it. It includes eating right, drinking water, and exercise. It’s also about resting and safety. | |
| Psychological | This is how you think, learn, and grow and includes personal development. It’s about self-reflection, thinking about our thoughts and feelings, and self-awareness. | |
| Spiritual | This includes gratitude, prayer, meditation, and mindfulness. It’s about your presence in each moment and what means the most to you. |
What Is Social Self-Care?
Social self-care is about activities and relationships with other people. It’s about spending time with others, forming and nurturing friendships and relationships, and maintaining social connections. Some activities include calling your mom regularly, date night with your spouse, even taking your dog for a walk. Humans are social creatures who need interactions with others to thrive.
How Can I Practice Spiritual Self-Care?
Each person will likely have their own unique ways to practice self care. Mainly, they should nuture the individual, in ways they value and appreciate. Let’s explore some ways to begin learning and practicing, to help live a more relaxed and fulfilling life.
Spiritual Self-Care Ideas
Think about the activities you do that feed your soul and help you think about the world outside of yourself. Whether it’s yoga, going to church, gardening, or meditation, make a list of the activities you already do. Now think about this: Which ones mean the most to you? Which ones do you enjoy the most? Which do you look forward to the most? Those are the ones that work the best for you!
Spiritual Self-Care Plan
Include it in your schedule daily to perform some type of spiritual self-care. It can be something different every day, and it can be multiple activities. The schedule is up to you-what works for you may not work for another, so you make the time and fit it in.
Spiritual Self-Care Tools
Add to your toolbelt some of these spiritual self-care tools:
Creativity
Make something, paint, write, dance, create something new. Your art is rich in creativity and can feed your soul.
Positivity
Try to maintain a positive outlook on life, work, relationships, etc. Change your mindset from negative to positive and you will find more peace.
Mindfulness
Sit quietly and think about your thoughts, feelings, and sounds around you. Let go of the past and just be.
Authenticity
Be yourself and embrace everything about yourself, even what you believe to be flaws. It doesn’t matter what others think or say-who you are matters most.
Haven
Create your own quiet, comfortable spot in your home where you can meditate, read, or just be. Surround yourself with a cozy blanket, your favorite tea, or even your furry friend.
Spiritual Self-Care Activities
Sometimes it’s the rituals and small things we do every day that bring us comfort. We can use these to switch our mindset and find our purpose if we perform them with purpose:
- Start and end each day with prayer or meditation. Don’t check your phone when you wake up-thank someone for waking up or make a mental plan for positivity and opportunity.
- Think about your feelings while performing menial tasks. Focus on the now and how you can change your outlook, even while cleaning the cat litter box.
- Practice mindfulness. Be aware of your thoughts, actions, and feelings and how they affect those around you.
- Take time for yourself every day. It doesn’t need to be a daily trip to the spa-just a few minutes over a cup of coffee or an afternoon nap.
- Practice gratitude. Be thankful for your home, family, job, weather, the mail being delivered daily. Yes, even the little things!
- Encourage others. Be positive and uplifting, supportive and caring. You will reap what you sow.
- Use a journal to write down your feelings and thoughts with all of your practices. Go back and read them from time to time to remind yourself of how you’ve grown and improved.
- Create something! Use your artistic abilities, musical talent, gardening skills, or baking/cooking skills to make something new. This will help you focus on something positive and feed your creative spirit.
- Connect with nature. Go outside and take a walk in the forest, on the beach, or any place you’d like. Look at the leaves, waves, and creatures and listen to the breeze blowing. Focus only on nature and your footsteps.
- Read a book about self-care, religion, or nature. This can help you find ways to truly focus and re-center. Find books that spark your interest that you look forward to reading, then make the time to read them!
Professional Self-Care
Self-care shouldn’t stop when you’re working. Your professional life needs self-care as well. Take steps to maintain your work-life balance, and when you feel like things are getting out of whack, take a break and reevaluate things. Sometimes we reach a point in our careers where our work is causing too much stress, is encroaching on our personal lives, or no longer feels rewarding.
That’s a great time to step back or walk away altogether. If we take the time to re-focus, re-center, and re-evaluate we can potentially re-ignite our fire and find the joy in our work again. Sometimes it leads to refreshing our love for our careers, and sometimes it leads to a career change.
Mental Self-Care
This is the most important self-care you can and must perform. It starts with completing physical, professional, emotional, and spiritual self-care. Mental self-care is necessary to prevent disturbances of the mind such as depression and anxiety. Getting adequate sleep, being aware of and accepting your emotions, and sharing your feelings with those important to you are just a few things you should be doing for mental self-care.
Here is a helpful video demonstrating some insightful spiritual self-care practices:
Inspirational Spiritual Self-Care Books
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment – Eckhart Tolle (2004):
A journey through the spirit to help the reader find their true self, undergo personal growth, and find enlightenment. The author leads you through the way to be present in the moment and escape the limitations of the mind. This book is available in paperback as well as audiobook, has been translated into more than 30 languages, and has 2 million plus copies sold.
The Book of Joy – Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu (2016):
After multiple years of living in oppression and violence, these authors help the reader in finding joy and happiness. Through shared spiritual practices and intimate stories you’ll learn how you can be joyful despite hardship. Available in hardcover and audiobook.
Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential – Deepak Chopra (2019):
This bestselling author assists the reader through present limitations to find a new awareness known as metahuman. You’ll earn how to expand your consciousness, move beyond the physical world, channel experiences and wake up your soul. Available in hardcover and audiobook.
Other Resources:
- Self Care – Activities and Benefits of Putting You First
- Self Love – Putting You First Feels Great and Helps Others
- What Is Self Care – How and Why You Deserve to be Happier
- Self Care Is For Everyone – Feeling Happy and Fulfilled
- Emotional Self Care – How Caring for Yourself Helps Others
- Why Is Self Care Important – Nurturing Our Own Well Being
- Self Care Tips – My Methods for Happier and Simpler Living
As you’ve read this article, you’ve probably come across activities that you’re already doing every day. With a small change in mindset, perhaps a couple tweaks of setting or surroundings, you can be on your way to spiritual fulfillment. Spiritual self-care shouldn’t be an afterthought or ignored, it should be at the forefront of what you do every day. Take the time to focus on you and your spiritual (and physical) needs and you can be closer to achieving the happiness you deserve.
Related Topics:
How Can I Practice Self-Care Daily?
There are many things you can do daily to care for yourself from practicing good hand hygiene and showering to doing something that brings you joy. Eat well, avoid alcohol and drugs, and get outside for fresh air and exercise daily. Text or call your best friend or a loved one at least daily.
Why Does Self-Care Matter?
It’s for our sanity and all-around well-being! We simply cannot expect to be able to take care of others if we don’t take care of ourselves first. When we’re sleep deprived, hungry, or in pain we’re distracted and can actually end up hurting others. When we practice self-care, we provide an example for others.