There are many different elements, or facets to self-care. When I think of self-care, I immediately think of taking care of myself physically. I know for me personally, part of practicing self-care is eating right and getting some physical activity every day.

I appreciate Kristin Souers' model of what she calls the "Top Four Components of Self-Care" which include health, love, competence, and gratitude. Her components challenged me to think a little outside of the box when thinking about self-care. Let's break each one down:

One of my favorite quotes about self-care comes from poet laureate Audre Lorde –

"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation."

What do you think of when you hear the words self-care? These words may invoke images of a beach vacation, getting a massage, or taking time to indulge in curling up with your favorite book. These are all indeed ways we might take a little time for ourselves to recharge our battery so to speak.

Self-care however, is not exclusive of pampering oneself. In fact, some say comfort is not the goal of self-care! While self-care is not a written script, and each individual has different needs, the practice of self-care may also include:

Welcome to the Refill Your Cup with Self-Care blog!

I'm Michele Crawford, and I'm a Community Health Educator with Cook County Extension. Over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in and more aware of the importance of the practice of self-care.