How Do You Practice Self-Care?

Stress has been a contributing factor in causing my eczema flares. Stress as a cause of eczema may be anecdotal, or there may be some science behind it. I know that if I don’t practice self-care and treat my body well, I'll see the consequences. My stress level is reflected by the intensity of the eczema flare on my face.

What is self-care?

The World Health Organization 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.” However, I prefer the simpler definition from the Oxford Languages dictionary, which states that self-care is “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”

How can you practice self-care?

Keeping stress in check benefits you in many ways, mentally and physically. Self-care can include meditation or moments of quiet reflection on your life’s events, or it can include an adrenaline rush on a beautiful spring day. Whatever yours may be, your body needs it!

Most days, I’m working at my desk for hours on end, trying to meet deadlines. During those times, the only thing running is my mind – a mile a minute. We juggle work, personal responsibilities, and the day's inevitable question: “What’s for dinner?” Though I don't run a mile a minute, I like to run to take my mind off those lingering questions. If only for 30 minutes, I like to surround myself with nature. You can usually find me on a trail run, focusing only on the next few steps. That is why I like trail running so much. I am required to keep my mind focused on the present. A misstep may mean tripping or slipping.

Some days I can’t carve out time to make it to the trail, so I will take a walk in the neighborhood. I still get a chance to change my surroundings and breath some fresh air. However, let’s face it, there are days when our bodies just can’t do more than the minimum requirement that day. On those days, de-stressing may mean binge-watching a new show. We’ve all been there, and that’s OK too.

Listen to your body

I try my best to listen to my body’s ways of telling me what it needs. Sometimes it’s a run by the beach, or a long game of tag at the playground with the kids, or maybe just taking a break and watching reel after reel of cat videos. We are not machines. My eczema is reflected in how well I take care of my body and my mental well-being. When I’m feeling good all-around, I get the benefit of no flares and itch-free days. Remember to take care of yourself. Your body will thank you.