The 8 facets of self care for the hygienist

I have identified 8 facets of self care. Each facet is like a spoke of a wheel; when you neglect any one area, it causes an imbalance and a collapse in the integrity of the wheel. Each of these facets is related to and connected to the others. There is a strong connection between body and spirit in this wheel.

The first facet is our physical well-being. In this facet we evaluate exercise, food choices and even clothing choices. Making sure you feel comfortable in your clothes is important. Do you get enough sleep? Do you seek regular medical care? Do you rest when you are sick?

The second facet is our intellectual well-being. Learning to engage in intellectual activities keeps our mind young. Choosing to be intellectually challenged fosters neuron connections and new neural pathways. Also, it's important to gain a level of self-awareness where you can take an objective look at yourself and evaluate areas where you may be wrong or where you need to take a deeper look at yourself. Can you identify areas where you need to grow and do you work on these things?

Nervous system self care is next. The nervous system is all the rage right now. They are finding that so much of our well-being has to do with the health of our nervous system. How do you know how your nervous system is doing? If you are startled easily, this can be an indication of an unhealthy nervous system. If you are visibly stressed or get muscle tension or feel constantly overwhelmed, you may need to work on some breathing and relaxing exercises to restore the health of your nervous system.

Do you pray, meditate or spend time in nature? These are part of taking care of our spiritual self which is the fourth facet of self care.

Professional self-care is the fifth facet. Do you say no to excessive responsibilities at work? Do you work to build relationships with your colleagues? Do you get a full lunch and do you advocate for fair pay and benefits for your hard work? These things can be challenging to do and feel confrontational, but they are important and they make a difference to our overall well-being.

Social self-care is the sixth facet. When you evaluate your friend and family circle, do you have supportive, positive people in your life or do you need to make some changes? Limit time with negative people. Join clubs and organizations where you meet new, inspiring people and find a way to be creative and adventurous.

Number seven is physological self-care. It is easier to be the one who gives and helps others all the time, but learning how to receive can be a challenge. Write in a journal and read literature that you enjoy.

The last facet is emotional self-care. Do you allow yourself to cry? How about laughing, do you laugh enough? Emotional self-care might mean getting a counselor and seeking help for past PTSD or trauma. Receiving life coaching is self-care also, but a life coach does not work with PTSD or trauma. Invest the time and effort in finding a good counselor who can support you through your emotional healing journey. Spend time with people you enjoy.

There you have it! The 8 facets of self-care. It is normal to be really good at one area and lack in the others. Hopefully you are inspired to work in those lesser areas you've been able to identify to create a higher level of well-being for yourself.