Self-Care and why it is important for Mental Health
The phrase self-care isn’t new to most of us, but it’s worth taking a moment to really understand why it matters, especially when it comes to our mental health.
Let’s start with a simple picture.
Imagine you have an account with 20,000 naira in it. Then one day, you try to withdraw 200,000 naira. What happens? You get an “insufficient funds” message.
That’s exactly how life can feel when we constantly pour out without taking time to refill.
Self-care is what helps you make deposits into your ‘life account’. It’s a proactive way of supporting your mental health before things reach a breaking point. Life can get busy, noisy, and demanding, and in the middle of all that, it’s easy to ignore our own needs. But those unattended needs whether emotional, physical, or mental, don’t just disappear. They build up over time and eventually begin to affect how we feel, think, and function.
Self-care doesn’t always mean taking an entire day off (although it can). Sometimes, it looks like small, intentional choices you make throughout your day, choices that support your well-being in simple but meaningful ways. At its core, self-care is about being intentional. It’s a practice that helps you maintain a healthier, more balanced state of mind.
What Does Self-Care Do?
Self-care supports your mental health in several important ways. It can:
Prevent burnout
Help regulate your nervous system
Improve your physical health
Reduce stress levels
Address emotional and mental needs
Increase mindfulness and self-awareness
Practical Ways to Practice Self-Care
Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the most effective practices are often simple and consistent. Here are a few ways to get started:
Practice mindfulness (observant of your present moments)
Take small, supportive actions daily
Set and maintain healthy boundaries
Create routines that work for you
Check in with yourself regularly
Set reminders to pause and reset (understandably life can get busy)
Engage in activities that support your body and mind like dancing, exercising, walking, reading, or writing
Practice self-compassion
Seek out therapy
Here’s a link you can go through with a lot more examples of self-care practices 99 Self-Care Activities You Can Try Right Now
Helpful Tools
The DBT PLEASE Skill
One practical self-care framework comes from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): the PLEASE skill. It focuses on reducing emotional vulnerability by taking care of your physical well-being.
PL – Treat physical illness
E – Eat in a balanced way
A – Avoid mood-altering substances
S – Maintain balanced sleep
E – Exercise regularly
When your body is supported, your mind is better equipped to cope with stress and emotional challenges.
The life giving list
Another practical approach to self-care is creating what’s called a life-giving list. This is essentially a collection of activities, people, and places that feel restorative, things that replenish your energy, bring clarity, and foster a sense of peace.
Taking the time to intentionally create this list gives you a ready reference of what helps you pour back into yourself or your ‘life account’. Instead of guessing what you need in moments of stress or overwhelm, you already have a guide to turn to. These could be simple things like taking a quiet walk, listening to music, journaling, spending time with a trusted friend, or visiting a place that helps you feel grounded.
A life-giving list also encourages you to become more aware of what truly supports your well-being, making your self-care more personal and effective rather than random or reactive. Over time, it becomes a practical tool you can rely on.
Final Thought
Self-care is not selfish, indulgent or unnecessary. It’s a proactive and intentional way of taking care of your mental health so you can show up more fully for yourself and for others.
And just like any account, what you consistently deposit matters.
If you’re ready to take that step beyond self-guided care, you can start your wellness journey with Ibi Ayo here
References
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Self-care.
Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Caring for your mental health.
World Health Organization. (2021). Self-care interventions for health and well-being.
Worthen, M., & Cash, E. (2023). Stress management. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.