Self-care is about looking after yourself to protect your emotional wellbeing. Self-care techniques include meditation to help clear your mind and mindfulness, which is about being present in the moment. They can also include activities that help you relax, whether that’s playing a sport, hanging out with workmates or watching a favourite movie.

Lifestyle changes are an important part of self-care. These include eating a healthy diet, getting the right amount of exercise and sticking to a good sleep routine.

Why is self-care important?

Self-care and lifestyle changes can help you manage a mental health issue. They can also help stop problems getting worse and support people with anxiety, depression or other challenges until they are able to consult with a healthcare professional.

Incorporating self-care into your daily routine if you are a tradie can also help prevent mental health challenges from developing in the first place. Being in an emotionally balanced and positive state of mind is important if you’re working in a physically demanding job.

More reasons to use self-care techniques:

• They can help you feel more positive about all aspects of your life.
• They help instil good habits to improve your physical health.
• They allow you to focus more fully on your work.

What are some self-care techniques?

These are some self-care techniques that you can practise easily:

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation trains your mind to clear thoughts that may cause you stress, leaving you focused and refreshed. You can practise meditation by following a video or sitting in a quiet place for a few minutes, focusing on your breathing and a positive image or phrase.

Mindfulness focuses more on being present in the moment without judgement and releasing negative thoughts. You can practise mindfulness as you go about your everyday life by focusing fully on a task or being aware of aspects of your environment.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Making healthy lifestyle changes will impact positively on all areas of your health and wellbeing. Ensure you eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, exercise daily and get into a good sleep routine. You can also reduce alcohol, quit smoking and avoid illicit drugs to enjoy more health benefits.