This September, during Self-Care Awareness Month, experts are urging us to stop thinking of  our well-being as a luxury and instead start treating it as a necessity. 

For many individuals, self-care time has been replaced by constant scrolling on social media and rotting in bed. While this may be prominent in a technological heavy society, it is not good in regard to one’s own self-care.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the nature of self care has been shifting dramatically, with only a little bit more than half, 64%, of Americans practicing self-care to some degree. 

“Boundaries only come when you can first start to appreciate yourself and who you are as a person.” states marriage and family therapist Dr. Michelle Dickerson when asked how one can set boundaries while still being able to engage in self-care. 

For Dr. Dickerson, self-care means establishing routines that address both the mind and body. She recommends small but consistent practices such as journaling, meditating, and even something as simple as listening to music. 

“It’s about finding what restores you and making it non-negotiable.”

The act of self-care is crucial because it promotes physical and mental health, builds resilience to stress, and improves relationships and overall quality of life. Consistent self-care helps you develop the capacity to handle life’s challenges, recover from adversity, and be able to maintain emotional stability. 

To Deja Philips, an Elgin psycho-therapist, self-care isn’t for a certain aesthetic or for bragging rights, but is something that helps nourish the human body. She encourages her clients to explore practices that feel authentic to them, from intentional time blocking and going out with loved ones to even taking a nap throughout the day. 

“Self-care is also about what you do not do. So not letting people trample all over your boundaries, saying no to things that make you uncomfortable, or just simply saying no for the baseline of no.”

College students, often juggling academics, jobs, and social pressures, can especially benefit from learning to prioritize self-care early on. 

Michael Tupayachi, a first-year ECC student, said that as he got older, he realized how important self-care actually was. 

“Working out, going outside on walks, and stargazing” stated Tupayachi when asked about what activities help him recharge. Tupayachi’s biggest stressor as a student was school itself and all of the assignments plus tests students are required to do in order to succeed.

As Self-Care Awareness Month continues, Dr. Dickerson hopes people will use September as a starting point to build healthier routines that last year-round. 

“Awareness months are great reminders and conversation starters, but true self-care means making intentional choices daily” stated Dickerson. 

For Philips, the takeaway is simple: “We cannot pour from an empty cup. Get to know yourself, build fences, and let yourself tap out once in a while. Taking care of ourselves first allows us to show up stronger for the responsibilities and people we care about.” 

This September, now more than ever, it is especially important to put ourselves and our bodies first.