What is micro self-care?
Micro self-care practices are small things we can do that help with managing stress, anxiety, and depression. Macro self-care practices tend to take up a lot of time and money, such as joining a gym, deciding to begin therapy, or taking a long vacation. Micro self-care practices, on the other hand, are various practices that are minimal, usually take a few minutes, and can be easily incorporated in our day-to-day lives. Some examples of micro self-care are calling a friend or loved one during your commute home, drinking water, finding reasons to smile (e.g., daily affirmations or photos), or taking in some daily sunlight.
What are the benefits of micro self-care?
Incorporating daily micro self-care practices can have substantial benefits in our lives. Once we have gotten into the habit of completing these small tasks, we may notice that we begin to feel energized and even happier on a regular basis. Micro self-care practices have been linked to burn out prevention, which is unsurprising when we consider the small ways where we receive energy (e.g., drinking water, eating, and sleeping enough). In addition to this, micro self-care practices are often less intimidating and more reassuring since they tend not to require extra time, effort, or planning. However, in order for micro self-care to work, consistency is key.
How can I incorporate micro self-care practices?
The first step in incorporating micro self-care is realizing that self-care is not an option but an obligation we have to ourselves and one of the biggest acts of love we can do for ourselves. In order for micro self-care to work, we need to have intentionality and consistency. For example, drinking water is necessary for our mood and health, but we need to be intentional about how much water we are going to drink (e.g., buy a water bottle, refill the filter, etc.). In addition to this we need to be consistent, such as making sure to drink around eight glasses of water a day, every day. In order to be consistent, it could be helpful to set reminders for yourself or ask a friend to help keep you accountable. It’s important to know that starting new habits do take time in order to stick, so remember to keep trying even when you may forget.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.