Forms of Self Care
What is self-care?
Any activity you do to take care of your mental, emotional, or physical health.
What is a “cognitive distortion”?
An unhelpful or inaccurate thought pattern that distorts reality.
What does “emotional intelligence” mean?
The ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in yourself and others.
What does it mean to “be present”?
Paying attention to the here and now without judgment.
Name one coping skill you can use when you feel anxious.
Deep breathing, grounding exercise, journaling, talking to a friend.
Name one emotional or mental form of self-care.
Journaling, therapy, affirmations, setting boundaries.
Name one common cognitive distortion.
All-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, mind reading, overgeneralizing.
Name one benefit of being able to recognize your emotions.
Better decision-making, improved relationships, better self-regulation.
Name one activity you can do mindfully (besides meditation).
Eating, walking, listening to music, coloring, showering.
True or False: Deep breathing can help lower stress.
true
Name one physical form of self-care.
Exercise, sleep, healthy eating, medical care.
“If I don’t succeed at this, I’m a total failure.” What distortion is this?
All-or-nothing thinking (black-and-white thinking).
What’s one strategy to manage emotions in the moment?
Deep breathing, counting to 10, pausing before reacting, using coping statements.
In mindfulness, what are the “5 senses” often used for?
Grounding exercises—naming things you can see, hear, feel, smell, taste.
What is one coping skill you can use in public without anyone noticing?
Deep breathing, repeating calming thoughts, mindfulness, or visualization.
What’s one barrier that might make self-care difficult, and how can you overcome it?
lack of time, guilt, cost. Solution = schedule it, remind yourself it’s necessary, find free/low-cost options.
What’s one way you can challenge a negative thought pattern?
Look for evidence, reframe the thought, ask if it’s realistic, or practice positive self-talk.
Name two components of emotional intelligence.
Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills.
What is the purpose of a “body scan” exercise?
A: To increase awareness of physical sensations, reduce tension, and connect mind and body.
When you’re angry, what’s one healthy action you can take instead of yelling?
Taking a walk, counting to 10, deep breathing, talking calmly, or using “I statements.”
Design a balanced self-care plan with at least 3 types (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, etc.)
Physical = exercise, Emotional = journaling, Social = coffee with a friend, Spiritual = meditation.
Name two cognitive distortions and explain how they can affect emotions.
Catastrophizing → causes panic/worry. Mind reading → leads to anxiety/social fear.
Give an example of showing empathy toward another person.
Listening without judgment, validating feelings, saying, “I can see why you’d feel that way.”
How can practicing mindfulness regularly change the way you react to stress?
It helps reduce reactivity, increases calm, improves focus, and builds resilience.
Explain the difference between a healthy coping skill and an unhealthy coping skill, with an example of each.
A: Healthy = helps long term (e.g., exercise, journaling). Unhealthy = may feel good short term but harms in the long run (e.g., substance use, avoidance)