<section><h2><h1><strong>Physical self-care</strong></h1></h2><p><p><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;"> </span></p>Are you taking care of your physical wellbeing? Answer these questions to get some tips on how you could improve your physical self-care.<p><em style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;"> </em></p><p>Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with the next statements.<br /></p></p></section><section><h2><h2><strong>Low physical self-care</strong></h2></h2><p><p><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr">You might find it hard to prioritise your physical wellbeing. This is often a problem for people who have high demands placed on them at work or in their daily lives.</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">By investing in your physical self-care, you’ll have more energy to face life’s challenges and to support those around you when they need it.</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">How do you invest in your physical self-care? These activities can help:</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Integrate physical activities into your everyday routine, such as going for a walk before or after school. </p></li></ul><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use your sick leave when you’re not feeling well. Even if you’re just feeling run down, a day off will help you rest up and re-energise. </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Commit to bringing a healthy lunch to work, or to replacing unhealthy snack foods with a healthy alternative, such as fruit or nuts. If you find it hard to make the change, start by committing to eat only healthy foods on one or two days a week, and then increase the number of days over time. </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Find a physical hobby you enjoy. Join a weekly sports team, take a regular walk in your neighbourhood, spend more time gardening, or go for a weekly bushwalk. The more you enjoy an activity, the more likely you are to stick with it.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Practise good ‘<a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/good-sleep-habits.html">sleep hygiene’</a>, a pre-bed routine that winds you down and gets you ready to fall asleep at the same time every night. </p></li></ul></p></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Moderate physical self-care</strong></h2></h3><p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr">It looks like you’ve already started using strategies for your physical self-care. This is a great first step in ensuring your physical wellbeing.</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">Investing in physical self-care activities can help you to build energy to face life’s challenges and support those around you when they need it. </p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">How do you invest in your physical self-care? These activities can help:</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Make sure you eat a healthy lunch and snacks at work every day. A meal plan is a great way to get you organised and to simplify the process.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Develop a pre-bed routine that reflects good ‘<a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/good-sleep-habits.html" target="_blank">sleep hygiene’</a>. Make sure you’re ready to sleep at the same time every night, and that you get plenty of rest. </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Push yourself by attending regular classes for a type of exercise you might never have done before, such as yoga or boxing.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Get an overall health check with your GP, and don’t forget your regular visits for optical and dental check-ups.</p></li></ul></p></section><section><h3><h2><strong>High physical self-care</strong></h2></h3><p><p><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr">Congratulations! You’re doing a great job of looking after yourself and your physical wellbeing. It sounds like you understand the importance of physical self-care and of taking time for yourself. </p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">To push yourself even further, consider some of the following activities:</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prepare or bake healthy snacks to share at home or with colleagues at work, to encourage them to eat healthily, too.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Set up a group with friends or colleagues to promote physical activity, such as a workplace soccer team.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Volunteer to help out with school sports teams, sports carnivals and other events. </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Stop using devices at least two hours before you sleep, as part of your good ‘<a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/good-sleep-habits.html" target="_blank">sleep hygiene’</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation"> </p></li></ul></p></section><section><h2><h2>I regularly eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.</h2></h2></section><section><h3><h2>My meals are usually healthy.</h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>When I’m sick I take time off work and, if needed, I seek medical advice.</h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>I regularly do physical activities or exercise.</h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>I go to bed at a regular time and get plenty of sleep.</h2></h3></section>