Self-care is critical to empaths. If you’re an empath and you’re looking for self-care ideas, you’re in the right place. Today I’m going to give you some thoughts around how to look after and love yourself. And before you can love others, having an appreciation for yourself is very important!

Typically, empaths are highly sensitive individuals, who can absorb other people’s intensity. They can sense other people’s power, feelings, and their sentiments too. Sometimes empaths become overwhelmed by the energy that’s around them, or are impacted by what’s going on with other human beings. Are you an empath? Do you have these feelings often?

Empaths can pick up on people’s feelings easily, and sometimes you’ll feel like you’re overreacting to situations or people. Watching TV can be bad for you, and you can find yourself questioning whether what you feel is real or not as TV is not always what it seems. You might find you easily take on other people’s feelings when watching a tv show (reality or fiction), without understanding that is what’s happening. Likewise if you’re out and in a crowded location you might find that kind of experience overwhelming.

To survive and self love, you need to develop strategies to keep yourself self and able to function. Firstly, make sure you get lots of rest. Empaths can lose energy quickly during their day, so replenishment is very important. The nervous system burns a lot of energy, and needs time to come back online. If you don’t allow your nervous system to recover from daily stress, then your fight or flight reflexes start to kick in. That can lead to stress and distress.

Secondly, make sure you get good food and nourishment. Tune into your body and have good things to eat – like raw salads, smoothies, colder things, lighter things, things that don’t necessarily feel heavy inside. When you eat good food like stews, cooked vegetables, stewed apples, porridges, or oatmeal, you’ll feel more grounded, more nourished.

Make sure to have good protein too. Even if you’re vegetarian and skipping meat, you can get good protein from nuts, grains, legumes, tofu, and from light-green leafy vegetables that have higher protein content.

Thirdly, avoid stimulants like chocolate and highly caffeinated teas. Caffeine can wind empaths up, escalating feelings of distress and devastation due to your body sensitivities. Don’t cut out teas and coffees completely, but do moderate your intake. You could have a cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning, and then herbal teas later in the afternoon and night. There are chocolate alternatives like chicory roots, and some mushrooms, that still make for a very satisfying brew.

Fourth, put some health boundaries around your life. Learn to be aware of where your energy gets used, and where it replenishes from. Empaths are often givers, and want to help everyone and everything – but you must make time for yourself too. Say NO when you need to, to avoid people, events, or projects. That’s preferable to you being stressed, over taken, and tired. Stick to your boundaries once you’ve made them!

Fifth (and last), remember that you’re a super power! Being an empath is a gift, and it allows you to be there for yourself and others in really unique ways. Find ways to utilise your gifting – through volunteering, or in the work place. Honour your high sensitivity, and use your gift for really good work in the world.

I hope you enjoyed reading these tips. Feel free to purchase my Dating Dave e-book on Amazon for more good vibes and fun reading! Much love!