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What is self-care?

When you do things to look after yourself this is called Something you do to look after yourself.self-care.

Self-care can be as simple as spending time doing things you like. They help you feel happy and relaxed. 

 self care ideas: a laptop, a book, a cat, a person walking

In this 4 minute video disabled young people talk about what self-care means to them.

Question 1 of 3

What do you like doing?

Example answer

I like reading books and spending time with my friends.

Getting NDIS support with self-care

There are many ways that the NDIS can support you with self-care.

In this 4 minute video disabled young people talk about how the NDIS supports them with self-care.

Self-care at home

There’s lots of things you can do as self-care at home. For example:  

  • Reading a book 

  • Watching Netflix 

  • Colouring 

  • Playing board games and video games 

  • Art

Spending time in nature

Research shows that spending time outdoors in nature is good for your health and helps you relax. There are lots of self-care activities you can do outdoors. For example: 

  • Playing sport 

  • Going for a walk or bike ride

  • Reading a book in your backyard

  • Playing with your dog

  • Going to the park 

 There are lots of ways to bring nature indoors too. For example:   

  • Have indoor plants 

  • Make sure you have enough natural light 

  • Open your windows to let fresh air in 

 Person holding a pot plant beside table of pot plants & watering can  

Exercise

Exercise helps you stay healthy. There are lots of ways to exercise including going for a walk or going to the gym. There are free workout videos on YouTube so you can even exercise at home. 

The NDIS can support you to exercise and stay healthy if that is your goal. For example, the NDIS may pay for: 

  • When something is changed so that it can be used by different people. Example: When a ramp is added to the entry of a shop, so that wheelchair users can go inside.Adapted sports equipment

  • A support worker to go to the gym with you

  • A type of exercise for your muscles.Physiotherapy sessions 

  • You to try out a new sport 

For example, Luke is a wheelchair user and loves sport. His goal was to try adapted skiing, so he could use his NDIS money to hire the adapted equipment he needed. 

Luke on adapted ski equipment on the snow.

Healthy eating

Eating healthy food is a form of self-care. The NDIS can support you to eat healthily if that is your goal. For example, the NDIS may pay for: 

  • Cooking classes

  • A support worker to help you prepare meals

  • Healthy meals delivered to your house

  • You to see a Someone whose job is to help other people eat healthy foods.dietitian

boy and woman cooking in kitchen

Looking after your mental health

Looking after your The feeling of being well and able to do the things you normally do.mental health and how you feel is important. 

Sometimes you may feel sad, worried or angry. You may not want to do the things you normally like doing. You may feel When you feel a lot and you don’t know what to do about it.overwhelmed like everything is just too much. 

There is nothing wrong with feeling this way. Lots of people can feel this way. 

It is important to understand how you are feeling and what you can do to feel better.  

If you want to learn about looking after your mental health click on the link below. The link has more detailed information.

Staying connected

Spending time with people who make you happy is important for self-care. 

You can meet up with your friends in person, FaceTime, or chat to them on social media. It is important to feel connected and part of a community. 

Three people taking a selfie. Middle person using wheelchair, left using a cane

The NDIS can support you to meet new people and stay connected if that is your goal. For example, the NDIS may pay for:  

  • You to attend clubs and meet new friends

  • A support worker to do fun activities with you 

Group of people playing games at a table

Question 2 of 3

What are some things you already do as self-care?

Example answer

I take my dog for a walk outdoors every day.

Question 3 of 3

What are some things you would like to do as self-care?

Example answer

I would like to start my own garden.

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