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Self-Care and Self-Love: Evidence-Informed Practices for Wellbeing

Jan 30, 2026

A clinically aligned guide by Ikigai Wellness Clinic

Self-care and self-love are often used interchangeably, yet they describe two different but deeply connected aspects of personal wellbeing and holistic health. Understanding both through a clinical and evidence-based lens can help you build sustainable routines that support your mental wellbeing, physical health, emotional resilience, skin health, and long-term wellness.


Self-care is not indulgence; it is a scientifically recognised behaviour that promotes health maintenance, stress management, and emotional regulation.


Reference: BMC Public Health Conceptualising self-care in health (BMC Public Health, 2021)

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care refers to the daily actions and health decisions individuals take to maintain wellbeing, prevent physical or emotional decline, and improve quality of life.

Clinical and nursing literature highlights three core components of effective self-care:

  • Self-awareness
  • Self-regulation
  • Self-reliance

These behavioural pillars are consistently identified across healthcare research, including BMC Nursing, Journal of Advanced Nursing, and International Journal of Nursing Studies.

References:

  • Self-care conceptual framework (BMC Nursing, 2021)
  • Self-care determinants (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2019)

Rather than a lifestyle trend, self-care is recognised as an essential strategy for daily functioning, mental health stability, and stress resilience.

What Is Self-Love?

Self-love refers to the internal experience of self-acceptance, self-compassion, and a sense of worthiness. It shapes how we speak to ourselves, respond to stress, and prioritise our physical and emotional health.

Research shows that individuals with higher levels of self-love or self-compassion demonstrate:

  • Better emotional regulation
  • Lower stress reactivity
  • Healthier coping strategies
  • Greater psychological resilience

References:

  • Self-compassion and emotional adjustment (APA PsycNet, 2020)
  • Compassion-based resilience research (Springer, 2022)

Self-love provides the emotional motivation behind consistent self-care and sustainable healthy habits.

Why Self-Care Matters: A Clinical Perspective

A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates that self-care practices positively influence mental health, emotional wellbeing, and physical health outcomes.

Key findings across healthcare and psychology journals include:

  • Improved emotional wellbeing
    Mindfulness-based self-care interventions reduce distress and enhance psychological resilience.
    (Clinical Psychology Review, 2018)
  • Better stress regulation
    Daily routines stabilise circadian rhythms and support emotional balance.
    (Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2017)
  • Enhanced self-esteem and daily functioning
    Self-care behaviours are significantly associated with higher self-esteem and improved quality of life.
    (BMC Geriatrics, 2016)
  • Radiofrequency (RF) in clinical settings for collagen stimulation

Self-care is not superficial it is a protective behavioural pattern supported by decades of clinical research.

Practical, Evidence-Informed Ways to Practice Self-Care

1. Build Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is a recognised determinant of effective self-care and preventive health.

Notice how your body and mind respond to:

  • Stress levels
  • Sleep quality
  • Mood fluctuations
  • Fatigue or burnout
  • Skin sensitivity or discomfort

Reference: Self-care determinants review (International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2019)

2. Maintain Consistent Daily Routines

Structured daily routines help stabilise the nervous system, improve emotional regulation, and support mental wellbeing.

Research from Sleep Medicine Reviews and Journal of Behavioral Medicine shows that predictable habits support:

  • Better sleep quality
  • Lower stress levels
  • Improved mood stability

Start simple consistent sleep and wake times, gentle movement, hydration, and regular meals.

3. Support Emotional Health

Mindfulness practices, journaling, breathwork, and light physical activity help regulate stress physiology and cortisol responses.


Evidence from Clinical Psychology Review indicates that mindfulness-based self-care reduces emotional distress and improves adaptive coping patterns.

4. Create Skincare as a Mindful Ritual

Skincare routines can serve as both physical skin support and emotional grounding practices.

Evidence suggests that gentle, consistent skincare rituals may support:

  • Skin barrier protection
  • Sensory regulation
  • Emotional calm and wellbeing

Research from Skin Research & Technology (Wiley, 2020) indicates that skincare rituals may positively influence quality of life and perceived wellbeing.

Healthcare Professional Sidebar Note

Clinical Perspective from Ikigai Wellness Clinic

Self-care is a behavioural health practice supported by evidence across nursing science, psychology, dermatology, and lifestyle medicine.

Scientific findings consistently show:

  • Daily routines support emotional regulation and stress balance
    (Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2017; Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2018)
  • Self-care behaviours are associated with enhanced self-esteem and quality of life
    (BMC Geriatrics, 2016)
  • Self-awareness predicts effective self-care behaviours
    (International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2019)
  • Self-love and self-compassion moderate stress responses and improve resilience
    (APA PsycNet, 2020; Springer, 2022)

At Ikigai Wellness Clinic, we encourage self-care and wellness routines that are sustainable, personalised, and grounded in evidence. These practices complement professional healthcare and support long-term wellbeing.


If you experience persistent stress, mood changes, fatigue, or difficulty maintaining routines, our healthcare team can guide you through personalized wellness recommendations.

Self-Love: The Emotional Foundation

Self-love is the internal anchor that makes self-care sustainable over time.

Studies across psychology and mental health journals show that people who cultivate self-love are:

  • More emotionally resilient
  • More consistent with healthy lifestyle habits
  • More accepting of their physical and emotional needs
  • More capable of adaptive coping under stress

Reference: Emotional resilience and self-compassion study (Springer, 2022)


Self-love is not self-indulgence it is a protective psychological resource that supports long-term mental and physical health.

A Gentle Reminder

Self-care is a lifelong practice shaped by awareness, compassion, and consistency. When paired with self-love, it becomes a powerful framework for emotional wellbeing, physical health, and skin resilience.


At Ikigai Wellness Clinic, we support evidence-informed lifestyles and personalised wellness care that enhance your quality of life.


If you feel overwhelmed, depleted, or disconnected from your routine, our healthcare team is here to guide you with personalised, compassionate support.


📍 Ikigai Wellness Clinic


111 Somerset Road, #02-27

Singapore

Contact us for a personalised wellness consultation.