INTRODUCTION TO SELF-CARE
Over the next few days a lot of us will have extra time for breaks and rest.
I often feel that this break especially, is not quite a “break” since there always seems to be something to do and places to be. I’ve decided to include an article about self-care. This article was part of the “Self-Love Summer” Challenge, I conducted in June....
What do you mean by, self-care?
My own definition of self-care is:
A mindful practice made up of little gestures that one uses to love and care for their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Self care is not about indulgence, it’s about helping the body return to a place where it can actually calm down and feel restored. It’s about rejuvenation.
Self-care is different for every person.
For me, it means taking time to cook a nice meal for myself or exercising in a way that pleases my body or throwing previous plans out the window to make space for rest. But it can also mean having a glass of red wine while catching up with a friend or hot tea and a warm bath on an icy cold night!
Most importantly self-care is about listening to the body and making an active choice to do something kind for it.
There are SO many articles online about self-care if you want to dig deeper or find inspiration from the masses who talk circles around me on this subject….
Try for this week:
Research! Probe your mind! Read suggestions if that helps, ask friends for insight, or think about past and the activities that made you feel good and cared for.
Make a list of simple activities that make you feel genuinely relaxed and happy. Focus on the things that bring you rest and nourishment.
Option to make a list of “non-activities” instead like, I will not check my phone when I first get out of bed.
Schedule some of those activities in. Perhaps you schedule in a short break around noon, like a ten minute yoga session….and a longer activity, such as unplugging or crafting, at the end of a stressful day!
Keep it short and sweet: 30 minutes of reading? Achievable. 3 hour long painting session at the beginning of an afternoon filled with other busy tasks? Not so much.