When we think of self-care, we may think of that Instagram photo of a bubble filled bathtub with a candle and book present, sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in hand, or going to a salon to get our nails done or a massage, some form of rest. Self-care often comes with the context of being under stress and doing things to calm the mind or body to relieve stress. These are all valid forms of “self-care”, but I’d like to offer a different perspective.
When you look up the definition of “self-care”, you’ll find that it is defined in many ways. The prominent commonality between all of the varying definitions is “improving or preserving our health”. In today’s society, we often react to our unwanted circumstances instead of being proactive to prevent those unwanted occurrences. For example, we get burned out, anxiety heightens, and feel like we need a break from everything…then, we decide to engage in “self-care”. Instead, if we incorporated self-care into our daily or weekly lives, we could avoid hitting the wall and burning out. The “self-care” I’m talking about is less of a reactive, rarely occurring event and much more of a proactive, incremental approach to lifestyle formation.
When you fill-up your cup in one area of your life, it spills over into the others to create more fulfillment and joy. Ie, when I play sports, eat healthy foods, listen to educational podcasts, connect with loved ones, quiet my mind, and connect with God, I am much more free, clear-headed, productive in my work, and aligned with my purpose…And the best part is, all of this can be done daily or weekly, allowing me to consistently fill up so that I’m not crawling through life on ‘empty’ every weekend.
There are many ways to figure out how to incorporate self-care if you don’t know where to start, ask yourself the following questions:
What did I love doing as a child or teen?
What brings me the most joy?
When was the last time I was in nature?
Am I eating foods that nourish my body?
What am I watching on TV and what am I listening to daily? Is it feeding my mind and my soul?
When was the last time I put all electronics away and remained present with the people around me (for more than 1 hour)?
What are some ways I can rest: mentally, emotionally, physically, creatively, sensorily?
How can I engage in creative expression?
Where do I release my energy, thoughts, and emotions? In the gym, onto paper in a journal, with a therapist or coach, in nature, while singing, etc.?
How can I be free, play, or wander without (time) restrictions?
Am I getting exercise and recovering from it properly?
Can I meditate, visualize, and/or intentionally breathe more often?
Am I learning about myself and partaking in self-reflection?
How is my spiritual life?
How can I enhance my quality of sleep?
What am I doing to improve my health- mentally, emotionally, and physically?
What is my internal dialogue like on a daily basis? What needs to change?
You may find that these questions spark ideas on how to take care of your mind, body, and spirit in small, simple practices that make a big difference. Self-care is health care, and that is the foundation of your quality of life. Be proactive, you have the power to make it better every day.